[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 81 (Tuesday, May 16, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H4967-H4968]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


        CONGRESS MUST AVOID RECKLESS BUDGET CUTS IN AGRICULTURE

  (Mr. NETHERCUTT asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  [[Page H4968]] Mr. NETHERCUTT. Mr. Speaker, America is faced with a 
continuing dilemma: maintaining adequate food supply at reasonable 
prices for consumers while providing incentives for farmers to grow the 
crops needed in the country.
  In 1980, food became a weapon of foreign policy with the imposition 
of the infamous Russian grain embargo. That embargo created huge crop 
surpluses and the result was massive commodity price declines. By 1981 
farmers were looking to the Government for relief, because the 
Government-imposed embargo created the problem. Our Government then 
became the only market for farm products because foreign competitors 
filled the void created by restrictions on U.S. exports. Now, many of 
these countries have captured a great portion of former U.S. markets.
  American farmers continue to face unfair pricing practices from the 
Australian Wheat Board and the Canadian Wheat Board. European Union 
farmers receive approximately $40 billion in government subsidies. 
American farmers can compete with foreign farmers, but not with foreign 
governments. Reckless budget cuts to agriculture will leave us farther 
behind in the effort to develop a free market for American agriculture.

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