[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 67 (Friday, May 22, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H3760]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH BILL

  (Mr. BECERRA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, S.1150 will come up, the rule will come up 
in just a few moments. I would like to echo the remarks of my friends 
and colleagues, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm) and the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Dooley).
  We had a very delicately balanced package that addressed the needs of 
our farmers in America and addressed the needs of those in America who 
are hungry. It was a very difficult compromise to make because there is 
such a need out there in these various communities. Yet, we were able 
to strike that accord, bipartisan accord, rural and urban American 
accord.
  On the Senate side, 92 votes came out in support of this bill. In 
conference, it was a unanimously supported conference report. All of a 
sudden, now we have a rule on this bill here in the House that would 
destroy that delicate compromise, the balance that was achieved.
  Unfortunately, what it does is it guts the funding for the crop 
insurance aspect of this, for the agricultural research aspect of this, 
and for the dollars necessary to try to help those who are in need of 
food. We cannot let this happen.
  I would urge a no vote on the rule.

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