[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 206 (Thursday, December 21, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Page S19083]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             THE FARM BILL

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, I appreciate the Senator yielding to me. I 
would like to inquire of the majority leader on the subject of the farm 
bill. Senator Dole comes from farm country, as many of us do in the 
Chamber, and we face an unusual circumstance toward the end of this 
year. This is the year we normally would have written a 5-year farm 
plan. A plan has not been written. One was in the original legislation 
that was passed by the Senate that was vetoed by the President, the 
reconciliation bill.
  Many of us are concerned, as are farmers from across the country, 
about what will be the decision of Congress, what kind of circumstance 
might exist for them and their lenders to anticipate with respect to 
planting next year, what kind of support prices and so on.
  I just rise to inquire of the majority leader what his thinking is 
about the movement of a farm bill or the extension of the current farm 
program for a year. What is the current thinking of the majority leader 
on that subject?
  Mr. DOLE. Obviously, I share the concern expressed by the Senator 
from North Dakota.
  Let me first indicate, there will be no more votes today, because I 
have had inquiries.
  It is my understanding that at 3:30 or 4 o'clock this afternoon, 
there was a discussion of the so-called farm bill with different 
representatives from the White House and others who were there. I would 
like to see it part of this package that I hope we can agree on that 
will give us a balanced budget but still include the agriculture 
legislation. It is important not only to the Midwest where we are from, 
but very important to consumers in America and other farmers across 
this country.
  A 1-year extension, if everything else fails, might be an option. As 
the Senator knows, if that does not happen, we go back to, what is it, 
1948, 1949, which would not be very productive, in my view. It would be 
very high price supports. So I am hopeful that we can work--we are 
working in a bipartisan way. I say to the Democratic leader, talking 
about when we get to agriculture, it must be one of the areas we must 
agree on if we are going to come together and pass a package.
  Mr. DORGAN. I appreciate the answer. I point out, as the Senator 
knows, the urgency with which many farmers view this process, whether 
it is in or out of a reconciliation bill. I think farmers and their 
lenders need some understanding of what will be the circumstances for 
their planting next year, what might or might not be the price support 
system.
  I am not suggesting there is blame here. I am suggesting somehow we 
need to get to a decision and it might be the extension of the current 
farm bill or it might be a different plan put in the reconciliation 
bill. If a reconciliation bill does not occur, then would there be a 
contingency and does the Senator share the urgency many of us feel on 
this floor about the need to resolve this issue?
  Mr. DOLE. I have been on the Ag Committee--I think I have the record 
of more service on the Ag Committee than any other member on that 
committee. We have gone through this a number of times. Certainly, it 
is very important, very significant for America's farmers. I feel, I 
hope, as deeply as the Senator from North Dakota and others in the 
Chamber, when we have large numbers of farmers and ranchers in our 
States. I hope we can reach some conclusion. If not, we may have to 
look at an extension for a year.
  Mr. DORGAN. Thank you.
  Mr. DOLE. Mr. President, if I can ask the Senator from Nevada to 
yield just one more time.

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