[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 44 (Thursday, April 18, 2002)]
[House]
[Page H1480]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        CORRECTION TO THE CONGRESSIONAL RECORD OF APRIL 17, 2002

  The following general leave statement by Mr. Bereuter was 
inadvertently placed under the motion to recommit offered by Ms. 
Jackson-Lee of Texas. It should have been placed under the motion to 
instruct conferees offered by Mr. Smith of Michigan for H.R. 2646, on 
page H1382.

       Mr. BEREUTER. Madam Speaker, this Member rises in strong 
     support of the motion to instruct conferees on the issue of 
     payment limitations which the distinguished gentleman from 
     Michigan (Mr. Smith) has offered.
       It is clear that strong payment limitation language would 
     improve the integrity of the farm program payments and help 
     to retain public support for these programs essential to 
     rural areas. Making this change will also help prevent the 
     overwhelming consolidation of farms that has resulted in a 
     decrease in small- and medium-sized family farm operations. 
     The savings achieved from this provision could then be 
     directed to other worthwhile agricultural programs.
       A survey conducted by 27 land grant universities found that 
     81 percent of the agricultural producers across the country 
     supported placing limits on support payments thereby 
     directing dollars to where they are actually intended. 
     Furthermore, a 2001 General Accounting Office report found 
     that in recent years, more than 80 percent of farm payments 
     were made to large- and medium-size farms. In 1999, for 
     instance, 7 percent of the nation's farms--those with gross 
     agricultural sales of $250,000 or more--received about 45 
     percent of the payments. With Congress facing so many 
     spending priorities, we must demonstrate to our constituents 
     that we are using taxpayers' money more efficiently.
       It is important to note that this motion to instruct 
     expresses support for redirecting these funds to agricultural 
     research and conservation. Our choice is clear--we can 
     continue to funnel millions of dollars to some of the 
     wealthiest farms or we can make an investment in the future 
     of agriculture which will benefit all producers and all 
     Americans.
       Mr. Speaker, this Member strongly supports the motion to 
     instruct and encourages his colleagues to vote for it.

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