[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E846]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REGARDING THE STATE OF AMERICAN AGRICULTURE

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                          HON. DAVID D. PHELPS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                          Tuesday, May 4, 1999

  Mr. PHELPS. Mr. Speaker, let me begin by thanking my colleague Mr. 
Berry for gathering us here to talk about the state of agriculture and 
the dire need for quick action on the Supplemental Appropriations 
measure. There is perhaps no more timely or pressing issue facing our 
nation's farmers and the legislators who represent them in Washington, 
and I am grateful to have the opportunity to participate in this 
discussion.
  The importance of agriculture to the families and economy of 
Illinois' 19th District cannot be overstated, and I am proud to serve 
on the Agriculture Committee, where I look forward to helping to shape 
our nation's agriculture policy. Every one of the communities I 
represent is deeply impacted when agriculture experiences tough times, 
and these are some of the toughest in recent memory.
  The pork industry is still reeling from a crisis, and prices are low 
for other commodities that are critical to my district, such as corn 
and soybeans. The Natural Resource Conservation Service in Illinois and 
many other states is facing a major budget shortfall that will likely 
necessitate office closures or furloughs and has already resulted in 
the suspension of CRP technical assistance services that countless 
farmers depend upon. Farmers are experiencing undue delays in receiving 
disaster assistance and other USDA payments, and Farm Service Agency 
offices throughout the country are understaffed and overworked.
  I urge my colleagues to recognize the urgency of this situation and 
hope we can work together to find both short- and long-term solutions 
to the problems that plague our agriculture community. It seems clear 
to me, in fact, that one short-term solution has already been found, in 
the form of a supplemental appropriations bill that includes $152 
million for USDA. This money will allow the Department to increase loan 
capacity by more than $1 billion at a time when conditions in the 
agriculture economy have increased demand for USDA's farm loan programs 
by 400%. The funding will also provide desperately-needed temporary 
staffing assistance for FSA offices.
  Unfortunately, it has been two months since the President submitted 
his supplemental spending request, and over a month since both houses 
passed their bills. Farmers are already in the fields planting crops 
and USDA is receiving 150 applications for loan assistance every day. 
Meanwhile, conferees have only this week been appointed to begin 
crafting a final supplemental measure, and there is no indication that 
this risk is being undertaken with the urgency it requires. We simply 
must pass this legislation now. America's farmers are counting on their 
representatives in Congress. We cannot let them down during this time 
of crisis.
  Again, Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Mr. Berry for demonstrating his 
commitment to American agriculture and urging us to speak out on this 
important issue.

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