[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 144 (Monday, October 12, 1998)]
[House]
[Pages H10642-H10643]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1930
   URGING CONGRESS TO COMPLETE LEGISLATION ON DISASTER RELIEF, TRADE 
POLICIES, AND TAX ASSISTANCE FOR FARMERS AND RANCHERS BEFORE CONCLUDING 
                                SESSION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Blunt). Under a previous order of the 
House, the gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight as we are hopefully 
concluding this legislative congressional session in hopes that before 
we return to our respective districts at home, that we make certain 
that certain business before this Congress is concluded.
  We have all been made aware over the last several months, really over 
the last year, about how serious of a problem American agriculture 
faces as our farmers, because of significant reductions in commodity 
prices, but also because of weather and disease, have fared so poorly 
in 1998.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that in these final days of this session, as we 
try to find the solutions to our problems and reach the compromises 
that we desire and that are reasonably acceptable to a majority of 
Members of Congress, we do not lose sight of the crisis that American 
farmers and ranchers face.
  Mr. Speaker, I hope that before we return home and the final gavel of 
this session reaches the desktop, that we make certain that the 
disaster relief bill, at least a version of what we have previously 
passed by this House and the Senate, although vetoed by the President, 
I hope that we get disaster relief passed and included in that final 
appropriation bill.
  In addition, Mr. Speaker, we have passed legislation which helps open 
markets around the world. The Agricultural Trade Embargo Act, offered 
by the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Ewing), has passed this House. As I 
talked to the farmers across my district, it is clear they understand 
the importance of exports, exports, exports, and trade, trade, trade.
  When my farmers and ranchers hear that 52 percent of the people in 
this world live in countries that we cannot sell to, that they cannot 
sell to, they know that Congress and the President have failed in their 
responsibilities.
  Under the current farm bill, we have told American agriculture to 
farm the markets. We have told American agriculture to go out and find 
the countries to sell to, and to sell the commodities that the world 
demands. Yet, this Congress and this administration have failed to open 
those markets and make them available to the farmers and ranchers 
across this country.
  So I encourage the inclusion of significant changes in the law that 
prohibit future embargoes and sanctions, and also that repeal the 
embargoes and sanctions that are currently on the books, where 
appropriate.
  I hope that we take care of disaster relief, I hope we do something 
for trade sanctions and embargoes, and in addition, I hope that we do 
not leave the issue of taxes and the farmer and rancher and small 
businessman and woman and oil producer unattended before we conclude 
this session. Clearly we need help when it comes to the tax burdens 
faced by our farmers and ranchers.
  So again, disaster assistance, trade embargoes, and tax relief are 
important. Finally, I would encourage, once again, the administration 
to use the export enhancement program. For almost 2 years now, I have 
begged, pleaded, encouraged, demanded, insisted, requested, without any 
success, that this administration utilize the Export Enhancement 
Program that, at least in

[[Page H10643]]

the appropriation bill as passed by the House and Senate, was increased 
from $150 million to $550 million.
  What clearer message could we send to this administration about the 
importance of the Export Enhancement Program than to increase its 
funding so significantly. Yet, nothing seems to happen in regard to the 
use of the Export Enhancement Program for the commodities that many 
farmers and ranchers care about.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I hope that before we conclude this session, 
before those of us who are anxious to return home are allowed to return 
home, and before we can feel good about returning home, we will be able 
to say that we have taken good care of the stewards of this land, and 
we have provided the assistance required and necessary of the farmers 
and ranchers of Kansas and the other States in this country.

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