[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 123 (Monday, July 30, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1648-E1649]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               FARM, NUTRITION, AND BIOENERGY ACT OF 2007

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 27, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2419) to 
     provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through 
     fiscal year 2012, and for other pruposes:

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Chairman, today I rise in strong 
support of H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition and Bioenergy Act of 2007, 
which would make historic investments in conservation, nutrition and 
renewable energy while maintaining a strong safety net for America's 
farmers and ranchers.
  For the first time, this Farm Bill cracks down on farm subsidies and 
would redirect more than a half billion dollars to working family 
farmers and ranchers. The legislation would provide $4.6 billion in 
funding for important conservation programs, which includes the 
Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), Farm Ranch Lands 
Protection Program (FRPP), and the Wildlife Habitat Incentives Program 
(WHIP). As a member of the House Select Committee on Energy 
Independence and Global Warming, I am pleased that this bill would 
provide $3.2 billion in funding for renewable energy research, 
development and production in rural America. This will expand the role 
of U.S. agriculture in our movement to greater energy independence.
  In addition, this Farm Bill would provide more than $1.5 billion in 
critical funding for specialty crop and organic growers in the United 
States. Under this bill, $365 million in mandatory funding would expand 
the specialty crop block grant program. The block grants are provided 
to states, including Connecticut, to support projects in research, 
marketing, education, pest and disease management, production, and food 
safety. The legislation would also increase and expand the Fresh Fruit 
and Vegetable Snack Program to schools in all 50 States, which will 
continue to encourage healthy diets to our Nation's children. More than 
11,000 dairy farmers in the Northeast will benefit from the extension 
of the Milk Income Loss Contract (MILC) program in the bill.
  Hunger in America is a reality for more than 11 percent of 
households. To this end, the legislation would make a long overdue 
funding

[[Page E1649]]

increase for Food Stamps and nutrition programs by $4 billion over the 
next five years. Among other things, the bill would reform the program 
by indexing asset limits and eliminate the current cap on childcare 
costs to help the working poor meet rising costs. This will benefit the 
estimated 210,000 individuals in Connecticut who receive food stamps 
every month.
  The legislation before us today was a collective effort from members 
of the House Agriculture Committee who made new investments and 
important reforms in this Farm Bill. I would like to especially thank 
Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson for his leadership in 
putting forward a comprehensive bill that meets the 21st century needs 
of the United States and enhances programs in Connecticut. I urge my 
colleagues to vote for a new direction in our Nation's agriculture 
policy.

                          ____________________