[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 102 (Monday, July 19, 1999)]
[Senate]
[Page S8811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             FAMILY FARMING

  Mr. DORGAN. Madam President, I have been talking about what I hope 
the agenda of the Senate will be in the next weeks as we turn from the 
Patients' Bill of Rights, which consumed all of last week and which was 
a fairly hard-fought debate. The Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, I hope, 
will be a part of that.
  As I indicated on Friday, I also feel very strongly that the majority 
leader and others in this Senate must put at the head of the list of 
items for consideration a piece of legislation that will deal with the 
emergency needs of family farming.
  The economy has collapsed in rural America, and we cannot wait. It 
requires this Congress to act and act soon. We have a farm bill that is 
largely bankrupt. It does not provide support during tough times. It 
pulls the rug out from under family farmers even as market prices have 
collapse. This Congress must do two things: first, pass an emergency 
bill; and, second, rewrite the farm program in a way that says to 
family farmers: You produce food the world needs, we care about that, 
and we are going to help you across price valleys when they occur.
  I will speak more about that later this week. Madam President, I 
yield the floor.

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