[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 89 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E927-E928]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       FEDERAL AGRICULTURE REFORM AND RISK MANAGEMENT ACT OF 2013

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. DENNIS A. ROSS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 19, 2013

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 1947) to 
     provide for the reform and continuation of agricultural and 
     other programs of the Department of Agriculture through 
     fiscal year 2018, and for other purposes:

  Mr. ROSS. Mr. Chair, farmers work hard to produce the abundant food 
supply that our nation, and much of the world, needs. However, they 
could not make it on their own.
  They owe much of their productivity to the equipment, practices, and 
inputs, including nutrients and crop protection products, which we have 
in the U.S.
  Sadly, terrorists who will stop at nothing to undermine our way of 
life have illegally manipulated certain agricultural nutrients and 
chemicals.
  In response, the Department of Homeland Security has been developing, 
and implementing a set of security regulations to secure and limit 
access to these products, such as ammonium nitrate.
  The agricultural community understands this and understands the need 
to be vigilant to ensure that we not only have the most productive 
agriculture industry in the world--but also the safest.
  Ammonium nitrate is used as a fertilizer on crops and pastures, 
especially in warm, moist climates like Florida. It is incredibly 
important to the many citrus growers in my district.
  I think all of us want to see effective and prudent regulations 
implemented; however, we also do not want to interfere with legitimate 
access to the nutrients needed by the farmer during the growing season.
  The amendment I am offering with my good friend from Florida, Mr. 
Rooney, would simply ask that the U.S. Department of Agriculture 
participate fully and at senior levels in the development of any 
security regulations regarding a variety of agricultural chemicals 
developed by DHS, or any other agency.
  Once again, I want to thank the Chair and Ranking Member for their 
work on this legislation, and encourage my colleagues to join me in 
passing this important amendment.

[[Page E928]]



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