[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 132 (Monday, September 30, 2013)]
[Senate]
[Page S7037]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             THE FARM BILL

  Ms. STABENOW. Madam President, while I have a moment--I thought that 
there were others wishing to speak--since there are not, I wanted to 
take one more moment to speak about something else that is running out 
today that I am deeply involved in and deeply concerned about.
  That is the 5-year agriculture, nutrition, and conservation policy of 
this country, the farm bill. We have seen the end today of the 
extension that was put in place last year because of House inaction. 
Starting tomorrow, we essentially begin to operate on fumes. We will 
see a time period in a few weeks when we will see the full impact of 
having no farm bill.
  It is incredibly important that we use this time immediately to 
negotiate a final farm bill that will not only reduce the deficit, as 
our bill does by $24 billion, but one that can get a straight 
bipartisan vote as we did here in the Senate with over two-thirds of 
the Senate twice voting for a comprehensive reform bill that addresses 
supporting our farmers and ranchers from a risk management standpoint, 
while eliminating subsidies that do not make sense from a taxpayer 
standpoint, strengthening crop insurance, strengthening conservation to 
protect our land, and air, and water, focusing on regional and local 
foods, farmers markets, small farmers, to support them as well, new 
jobs and bioenergy, as well as investing in rural communities all 
across America through our rural development efforts.
  What we call the farm bill really is the rural economic development 
bill for the country. Some 16 million people work in this country 
because of agriculture. This is the biggest jobs bill we will pass. Our 
farmers and all of those impacted have been waiting and waiting and 
waiting and, frankly, have had enough. They want this to get done.
  So I call on our House colleagues again to join with us to be able to 
finally get this passed into law. This is incredibly important for the 
economy, for small towns such as the one where I grew up in Clare, MI, 
all across Michigan, all across the country.
  It is incredibly important for our efforts to continue to protect our 
soil and our forests and our air and our water and to be able to 
maintain the beautiful outdoors that we do and support for hunters and 
fishermen and others that we do through efforts in the farm bill. It is 
incredibly important that this get done. It is long overdue.
  So I couldn't let this evening go by without indicating that on the 
long list of things that have not been done, the September 30 date is 
incredibly important for rural America, for our farmers and ranchers 
who need help when they have a loss, for our families who need help 
when they have a loss, and for our ability to continue to grow jobs.
  Our largest area of exports is in agriculture. It is a vibrant, 
important part of the economy. There is no excuse for this not having 
already been done. Again, too many games have been played attacking 
families who need help and choosing not to proceed in a reasonable, 
balanced way as we did in the Senate.
  I am recommitting myself again, as I have day after day--and 
tomorrow--to making sure I do everything I possibly can. I call on 
House colleagues and on the Speaker to do everything they can in order 
to finally get a 5-year comprehensive food, farm, and jobs bill done so 
that we may continue to grow a very important part of the economy.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Washington.

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