[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 126 (Thursday, August 2, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1703]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND 
               RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS, JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 31, 2007

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3161) making 
     appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
     Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other 
     purposes:

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the passage of H.R. 
3161, The 2008 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration Appropriations bill. Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro has done 
excellent work to create fiscally and morally responsible legislation 
that reinvests in rural America, protects public health, improves 
nutritional standards for all Americans, all while transforming our 
future energy and conservation goals.
  This legislation represents a new direction in the way we invest in 
our families and our farmers. It is a direction towards improving the 
health and well-being of all communities and to implement policies 
which put middle and working-class families center-stage. In rural 
America, H.R. 3161 provides significant increases to grants and loans 
for critical community facilities, affordable loans for low and 
moderate-income families in rural areas, with no increase in fees, and 
substantially increases affordable loans and grants for farm worker 
housing. There is also a large increase in funding for affordable home 
loans in rural areas that will ultimately double the number of 
homeowners from the 2002 level, by 2010.
  In the areas of public health and nutrition, H.R. 3161 offers more 
than a billion dollars that will provide Americans with jobs in the 
food safety and inspection industry, improves food and drug safety 
regulations, and protects programs that feed women, infants, children, 
and the elderly. This bill increases funds for such programs as the 
Expanded Food and Nutrition Education, Fresh Fruit and Vegetable, and 
Simplified Summer Food programs that provide nutritious foods to 
children in low-income families, as well as specialty crop grants to 
encourage more fruit and vegetable consumption. Most importantly, in 
the Food Stamp Program, this bill not only increases funding to 
accommodate growing participation, but it excludes special pay for 
military personnel in eligibility determination, and rejects the 
administration's proposal to restrict eligibility for food stamps that 
will exclude needy families who are receiving certain other services.
  The Agriculture Committee has also taken into consideration our need 
for renewable energy and conservation by allocating over $2 billion in 
funding for renewable energy loans and grants to businesses to grow our 
economy, create new jobs, lower energy prices, and reduce global 
warming. Furthermore, H.R. 3161 provides resources for research, aid to 
farmers and ranchers, and loans to businesses. The bill also restores 
many programs the President would have cut or eliminated, including the 
Grazing Lands Conservation Initiative, Resource Conservation and 
Development, and the watershed programs.
  Mr. Chairman, I am extremely proud of my colleagues for their efforts 
in maintaining the lifeline of all Americans--our farms, nutrition, and 
energy policies.

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