[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 77 (Wednesday, May 10, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H4676]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      PROTECT AMERICAN AGRICULTURE

  (Mr. NETHERCUTT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, we have many tough choices to make 
during the next several weeks and Republicans have been the first to 
come forward and face these challenges. But we need to take great care 
in reducing those programs that have had such a profound effect on our 
rural communities over the last 60 years. America's rural communities 
are fading examples of American history--neighbor helping neighbor, 
family helping family.
  We cannot turn back 60 years of farm programs overnight and expect 
our rural communities to survive. Farm communities can survive through 
tax and regulatory relief, farm program reform and better trade policy 
reform. Remember, farm programs have declined an average of 9 percent 
each year since 1985--a reduction of over $15 billion. If all other 
Federal programs had taken the same budget reductions during this 
period, our budget would balance. Assaults on agriculture are not 
productive, so I challenge my colleagues to roll up our sleeves and 
learn how important farming is to America.


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