[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 136 (Thursday, September 24, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H9903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        PLIGHT OF FARMERS AND FARM WORKERS IN CENTRAL CALIFORNIA

  (Mr. DUNCAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DUNCAN. Mr. Speaker, over the last few days, thanks to Sean 
Hannity, millions of people have seen or heard about the plight of 
farmers and farm workers in central California. In some areas, over 40 
percent are unemployed and many thousands are having to stand in food 
lines so their families can have something to eat.
  Farms have dried up because the Federal Government has cut off their 
water to save a 2-inch minnow elsewhere. This will drive up food costs 
elsewhere.
  What many do not know is that the House voted on this issue twice, on 
June 18 and again on July 23. On the first vote, 171 Republicans voted 
for the farmers, 215 Democrats voted for the minnow. On the second 
vote, 176 Republicans, all but one, voted for the farmers. All but 
three Democrats voted for the fish.
  Unfortunately, neither vote was close. Wealthy environmentalists won. 
The farmers and farm workers lost.

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