[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 17]
[Senate]
[Pages 24583-24584]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



 AGRICULTURE, CONSERVATION, AND RURAL ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2001--Resumed

  Mr. DORGAN. Mr. President, the underlying farm bill is on the floor 
of the Senate. When you talk about economic recovery and economic 
stimulus, what can promote economic recovery better in this country 
than to help those on America's farms? Recovery, in my judgment, begins 
at the roots. It seems to me that what has always nourished America has 
rolled from the family farms to the small towns and big cities. Whether 
it is economic opportunity or economic progress, family values have 
always nourished our country.
  Our farmers are in significant trouble. We have struggled and fought 
and scrapped and tried to get this bill to the floor of the Senate. We 
have the Secretary of Agriculture calling around saying don't do it. In 
fact, the Secretary of Agriculture pushed very hard to prevent the 
House from doing it, and Congressman Combest, who is of the other 
political party--God bless him--said: I am going to do it anyway. It 
needs to be done; it ought to be done now. And he did it, and ran a 
farm bill through the House. Good for him.
  We are struggling to get a farm bill through the Senate. Senator 
Harkin brought a farm bill from his committee, and it is now on the 
floor of the Senate.
  Let me read from a letter of December 10 addressed to Senator Daschle 
and Senator Lott. It says:

       The undersigned farm, commodity and lender organizations 
     write to thank you for

[[Page 24584]]

     your efforts to expedite the debate and consideration of a 
     new farm bill in the United States Senate, and urge that the 
     legislation be completed in a timely manner without delay. We 
     believe it is vitally important that this legislation be 
     enacted this year to provide an important economic stimulus 
     to rural America before Congress adjourns.
       We fully understand the policy differences exist regarding 
     this important legislation, and would encourage a healthy 
     debate on these issues. However, we are very concerned that 
     the timeframe to pass this legislation is rapidly drawing to 
     a close. We believe this will require the Senate to complete 
     a thorough debate and achieve passage of the legislation by 
     Wednesday evening, December 12th.

  I will include in the Record a list of who is who in American 
agriculture. It is virtually every organization: American Farm Bureau, 
National Farmers Union, National Corn Growers, National Cotton Council. 
Virtually every organization that represents family farmers is asking 
this Senate to do the right thing, to consider this farm bill, move it 
along today, tomorrow, or the next day, and offer amendments to try to 
get it out of the Senate and get it into conference so we can put a 
bill on the desk of the President for signature.
  My hope is that we can do that before we leave town. It is a 
struggle. It is not easy, but it is achievable.
  I ask unanimous consent that the letters be printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the letter was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                                December 10, 2001.
     Hon. Tom Daschle,
     Majority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Trent Lott,
     Minority Leader, U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senators Daschle and Lott: The undersigned farm, 
     commodity and lender organizations write to thank you for 
     your efforts to expedite the debate and consideration of a 
     new farm bill in the United States Senate, and to urge that 
     the legislation be completed in a timely manner without 
     delay. We believe it is vitally important that this 
     legislation be enacted this year to provide an important 
     economic stimulus to rural America before Congress adjourns.
       We fully understand that policy differences exist regarding 
     this important legislation, and would encourage a healthy 
     debate on these issues. However, we are very concerned that 
     the timeframe to pass this legislation is rapidly drawing to 
     a close. We believe this will require the Senate to complete 
     a thorough debate and achieve passage of the legislation by 
     Wednesday evening, December 12.
       We urge you to allow members an opportunity to offer 
     amendments that are relevant to the development of sound 
     agricultural policy while opposing any amendments designed to 
     delay passage of this important legislation by running out 
     the clock prior to the adjournment of Congress.
       New farm legislation must be enacted this year to stimulate 
     and stabilize our rural economy that has been in an economic 
     downturn for five years with no turn-around in sight. Unlike 
     many sectors of the economy, production agriculture did not 
     share in the economic growth of the last decade and has been 
     devastated by depressed commodity prices, declining market 
     opportunities and increasing costs.
       It is critical to producers, farm lenders and rural 
     communities that a new farm bill be approved this fall to 
     provide the assurance necessary to plan for next year's crop 
     production.
       We encourage you and your colleagues in the Senate to 
     complete action on a new farm bill as soon as possible to 
     provide adequate time for a conference with the House of 
     Representatives in order to ensure a final bill can be 
     enacted this year.
           Sincerely,
       Agricultural Retailers Association.
       Alabama Farmers Federation.
       American Association of Crop Insurers.
       American Bankers Association.
       American Corn Growers Association.
       American Farm Bureau Federation.
       American Sheep Industry Association.
       American Soybean Association.
       American Sugar Alliance.
       CoBank.
       Farm Credit Council.
       Independent Community Bankers Association.
       National Association of Farmer Elected Committees.
       National Association of Wheat Growers.
       National Barley Growers Association.
       National Cooperative Business Association.
       National Corn Growers Association.
       National Cotton Council.
       National Farmers Organization.
       National Farmers Union.
       National Grain Sorghum Producers.
       National Milk Producers Federation.
       National Sunflower Association.
       South East Dairy Farmers Association.
       Southern Peanut Farmers Federation.
       The American Beekeeping Federation.
       U.S. Canola Association.
       U.S. Dry Pea and Lentil Council.
       U.S. Rice Producers Association.
       United Egg Producers.
       Western Peanut Growers Association.
       Western United Dairymen.

  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Wyoming.

                          ____________________