[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 176 (Thursday, December 12, 2013)]
[House]
[Pages H8046-H8047]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1545
              TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS

  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill 
(H.R. 3695) to provide a temporary extension of the Food, Conservation, 
and Energy Act of 2008 and amendments made by that Act, as previously 
extended and amended and with certain additional modifications and 
exceptions, to suspend permanent price support authorities, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 3695

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. TEMPORARY EXTENSION OF AGRICULTURAL PROGRAMS.

       (a) Extension.--Except as otherwise provided in this 
     section and notwithstanding any other provision of law, the 
     authorities provided by each provision of the Food, 
     Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246; 122 
     Stat. 1651) and each amendment made by that Act (and for 
     mandatory programs at such funding levels), as in effect on 
     September 30, 2013, pursuant to the extension and amendments 
     made by section 701 of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 
     2012 (Public Law 112-240; 7 U.S.C. 8701 note), shall 
     continue, and the Secretary of Agriculture shall carry out 
     the authorities, until January 31, 2014, except as provided 
     in subsection (b)(1) of such section 701.
       (b) Suspension of Permanent Price Support Authorities.--The 
     provisions of law specified in subsections (a) through (c) of 
     section 1602 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 
     2008 (7 U.S.C. 8782) shall be suspended until January 31, 
     2014.
       (c) Supplemental Agricultural Disaster Assistance.--Section 
     531 of the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1531), as 
     amended by section 702 of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 
     2012 (Public Law 112-240), relating to the provision of 
     supplemental agricultural disaster assistance, shall apply 
     through January 31, 2014.
       (d) Exceptions.--
       (1) Nutrition.--Subsection (a) does not apply with respect 
     to mandatory funding provided by the program authorized by 
     the provision of law amended by subsection (d)(2) of section 
     701 of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Public Law 
     112-240; 7 U.S.C. 8701 note).
       (2) Conservation.--Subsection (a) does not apply with 
     respect to the programs specified in paragraphs (3)(B), (4), 
     (6), and (7) of section 1241(a) of the Food Security Act of 
     1985 (16 U.S.C. 3841(a)), relating to the conservation 
     stewardship program, farmland protection program, 
     environmental quality incentives program, and wildlife 
     habitat incentives program, for which program authority was 
     extended through fiscal year 2014 by section 716 of Public 
     Law 112-55 (125 Stat. 582).
       (3) Trade.--Subsection (a) does not apply with respect to 
     the following provisions of law:
       (A) Section 3206 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act 
     of 2008 (7 U.S.C. 1726c) relating to the use of Commodity 
     Credit Corporation funds to support local and regional food 
     aid procurement projects.
       (B) Section 3107(l)(1) of the Farm Security and Rural 
     Investment Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 1736o-1(l)(1)) relating to 
     the use of Commodity Credit Corporation funds to carry out 
     the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child 
     Nutrition Program.
       (4) Survey of foods purchased by school food authorities.--
     Subsection (a) does not apply with respect to section 4307 of 
     the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 
     110-246; 122 Stat. 1893) relating to the use of Commodity 
     Credit Corporation funds for a survey and report regarding 
     foods purchased by school food authorities.
       (5) Rural development.--Subsection (a) does not apply with 
     respect to the following provisions of law:
       (A) Section 379E(d)(1) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008s(d)(1)), relating to funding 
     of the rural microentrepreneur assistance program.
       (B) Section 6029 of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act 
     of 2008 (Public Law 110-246; 122 Stat. 1955) relating to 
     funding of pending rural development loan and grant 
     applications.
       (C) Section 231(b)(7)(A) of the Agricultural Risk 
     Protection Act of 2000 (7 U.S.C. 1632a(b)(7)(A)), relating to 
     funding of value-added agricultural market development 
     program grants.
       (D) Section 375(e)(6)(B) of the Consolidated Farm and Rural 
     Development Act (7 U.S.C. 2008j(e)(6)(B)) relating to the use 
     of Commodity Credit Corporation funds for the National Sheep 
     Industry Improvement Center.
       (6) Market loss assistance for asparagus producers.--
     Subsection (a) does not apply with respect to section 
     10404(d) of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 
     (Public Law 110-246; 122 Stat. 2112).
       (7) Supplemental agricultural disaster assistance.--
     Subsection (a) does not apply with respect to section 531 of 
     the Federal Crop Insurance Act (7 U.S.C. 1531) and title IX 
     of the Trade Act of 1974 (19 U.S.C. 2497 et seq.) relating to 
     the provision of supplemental agricultural disaster 
     assistance.
       (8) Pigford claims.--Subsection (a) does not apply with 
     respect to section 14012 of the Food, Conservation, and 
     Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-246; 122 Stat. 2209) 
     relating to determination on the merits of Pigford claims.
       (9) Heartland, habitat, harvest, and horticulture act of 
     2008.--Subsection (a) does not apply with respect to title XV 
     of the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008 (Public Law 
     110-246; 122 Stat. 2246), and amendments made by that title, 
     relating to the provision of supplemental agricultural 
     disaster assistance under title IX of the Trade Act of 1974 
     (19 U.S.C. 2497 et seq.), certain revenue and tax provisions, 
     and certain trade benefits and other matters.
       (e) Effective Date.--This section takes effect as of 
     September 30, 2013.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) and the gentleman from California (Mr. Costa) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oklahoma.


                             General Leave

  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks on 
the bill, H.R. 3695.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Oklahoma?

[[Page H8047]]

  There was no objection.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I might consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.R. 3695, which provides a 
temporary extension of the 2008 farm bill.
  I believe this short-term extension provides certainty to everyone 
going into the new year, that permanent law will not be triggered while 
the conference committee continues its work on a new bill. We are 
making significant progress in our negotiations with the Senate, and I 
am confident we will be able to finish the conference report in 
January.
  In the meantime, the reality is that unless we act today, permanent 
law takes effect January 1. The press headlines already speak of doom, 
that we are on the brink of going off the dairy cliff.
  Time magazine says: ``People are freaking out about $8-a-gallon 
milk.'' And there is widespread speculation about what will happen and 
when exactly.
  It is not necessary to have that kind of panic throughout the country 
for producers and consumers, especially around the holidays. This bill 
makes clear what will happen on January 1, and passing it is the 
responsible action to take, given the legislative calendar.
  Furthermore, we are not breaking any new ground. The 2002 farm bill 
was extended six times before the 2008 farm bill was enacted.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge and encourage my colleagues to join me in 
supporting this short-term extension of the farm bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume, 
and I rise in opposition to this bill.
  First of all, I want to thank Chairman Lucas, the gentleman from 
Oklahoma, for all the work that he has done over the years, and my 
appreciation for his efforts in the past few years. It has taken a long 
time to get here, and certainly he has worked very hard to produce a 5-
year farm bill.
  That said, the bill is not needed, and let me tell you why. Chairman 
Lucas and Ranking Member Peterson have been working diligently, as I 
said, with their Senate counterparts, and the conference committee has 
reached an agreement on many of the issues, leaving a few remaining 
issues to be worked out, and we are doing that right now.
  Secretary Vilsack, Secretary of Agriculture, has also indicated that 
should we complete the farm bill in January, as we are talking about, 
that there should not be any problems regarding the potential impacts 
of the dairy title being implemented and, therefore, those impacts of 
the cost of milk being felt by our consumers.
  Extending the current programs through the end of January, which is 
what this bill does, when it looks like we will be able to vote on a 5-
year farm bill early next year, therefore, is not necessary.
  Farmers, ranchers, dairy producers need the certainty of a 5-year 
farm bill. I think we all agree on that. Families, those in need, who 
depend upon the nutrition programs as part of our Nation's safety net, 
need a 5-year farm bill.
  American consumers, those who we produce the food for, and those 
around the world, know that they can depend upon our farmers, our 
ranchers, and our dairy producers to continue providing the safest and 
most affordable food in the world.
  Mr. Speaker, therefore, this measure is not needed. I urge my 
colleagues to vote ``no'' on H.R. 3695 and support a 5-year farm bill 
which we will vote on early in January when we work out the remaining 
differences in the conference committee.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I would note to my colleague I have a couple 
of thoughts myself and I would conclude with that, so if he has 
anything else he would like to address.
  Mr. COSTA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. LUCAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time just 
simply to note to all my colleagues that my friend from California is 
exactly right. The importance of completing this cannot be overstated.
  The progress we have made certainly has been incredible, and we are 
on the verge. I would just simply note to all of my colleagues, as I 
have advocated caution and responsibility throughout this entire 
process, this is an opportunity for Members to cast a vote to 
acknowledge to the folks back home that, no matter what happens in the 
negotiations process, we will not have a dairy cliff. We will not have 
uncertainty for producers and, ultimately, the American consumers.
  Each Member of this body is challenged to do what they think is wise. 
I would simply say to my colleagues, pass the extension, take care of 
business, and we, on the Ag Committee, will take care of our business 
in January.
  With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 3695, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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