[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 145 (1999), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2127]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




MY GOAL AS A REPRESENTATIVE: ENSURING FEDERAL POLICIES ARE CONDUCIVE TO 
             PRESERVING UNIQUE WAY OF LIFE IN RURAL AMERICA

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentleman from Kansas (Mr. Moran) is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MORAN of Kansas. Mr. Speaker, the Washington Post headlines 
trumpets good news. The economy outpaces growth forecasts, the stock 
market is up, unemployment is down and prices from the grocery store to 
the gas pump are low and stable. The conventional wisdom is that life 
in America is as good as it gets, and perhaps for some Americans it is. 
But behind the statistics lies pockets in this country where the 
economic lives of our citizens are not so good.
  I rise today on behalf of the citizens of rural Kansas, the farmers 
and ranchers, the independent oil producers, senior citizens on fixed 
income and communities leaders struggling to hold on to essential 
services. These folks take little comfort in government statistics 
showing how good the economy is doing. In rural Kansas times are tough. 
Agriculture, still our economic base, is caught in a vice grip of 
depressed prices. Even our most diversified operators are struggling as 
prices for almost everything we produce in Kansas, cattle, corn, wheat, 
hogs, milo, soybeans, are all at historic lows. The new Census of 
Agriculture shows Kansas has 1,685 fewer farms this year than just 5 
years ago. USDA reports that net farm income will be down for the third 
year in a row, and exports are reduced as well.
  The President's new budget fails to address the difficulties in 
agriculture. No new money for crop insurance. Farm program spending is 
reduced, and money for export promotion is cut by 15 percent. Even 
money for our food donation program such as P.L. 480 is cut by almost a 
billion dollars from last year's level.
  Mr. Speaker, we in Congress must find solutions, and removing 
agricultural sanctions is a start. The American farmer cannot continue 
with 52 percent of the world markets threatened by unilateral 
sanctions. I joined in introducing legislation on the first day of this 
session to remove agricultural sanctions, and we must continue to press 
hard on this issue.
  The bottom has been knocked out of the domestic oil and gas industry 
as well. Thirty thousand wells have been shut down in Kansas alone due 
to declining prices. Employment in Kansas' oil and gas industry is down 
from a high of 40,000 jobs to under 13,000 today. According to the 
Kansas Geological Survey, if prices remain at their current levels, oil 
receipts in Kansas will drop 900 million and our State will lose an 
additional 5000 jobs.
  As a country, we have spent billions, even gone to war to protect 
foreign petroleum sources. Should we not do something to preserve our 
domestic industry as well? We now import two-thirds of the oil consumed 
in this country, and this reliance only continues to grow. 
Unfortunately, again, the President's budget is little assistance. 
Energy research and development is cut. No funding is included for 
additional purchases for the strategic petroleum reserve. With oil 
prices at this low level, it is an excellent time to replenish this 
reserve and fill it to full capacity.
  Tax relief for the oil and gas industry must be a priority. I support 
legislation to lower taxes on marginal well production in the United 
States and to create incentives for inactive wells to be brought back 
into production. This industry has been taxed excessively when times 
are good, and we must now provide relief when it is needed.
  Compounding our economic struggles in rural America is the misguided 
Federal policies that threaten the viability of our communities. The 
1997 budget bill made significant cuts on Medicare programs that our 
seniors and hospitals rely upon. The President has proposed in his 
budget yet another round of Medicare cuts to hospitals. For rural 
Kansas, hospitals are already hanging on by a string. Rather than 
another round of hastily crafted cuts we need a long-term plan to 
ensure the solvency of this critical program and to ensure that rural 
health care providers and patients are treated fairly. I, along with 
other Members of the House Rural Health Care Coalition intend to 
advance legislation packaged to restore fairness to rural areas under 
the Medicare program. In addition to improving reimbursements we need 
greater incentives to encourage doctors and other health care 
professionals to practice in rural areas.
  We have a unique way of life in rural America. The rural way of life 
with all of its benefits is part of our national heritage, and it is 
one that is worth fighting to preserve. My goal as a representative in 
1999 is to ensure that Federal policies recognize our uniqueness and 
that they are workable, fair and conducive to carrying on our lives in 
rural America. I look forward to working with my colleagues to 
accomplish these goals this session.

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