[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 166 (Wednesday, October 25, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H10834]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                REPUBLICANS TURN BACKS ON FAMILY FARMER

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Alabama [Mr. Hilliard] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. HILLIARD. Mr. Speaker, I come before you tonight to discuss the 
shameful way the Republican Members of Congress are treating the 
American single family farmer with the farm and reconciliation bills.
  The Republicans are treating our farmers like a bunch of ruined 
chickens, throwing them into the equivalent of the legislative compost 
heap, to slowly decompose, to rot, to wither, and then to simply waste 
away.
  I am a member of the House of Committee on Agriculture, and I listen 
and read what the Republican Members have proposed. I know that the 
Republicans, as usual, have decided to choose sides with the big, rich 
corporations, rather than with American farm families.
  America needs more than this. America expects more than this. 
Republicans always side with the big corporations. Republicans always 
promote the interests of the rich over the working people. Republicans 
have no remorse when it comes to bleeding and starving our farm 
families until they have absolutely nothing left, no profit, no home, 
and no hope for a future.
  America is a great Nation today, not because we have a mighty 
military but because we can feed our military and our citizens, and, of 
course, the rest of the world.
  The majority of the Republicans in this country are gung ho when it 
comes to funding the military. Look at the budgets that they propose. 
When it comes to investing in our farmers, they shun them, turn their 
backs on them, and in essence they are saying we Republicans do not 
need family farmers. After all, they are expendable, because we have 
big corporate farmers that can farm huge farms and make big profits.
  Yes, America is great today because we can feed the world. And 
Americans can feed the world because in the past this Congress has had 
the wisdom to invest in our farm families.
  Some people would have you believe that all the farmers have a bag of 
Federal subsidies and moneys that they do not need and to eliminate 
this country's debt, we must eliminate all of the farm programs. Well, 
the truth is that the Republicans are still trying to pass the buck on 
to other people so that they can give their friends multibillion-dollar 
tax cuts, their rich friends.
  What the Republicans will not tell Americans and what they will not 
tell our family farmers is that all of this money that they are saving 
will go to the rich, not to reducing the debt. I will tell you 
something else, that is a shame.
  Most farmers are good, patriotic Americans. As most patriots will do, 
they have volunteered to eliminate many vital farm programs so that 
they can do their part in eliminating this Republican Reagan-Bush-
caused deficit. Well, fair is fair and enough is enough.
  The Republicans always talk a good talk when it comes to supporting 
families and family values. But when it comes to delivering on these 
promises, they always side with business and the wealthy. I hope all 
farmers have learned this lesson and remember it when election time 
comes rolling around again.
  The Republicans have drafted a farm bill. As a matter of fact, they 
have drafted two. But neither one passed because the Republicans 
girdlocked on the committee. The Republicans simply cannot decide how 
much they want to take from the American farmers.
  Ironically, the Republicans call their farm bill the Freedom to Farm 
Act. Unfortunately for our farmers under this Republican bill, no one 
will have the freedom to farm but large, big corporations.

                              {time}  2030

  The Republicans have turned their backs on the family farmers, and it 
is a shame, a dirty, rotten, Republican shame.
  America is a world power because of our family farmer and what they 
have historically done for this country, and I for one am grateful to 
them for their sacrifices and all that they have done to make this 
country great.
  I feel that we in Congress must protect them by voting against this 
reconciliation bill and the farm bill when it comes before this 
Congress.

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