[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 6, 1996)]
[Senate]
[Page S888]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            A NEW FARM BILL

  Mr. BOND. Let me move on to another item that was included in that 
Balanced Budget Act of 1995 that was vetoed by the President and that 
has been addressed already today on the floor. That is a new farm bill.
  During the last several days, when farmers and all the rest of us 
came inside, I had the opportunity to talk to and hear from and answer 
a lot of questions from farmers in my State. They said, ``Why don't we 
have a farm bill?''
  I said, simply, the President vetoed the first one and we were 
unsuccessful in getting the votes to end the filibuster.
  They said, ``What are they filibustering?''
  I said that is the difficult point. They do not have an alternative.
  These people said, ``We cannot go back to the old farm bills. What 
are we going to do?''
  I said, ``Well, we are going to try again to break the filibuster so 
the farmers of America and the people who depend on and work with the 
agricultural sector will know what the ground rules are.''
  These people who talk to me said, ``We want flexibility. It is a lot 
better for our land. It is a lot better for the environment. It is a 
lot better for us if we can rotate our crops and we are not locked in 
to planting corn to keep our corn base,'' or other crops in which they 
have a base. They said, ``We need to be able to choose what is right 
for our farming operation, our land, and what we think is best for the 
market.''
  I said, ``Basically, that is the Freedom To Farm Act.''
  I think the Leahy-Craig substitute amendment represents the 
opportunity that the people of America, certainly the farmers in my 
State, have been looking for: to move forward in a bipartisan way to 
shape policy on behalf of our Nation's farmers and consumers. The 
modified freedom-to-farm legislation offers reform, opportunity, 
flexibility and predictability in a fiscally responsible way and with 
the growing support of Members on both sides of the aisle.
  I have said farmers in my State have supported the bill. We have 
reform groups, such as Citizens Against Government Waste, who support 
this because it does save money. We have the Farm Bureau, corn growers, 
Cotton Council, cattlemen, pork producers, and the many others who have 
already been named by my colleagues who have spoken before. I concede 
we do not have all of the fringe groups who are working to come up with 
something that fits their particular interest.
  I know there is apprehension by some, simply because the reform 
measure represents change. But I will tell my colleagues, the young 
farmers, the men and women who are going to be providing food and fiber 
for the future are ready for change. They want to move away from 
farming for the mailbox to farming for the marketplace. They want to be 
able to determine what is best for their operations and get their 
returns from the marketplace.

  We all know this reform package is the only show in town. There have 
been some good ideas. Others have come up with things. But there is 
simply no consensus alternative that has been offered by those who are 
filibustering. There is no constituency for these alternative ideas 
that spring up and disappear. Neither producers nor farmers that I know 
of are supporting it.
  I must say, I am deeply troubled by one proposal opponents have 
offered, which would cut farm payments by 60 percent. Some have said on 
this floor that farmers have high prices, are making money, and having 
high income. Mr. President, my farmers are not in that situation. My 
farmers have been hit by flood, by drought, by frost. They have no crop 
to sell in some instances. They are faced with a refund of last year's 
advance deficiency payments.
  It does not matter if the crops are bringing high prices if you do 
not have anything to sell. Farmers want and deserve predictability, 
flexibility, and simplicity associated with a 7-year contract. A known 
stream of payments will provide certainty to farmers, lenders, and the 
taxpaying public. It will promote security during difficult economic 
times, and I think farmers can manage a predictable income stream to 
mitigate economic risks better than Washington can.
  I applaud Senator Dole, Senator Lugar, and Senator Leahy for bringing 
this bipartisan approach together. We need the votes to end the 
filibuster. I urge my colleagues to support the cloture motion.
  Several Senators addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi is recognized.

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