[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 4, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H2562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            URGENT NEED FOR SUPPLEMENTAL AGRICULTURE FUNDING

  (Mrs. CLAYTON asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, since the Congress began in January, all 
have acknowledged the need to enact emergency legislation to assist our 
small farmers and ranchers.
  The emergency supplemental appropriation for farm loans was the 
result of unprecedented demand for agricultural credit due to the 
persistent low commodity prices across our Nation.
  The Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency, FSA, needs an 
additional $152 million in fiscal year 1999 to provide credit and to 
deliver much-needed services to farmers and ranchers because of the low 
prices and bad weather.
  The conferees have yet to resolve the differences in the emergency 
agriculture supplemental so this desperately needed legislation can be 
brought to the floor of the House for passage of the conference report.
  My colleagues, we truly, truly have an emergency. We must act now. 
The situation is urgent. Let us pass the emergency supplemental so our 
farmers of America can continue to provide the food and fiber we 
desperately need.

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