[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 146 (Wednesday, October 14, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2163]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   AGRICULTURE'S UNFINISHED BUSINESS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JERRY MORAN

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, October 14, 1998

  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on behalf of America's 
farmers and ranchers. Agricultural producers make up only two-percent 
of the U.S. population, yet they are productive and efficient enough to 
safely and inexpensively feed this country and much of the rest of the 
world. Our agricultural production system is the envy of the world, but 
we cannot take it for granted.
  Mr. Speaker, farmers and ranchers work hard for us. Tonight I call on 
Congress and the President to return the favor.
  Agriculture is different than other U.S. industries. It is a sector 
that is at the whims of both government policies and the global 
economy. Unfortunately, neither one of these influences are controlled 
by the Kansas farmer. The collapse of the Asian economy has beaten down 
prices like a hailstorm ripping across the Kansas plains. According to 
the U.S. Treasury Department, Kansas' agricultural exports to Asia have 
fallen by 20%. Through no fault of their own, Kansas farmers will miss 
out on over $2 billion in farm income due to lost markets and low 
prices. We need to take action, not just for today, but for the next 
generation.
  In the short-term, the most important issues is the disaster relief 
bill for agriculture. This bill passed both the House and Senate, only 
to be vetoed by the President. The passage of this legislation could 
not be more timely or important. The price decline, combined with the 
weather and transportation problems, has left many farmers and ranchers 
in dire straits. Congress and the President need to put aside their 
differences to pass a meaningful relief bill.
  In the long-term, removing sanctions and foreign subsidies must be a 
to priority for Congress. I am pleased that a bill to limit agriculture 
embargoes has passed the House. This bill should be approved by the 
Senate and sent to the President for him to sign into law. Congress 
should then focus on repealing sanctions that currently damage our 
producers and work to ensure that new sanctions are done only as a 
measure of last resort, and not a knee-jerk reaction to the problem of 
the day. If this is going to be a global agricultural economy, we in 
the U.S. have to give our farmers a chance to sell and market around 
the globe.
  Subsidies must also be addressed. The Export Enhancement Program, one 
of our only programs available to promote agriculture exports, has been 
left unused since I arrived in exports, an increase of 300%. The U.S. 
is still being out spent by nearly $7 billion by the European Union. To 
do nothing is the worst response possible. We cannot afford to stand by 
while our competitors take away markets by using aggressive government 
subsidies.
  Mr. Speaker, we owe a lot to the American farmer. Working together on 
their behalf is the least we can do. It is time to act.

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