[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 15, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1107]
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, 2012

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                           HON. MARCY KAPTUR

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 14, 2011

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the State of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 2112) making 
     appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
     Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the 
     fiscal year ending September 30, 2012, and for other 
     purposes:

  Ms. KAPTUR. Mr. Chair, in the Appropriations Committee, the majority 
accepted an amendment I offered to restore $1.3 million for the Rural 
Energy for America program. This amendment would place another $1 
million back into the program and put the full House of Representatives 
on record in support of alternative energy in agriculture.
  While we continue to incentivize the agriculture of yesterday, we are 
blindly ignoring the cries of rural America as it attempts to transform 
itself to meet the growing energy needs of a new century. For the first 
time, the 2008 farm bill took a different tack. By investing over $1 
billion in alternative energy, this House recognized that alternative 
energy is inextricably linked with the success of American agriculture.
  While two critical amendments were accepted during full committee 
consideration of the Agriculture Appropriations bill, limits on 
payments for rich farmers and cotton payouts for Brazil, the Rules 
Committee chose not to protect these provisions on the floor but 
instead to protect unprecedented cuts to the energy title of the farm 
bill that by the same logic should be subject to a point of order.
  Why has the House protected the Appropriations Committee's raid on 
the mandatory funds for the Rural Energy for America Program but 
derailed amendments accepted in the full committee? The answer is 
simple, defending a transformation in agriculture is less important 
than protecting the status quo.
  At a time when USDA has made important reforms to REAP and has 
finally begun to implement requirements of the 2008 farm bill, now is 
not the time to back down. 100 years from now, we will look back and 
realize that it was the energy title of the farm bill that inspired 
innovation in agricultural America, not subsidy programs that reward 
practices of yesterday. The Rural Energy for America Program recognizes 
the plea from American's rural small businesses and agricultural 
community and rewards innovation by investing in a future based on 
innovation.
  I commend Representatives Fortenberry and Walz for offering an 
amendment to restore funds for the REAP program and look forward to 
working with my colleagues as we continue to fight on for this program 
as the bill moves toward conference.

                          ____________________