[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 8, 1999)]
[House]
[Page H3826]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


               FUNDING FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED FARMERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from North Carolina (Mrs. Clayton) is recognized for 5 
minutes.
  Mrs. CLAYTON. Mr. Speaker, earlier today we approved an amendment 
related to outreach funding for socially disadvantaged farmers. This 
amendment was offered by our colleague, the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. 
Kaptur), and she is also to be commended. The amendment was accepted by 
the subcommittee chairman, the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen). 
He, too, is to be commended for his support.
  This amendment passed, and the House is to be commended for doing 
that. Let me tell my colleagues why.

                              {time}  1945

  This amendment permits the Secretary of Agriculture to provide 
additional funding for USDA outreach programs for socially 
disadvantaged farmers. Under the amendment, the Secretary may transfer 
up to $7 million to this program.
  The 2501 outreach program targets small and socially disadvantaged 
farmers and ranchers. The program is carried out by colleges and 
universities, including the 1890 land grant institutions. With funds 
from this program, these institutions are able to conduct the vital and 
important work of training and management assistance. Individualized 
farm plans, upgrading accounting systems, effective utilization of the 
vast array of other USDA programs, and the best approaches to applying 
for credit are but a few of the services available at the institutions 
and through this program.
  Mr. Speaker, while the additional dollars provided by this amendment 
will be a great help to our small farmers, especially those who are 
socially disadvantaged, there are other steps that Congress should take 
to assist the 1890 institutions in assisting small farmers. It should 
concern all of us that of the 1,200 Ph.D. degrees recently awarded this 
year in agriculture science in the United States, almost half were 
awarded to non-U.S. citizens, while less than 3 percent were awarded to 
Afro-Americans. We need a program to encourage more Americans, 
particularly Afro-Americans, to pursue graduate-level education in 
agriculture.
  The 1890 institutions could use additional support in their research 
and extension efforts. This additional support is especially needed to 
strengthen the level of performance and the productivity and the 
research and extension of the 1890 institutions.
  A modest increase of not less than 5 percent in formula funding for 
existing 1890 programs would go a very long ways in helping the 1890 
schools to help small farmers. Additional funding resources for 
facility funding and extending such funding to institutional facilities 
is but another prudent resource that would be a wise investment that 
will produce immeasurable returns for small farmers.
  We must also work with the administration to produce either 
legislation or regulations that assures continuation of the Federal 
support when a State fails to provide the matching dollars for the land 
grant institutions. Many of the programs Congress intends to make 
available are not available to these institutions because the State 
matching funds are not often provided.
  Finally, given the state of affairs of small farmers, especially 
socially disadvantaged farmers, a special appropriation of not less 
than $10 million over the next several years should be targeted, and we 
should consider this now as we are now considering the agriculture 
appropriation for the next few years. Targeting to reduce the rapid 
decline of these farmers will be a meaningful investment if we are to 
stop the erosion and the demise of small farmers.
  Mr. Speaker, there can be no doubt that small farmers and ranchers 
are struggling to survive in America. In fact, small farmers and 
ranchers are a dying breed. Indeed, in my home State of North Carolina, 
there has been a 64 percent decline in minority farmers just over the 
last 15 years, from 6,996 farms in 1978 to 2,498 farms in 1992. All 
farmers, all farmers, are suffering under the severe economic downturn 
we are now facing, but particularly small and disadvantaged farmers are 
facing severely.
  Mr. Speaker, I commend the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) and the 
gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen) for their sensitivity to the 
needs of socially disadvantaged farmers, but there is very much more we 
need to do. I hope Congress will be committed to do that in the coming 
years.

                          ____________________