[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 93 (Thursday, June 8, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1195-E1196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                             1995 FARM BILL

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                           HON. EARL POMEROY

                            of north dakota

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, June 7, 1995
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Debra Lundgren, a 
farm wife from Kulm, ND, who gave a short, but meaningful speech in 
April when U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Dan Glickman, was in North 
Dakota for a regional farm forum. Her speech follows:

       I am here today as a farm wife. It is a role I enjoy, but 
     one I do not get to perform very often. Because I am married 
     to a farmer, I cannot afford to be a farm wife. I would 
     rather work on the farm, but can't--and I'm not alone. 
     Eighty-seven percent of the income generated by the average 
     U.S. farm operator household comes from off-farm sources.
       My husband farms full-time and works an additional job, 
     fulltime job. I am presently working two jobs, so no one can 
     say we are [[Page E1196]] lazy. Nor are we getting rich from 
     program payments.
       Between bureaucrats and the media, farmers take a beating 
     every day. They sensationalize program abuse and tend to 
     forget those of us trying to make a living.
       Unfortunately, most people who are removed from agriculture 
     believe there is an unlimited flow of financial support from 
     the government to the farmer. That sir, as you know, is not 
     true. In fact, our government has kept the price of our 
     commodities artificially low. You must admit, it's a consumer 
     subsidy, not a farm subsidy. Expenses have risen since the 
     depression. Prices have not.
       In countries that have been hungry, governments provide 
     price supports to make sure their farmers will produce. Japan 
     pays their farmers $32.88 for each bushel of wheat. Syria 
     pays $23. Even Bangladesh supports prices above the United 
     States of America.
       Please don't let the word ``price supports'' be 
     misunderstood. We are not asking for welfare. We are, in 
     essence, requesting a minimum wage. Unlike most people 
     working for a minimum wage, we invest for the privilege.
       Mr. Secretary, the original intent of the farm program was 
     to narrow the gap in income between farmers and the rest of 
     the population. Family farmers still stand to benefit from 
     that ideal, but the current abuse of the programs allow the 
     largest 18% of farms to collect \2/3\ of the benefits. The 
     time has come to change the programs, not throw them out. 
     Target the benefits, based on production, to family farmers. 
     Reward the efforts of the farmers who continue to provide 
     quality food for America's families while struggling to feed 
     his own. The new wealth created by a fair price would 
     revitalize rural and urban main streets across the country.
       Finally, we may be only 2% of the population, but that 
     means that 98% of the population depends on us to provide 
     their food. I'd say that makes us an extremely important part 
     of this country. I'd say that deserves the respect of anyone 
     who had breakfast this morning or supper last night. I'd say 
     we are worth the effort of a farm bill that directs program 
     benefits to farm families who risk everything every year.
       Wouldn't you?
       

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