[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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