[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 89 (Thursday, June 20, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E950-E951]
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. EARL BLUMENAUER

                               of oregon

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 18, 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. BLUMENAUER. Madam Chair, the failure by the House to pass the 
Farm Bill is the right outcome for a proposal that would have slashed 
nutrition for poor families and refused reforms to provide more 
benefits to most farmers and ranchers while it protected the largest 
agribusiness interests.
  The authors of the bill refused to address the abuses in crop 
insurance, far greater than in food stamps which they so disdained, 
extended direct payments for cotton, and attacked conservation 
programs. The irony should not be lost on the public: the bill lavished 
extra payments on those who need it the least, hurt poor Americans who 
need the most assistance, and shortchanged typical Oregon farmers and 
ranchers who deserve better.
  I hope that this debacle leads to legislation that is fairer to the 
taxpayer, does not cut support for hungry men, women, and children

[[Page E951]]

(90,921 on food assistance in Oregon alone), and dials back wasteful 
support for large agribusinesses that don't need it.
  I was encouraged that some of our reform proposals for increasing and 
expanding conservation, reducing support for large confined animal feed 
operation, and reforming sugar payments gained significant support. My 
amendment to allow universities to study the industrial uses of hemp 
was even adopted! It's worth noting that one of the amendments to 
implement reasonable limits on the crop insurance program received more 
votes than the Farm Bill itself. Ultimately these are the keys to save 
money, do a better job, and build the political support that is goirkg 
to be necessary for enactment of a Farm Bill that works for all 
Americans.

                          ____________________