[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 108 (Tuesday, August 4, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1532]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  EMERGENCY FARM FINANCIAL RELIEF ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. RON KIND

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, August 3, 1998

  Mr. KIND. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of S. 2344, the 
Emergency Farm Financial Relief Act. But I do so with a word of 
caution.
  This legislation would allow certain farmers who have been hit hard 
by disastrous weather and crop disease to receive their 1999 Freedom to 
Farm market transition payments on October 1, 1998. It is important, 
however, that we not fool ourselves into thinking that this is a cure-
all.
  While the farm economy desperately needs this money, all this bill 
really does is permit needy farmers to receive the payments they would 
normally use to pay for their Spring planting early. The real question 
is, what happens next Spring?
  While this bill is a first-step to help the depressed agriculture 
industry, this bill does not address the basic discrimination built 
into the 1996 Farm Bill. Instead it just postpones the inevitable. 
Unlike producers of most other commodities, dairy farmers did not 
receive seven-year transition payments. Like those other commodities, 
dairy is being asked to reform its outdated system and compete on the 
world market without the benefit of these payments.
  Dairy prices are very volatile and the industry is undergoing 
tremendous structural change. Unfortunately, while I am happy to help 
hard-pressed farmers of other regions, I am very disappointed that this 
Congress is incapable of helping the American dairy farmer. This bill 
is yet another instance which points out the inequity of this country's 
agriculture policy.
  Mr. Speaker, when considering farm emergency assistance, this 
Congress must not forget the plight of the American dairy farmer.

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