[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                           FOOD CHECK-OUT DAY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JON CHRISTENSEN

                              of nebraska

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 1998

  Mr. CHRISTENSEN. Mr. Speaker, Monday, February 9th, was ``Food Check-
Out Day.'' ``Food Check-Out Day'' marks the day when most Americans 
have earned enough money to pay for all the food they will consume for 
the year. American families spend just 10.9 percent of their disposable 
income for food compared to 15 percent in France, 18 percent in Germany 
and 33 percent in Mexico.
  Besides supplying the country with an affordable food supply, the 
American farmer provides jobs to workers off the farm. For each dollar 
spent on food in this country, only 23 cents goes to the farmer; 77 
cents goes to food marketing, processing, retailing, generating 
thousands of jobs for American workers. In my State of Nebraska, 1 out 
of 4 jobs are tied to agriculture.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the farmers and ranchers from my State. 
Without their hard work and dedication to agriculture, the United 
States would not have the safest, let me reiterate the safest, and most 
affordable food supply in the world.

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