[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 23 (Wednesday, March 6, 2002)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E278]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        LIMITS FOR FARM PAYMENTS

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                            HON. NICK SMITH

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, March 5, 2002

  Mr. SMITH of Michigan. Mr. Speaker are we going to have a vote of 
``yea'' or ``nay'' on limits for farm payments?
  I would first offer a quote by the President from last August, 
``There's a lot of medium-sized farmers that need help, and one of the 
things that we're going to make sure of as we restructure the farm 
program next year is that the money goes to the people it's meant to 
help.''
  The following is a dear Colleague sent out yesterday and signed by 
Representatives Nick Smith, Marcy Kapture, John Hostettler, Earl 
Pomeroy, Earl Blumenauer, Dan Miller, Doug Bereuter, and Tammy Baldwin, 
and I quote, As the farm bill conferees begin deliberations, I ask for 
your help in bringing about meaningful federal farm policy with limits 
on how much money a farm can receive. As President Bush has said, we 
should work to send him a bill that directs support to those it was 
meant to help, namely small and mainstream family farms.
  In response to the Dear Colleague letter dated February 27, 2001 from 
Representatives Chambliss and Berry, one thing should be made clear: 
there are no effective limits for price support payments farmers may 
receive in current law, or in the House-passed farm bill. When the 
$150,000 limit is reached, any producer can continue to receive 
unlimited price support benefits through loan forfeitures and 
certificates. According to the Environmental Working Group's website 
(www.ewg.org) the top 5 recipients from 1996-2000 were: Riceland Foods, 
Inc. $49 million; Farmers Rice Corporation, $38.2 million; Harvest 
States Coop, $23.8 million; Tyler Farms, $28.2 million; Producers Rice 
Mill, Inc., $19.8 million. Do we really want federal farm policy that 
gives unlimited support to huge farm operations?
  Last October, the Smith payment limitation amendment was brought 
before the House under the 5-minute debate rule. Despite the time limit 
on debate and organized opposition, the amendment fell just 26 votes 
short of passage. However, payment limitations successfully moved in 
the Senate farm bill by a vote of 66-31. Now we must resist the efforts 
of those who seek to thwart our efforts to cap farm subsidies. Unlike 
what has been suggested, most states do not have a single farmer who 
would be affected by the limitations we are trying to establish.
  If you have any questions or would like to sign on to the letter of 
Representatives Pomeroy and Bereuter requesting payment limitations, 
contact Representative Pomeroy's office, Representative Bereuter's 
Office, or Representative Smith's office.

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