[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 100 (Wednesday, July 27, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: July 27, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
                 ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGIES ACT OF 1994

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                               speech of

                             HON. ROD GRAMS

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 26, 1994

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3870) to 
     promote the research and development of environmental 
     technologies:

  Mr. GRAMS. Mr. Chairman, I would like to note with pleasure the 
inclusion of the field of commercial agriculture in the revised version 
of the environmental technologies bill, accomplished by adding the U.S. 
Secretary of Agriculture among the named Government officials who will 
participate in the administration of this bill.
  Agriculture is one of the Nation's largest and most successful 
industries. Total farm and farm-related employment in the United States 
accounts for over 21 million jobs--more than 15 percent of total U.S. 
employment and 5 million more jobs than exist in non-agricultural 
manufacturing. Most of these jobs are not on farms, but are located in 
urban areas. Agricultural exports are vital to our Nation's economy and 
have exceeded $42 billion the last few years. In fact, U.S. ag exports 
surpass imports by an $18 billion margin.
  But even more importantly, the success of agriculture is directly 
tied to the land, its productivity, and care for and preservation of 
it. A total of 990 million acres in the United States are devoted to 
farming, either as cropland, grazing land, or to raise timber or fish. 
Agricultural producers share common goals for the protection of the 
land with the public at large. With farmers and ranchers providing food 
and habitat for 75 percent of the Nation's wildlife, they make 
management decisions that have far reaching impacts on environmental 
quality, wildlife habitat, and recreation sites.
  Therefore, it makes sense to include agriculture in the list of 
activities that can benefit from the demonstration and awards programs 
promoted by this bill.
  Farmers and ranchers have shown their strong willingness to use sound 
environmental practices in their work. The information that can be 
provided by the projects authorized by this bill will help them do even 
better what they know should be done. And by their inclusion in 
eligibility for the awards program, they can be commended for their 
efforts in land stewardship.
  There has been much talk recently of further regulation of 
agricultural processes from an environmental point of view. Farmers and 
ranchers have argued that they will respond better to voluntary 
programs. They have demonstrated over several decades that when new 
ideas grounded in sound science are presented, they will accept these 
practices.
  Therefore, there is strong reason to include farmers in the 
opportunities presented by this bill, and I commend the authors of the 
revised version for recognizing this.

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