[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 80 (Thursday, May 15, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E945-E946]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF CONFERENCE REPORT ON H.R. 2419, FOOD, 
                  CONSERVATION, AND ENERGY ACT OF 2008

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                             HON. PHIL HARE

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 14, 2008

  Mr. HARE. Mr. Speaker, as a Member who represents Illinois farmers 
and rural communities, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2419, the 
Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008.
  The Food, Conservation and Energy Act, which is endorsed by every 
major agriculture group in my home state of Illinois, is good for our 
farmers and maintains our ability to provide a safe, affordable and 
abundant food supply.
  This bill improves nutrition and conservation programs, and supports 
biofuel production at great benefit to the Illinois farm economy.

[[Page E946]]

Most importantly, it extends a critical safety net to help farmers 
manage production risks when facing unsustainably low prices or natural 
disasters.
  Illinois receives the 4th most nutrition dollars in the nation. I was 
happy to see that nearly three-quarters of all farm bill spending will 
go toward food and nutrition programs, including $50 million for food 
pantries to address the rising costs of food and food shortages.
  The bill also increases conservation spending to safeguard 
agricultural lands from the pressures of urban and suburban 
development, and to protect our natural resources.
  Finally, the bill makes critical investments in Illinois' rural 
communities through biofuel production, telecommunications and 
wastewater infrastructure projects, and healthcare. In this time of 
economic. hardship, we look to new industries to rebuild the economy of 
Illinois and the rest of the country. This bill puts $1 billion in 
programs that will leverage renewable energy industry investments in 
new technologies and feedstocks. It also provides $320 million for 
biorefineries producing advanced biofuels, and $300 million for the 
Bioenergy Program, which directly impact Illinois.
  I urge my colleagues to support final passage of this comprehensive 
legislation that funds important programs for rural and urban 
constituents across Illinois and our Nation.

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