[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 86 (Friday, June 26, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S7294]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      TRADE SANCTIONS COMPENSATION

 Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, yesterday I introduced a bill to 
compensate farmers if we choose to continue using food as a weapon. I 
do not support the use of food in this way, but if this country chooses 
to use food as a weapon, then the producers of that weapon deserve to 
be compensated, just as all other weapons manufacturers are 
compensated.
  Today, ten percent of the world's wheat markets are off limits to 
American farmers because of sanctions. If we include the recent loss of 
the markets in Pakistan and India, sixteen percent of the worlds 
markets are not available. Farmers in my state, and farmers across this 
nation, cannot afford to pay for this foreign policy option out of 
their own pockets.
  This bill amends an existing statute which is so narrowly drawn that, 
despite ongoing sanctions, the statute has not required any 
compensation to farmers. The existing statute requires that the 
sanction be imposed by the executive branch of government, be 
unilateral, and not be joined by any other nation. It also limits 
compensation to three years and allows the Secretary of Agriculture to 
choose between direct compensation and export assistance programs.
  This bill eliminates all of the restrictions in the existing statute 
which preclude it from being of any assistance to farmers hit by 
declining prices caused by lost export markets. The new statute will 
make it clear that, if our government chooses to use food as a weapon, 
then those who produce that food will not alone bear the financial 
burden. I ask that my colleagues join me in passage of this bill to 
ensure fairness in our foreign trade policy.

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