[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H8539]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        MEANINGFUL ASSISTANCE REQUIRED FOR AMERICAN AGRICULTURE

  (Mr. CHAMBLISS asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CHAMBLISS. Mr. Speaker, America is in danger of losing its number 
one industry, agriculture.
  Mr. Speaker, 1998 has been a disastrous year for farmers all across 
this great country of ours. And after months of pressure from Congress, 
the answer of the current administration to this problem was to support 
a $500 million disaster package that originated across the way in the 
other body.
  The Republican response to this has been much more meaningful and 
much more sensible. It is a plan that puts money in the pockets of 
farmers immediately to provide short-term relief. There is also a 
package to provide long-term relief in the form of tax incentives and 
tax relief to farmers. This is a meaningful solution to the current 
problem in ag country.
  Now, the administration has come back with a plan that puts farmers 
and this country deeper in debt and will depress prices for the long-
term.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge the administration to cut out the political 
rhetoric and provide real, meaningful leadership in the arena of 
agriculture.

                          ____________________