[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 122 (Wednesday, July 26, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1517]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



[[Page E1517]]


   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996

                                 ______


                               speech of

                           HON. VAN HILLEARY
                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, July 20, 1995

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1976) making 
     appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
     Drug Administration, and related agencies programs for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 1996, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. HILLEARY. Mr. Chairman, I am amazed that the gentleman from 
Illinois is willing to offer an amendment that will not only directly 
affect the livelihood and well being of some 124,000 farms in 16 
States, but also stop a program that has been benefiting all taxpayers 
by reducing the Federal deficit. This amendment doesn't affect the big 
tobacco companies as they might want you to think. It hurts the mom and 
pop American farmer. It unfairly discriminates against tobacco farmers 
by denying them access to Federal crop insurance. This is insurance 
that tobacco farmers have already paid millions of dollars for.
  These folks aren't breaking the law and yet the proponents of this 
amendment would like to treat them like criminals. They want to deny 
them access to valuable government research, education, and extensions 
services. The same privileges that farmers of other legal crops all 
have access to.
  These same proponents of this amendment say that these farmers should 
grow different crops. What they don't understand is in some of these 
areas tobacco is one of few crops that is capable of growing in their 
soil. That's why we have family traditions going from generation to 
generation of growing tobacco in these rural communities.
  It's time we leave the small tobacco farmer alone and let them get on 
with making a living. This amendment is not going to stop one person 
from smoking, but it will hit rural communities across America with 
losses of thousands of jobs and dollars.
  I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the Durbin amendment.
  

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