[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 146 (2000), Part 17]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 24690]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



     IN SUPPORT OF THE FISCAL YEAR 2001 AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS 
                           CONFERENCE REPORT

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JAMES H. MALONEY

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, October 24, 2000

  Mr. MALONEY of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 
4461, the Fiscal Year Agriculture Appropriations Conference report. 
Although this bill is flawed, it contains critical provisions which 
reflect my commitment to providing seniors access to lifesaving 
prescription medications. The measure provides $78.5 billion--$3 
billion more than the House-passed bill--for critical programs from 
prescription drugs to hunger, food safety, and clean water.
  I vigorously support efforts to increase seniors' access to 
affordable prescription drugs. This Conference agreement allows U.S. 
pharmacies and wholesalers to buy American-made prescription drugs 
abroad and reimport them into the United States. Since these drugs are 
often sold abroad at prices significantly below those charged in the 
United States, America consumers will be able to purchase these 
reimported drugs at lower prices than they would otherwise pay.
  Although I support the reimportation provisions, this step should not 
be mistaken as a substitute for much-needed prescription drug coverage 
under Medicare. I continue to urge my colleagues to join me in calling 
for the enactment of a comprehensive prescription drug program to be 
included as a part of all Seniors' basic Medicare benefits.
  In addition to addressing the problem of prescription drugs for 
seniors, the Conferees have taken steps to ameliorate several other 
pivotal issues in the House-passed bill. The report addresses the 
ongoing prevalence of hunger and food insecurity in America by 
incorporating sections of H.R. 3192, the Hunger Relief Act. Low-income 
families are currently disqualified from participation in the food 
stamp program if they own a car worth more than $4,650, or if they pay 
monthly housing costs of more than $275. As a cosponsor of the Hunger 
Relief Act, I am pleased that under this report both vehicle and 
housing expenses would be updated to more accurately reflect the 
expense of reliable transportation, and the high cost of housing 
incurred by America's working families--allowing increased 
participation in the nation's first line of defense against hunger.
  The measure also improves upon the House bill by providing sufficient 
funding for critical food safety and conservation programs. The 
Conference measure increased funding for the Food Safety and Inspection 
Service by more than $22 million, which will help minimize 
contamination and ensure consumer food safety. Additionally, the bill 
provides additional funding for state water quality grants and 
conservation programs, which include essential flood prevention 
operations.
  Unfortunately, the Conference committee did not act in the best 
interest of our children, or our farmers, when it agreed to a $500 
million subsidy for tobacco companies. I have worked hard to protect 
America's children from the dangers of tobacco, and I have supported 
long-term solutions to the fundamental problems facing the small 
family-run tobacco farm, which is why I am deeply dismayed that the 
Conferees have included such an ill conceived provision that undermines 
the health of our children and the viability of the struggling family 
farm.
  My colleagues, as unsatisfactory as some of the provisions in this 
bill may be, it is up to us to do everything in our power to provide 
access to prescription drugs that can mean the different between life 
and death, or between health and chronic disease, for senior citizens. 
Although the Agriculture Appropriations Conference Report is not a 
perfect bill, I urge you not to let the perfect be the enemy of the 
good. For that reason, I support H.R. 4461, the Fiscal Year 2001 
Agriculture Appropriations Conference report.

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