[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 151 (Wednesday, October 21, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               MINNESOTA'S FAIR FARM PRICES NOW PETITION

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                            HON. DAVID MINGE

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 20, 1998

  Mr. MINGE. Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight to commend all the Minnesotans 
who have signed the ``Fair Fram Prices Now'' Petition. I have received 
petitions which were signed by thousands of farmers and citizens of 
rural Minnesota communities. These people have come to Congress with a 
simple request: that they be given a fair price for their hard work. 
They have asked that their elected representatives answer their 
petition by uncapping and raising the marketing loan rate, by extending 
the terms of the marketing loan, and by making crop insurance coverage 
more effective.
  Unfortunately, this outpouring has not been adequately heard by 
Congress. Although the Omnibus Appropriations Conference Report, which 
will be voted on this evening, does provide a substantial agricultural 
disaster package, it does not make the changes which these farmers have 
requested. Uncapping the marketing loan rates would have given 
producers more flexibility in handling the fiscal roller-coaster that 
these families have faced and will continue to face in the coming 
years. Providing more effective crop insurance would give farmers 
another important tool in their tool box with which to combat the 
inherent and uncontrollable risk of their business. Regardless of the 
long-term benefits to farmers of these requests, the crop insurance 
program and the marketing loan program remain the same.
  Again, I commend the citizens of rural Minnesota who have spoken out 
about their need to have fair prices for the commodities which they 
produce. I agree with their request and regret that our leaders in 
Congress have not heard their plea.

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