[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 98 (Thursday, June 15, 1995)]
[House]
[Pages H5988-H5989]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          THE FARM FREEDOM ACT

  (Mr. POMEROY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, our colleagues, the gentleman from New 
Jersey [Mr. Zimmer] and the gentleman from New York [Mr. Schumer], are 
sponsoring what they call the Farm Freedom Act. It is, to be kind, a 
very short-sighted proposal that would have a devastating impact, not 
just on rural America, but on urban America as well.
  All of the Members of this House, urban and rural, suburban, have to 
understand that we are all in this together. Agriculture is our 
Nation's No. 1 industry. It is larger than Chrysler, Ford, and GM 
combined. [[Page H5989]] 
  The ag sector provides 16 percent of our Nation's gross domestic 
product, and one of every six jobs.
  And our ag exports are one of the few bright spots in our Nation's 
overall trade picture.
  Mr. Speaker, adoption of this bill would cause severe economic 
dislocation and job losses, not just in agriculture, but throughout our 
entire economy. It is a very, very bad proposal.


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