[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 28 (Tuesday, March 14, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E307]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                       CONGRESSIONAL RURAL CAUCUS

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ALLEN BOYD

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, March 14, 2000

  Mr. BOYD. Mr. Speaker, today more than one hundred of my colleagues 
and I celebrate the formation of the Congressional Rural Caucus. Our 
bipartisan group will serve as a unified voice on behalf of rural 
Americans. One in every four Americans, or 62 million people, reside in 
rural areas and an additional 15 million Americans live in small cities 
and towns. Unfortunately, too often the logistical difficulties rural 
residents face prevent their concerns on issues like education, 
healthcare and agriculture from being heard. Our caucus hopes to share 
with our colleagues in Congress the unique needs of rural citizens and 
remind them of the important contributions rural America makes.
  One of the most important concerns facing rural areas is the current 
agriculture crisis. While the majority of the United States has enjoyed 
a decade of unprecedented economic prosperity, our nation's family 
farmers have not benefited from this abundance. In the wake of NAFTA 
and the implementation of a national farm policy destined for failure, 
America's farmers have suffered, and many are on the verge of 
bankruptcy. This economic distress has impacted not just farmers, but 
the entire rural community.
  Ensuring our farmers have the opportunity to compete with 
international growers on a level playing field is more than an issue of 
protecting the way of life of rural Americans; it is an issue of 
national security. No one wants our country to be dependent on third 
world nations to supply our evening suppers, but if we fail to act now, 
when our farmers are in need, that scenario could become a reality.
  I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Congressional 
Rural Caucus to develop a viable alternative to the 1996 Freedom to 
Farm Act. Now that we are united, our caucus has the strength in 
numbers to turn Congress's attention to this important issue.

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