[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 147 (2001), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 11892]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]



                THE AGRICULTURAL SUPPLEMENTAL RELIEF ACT

  (Mr. POMEROY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POMEROY. Mr. Speaker, it is another tough year for the farmers of 
this country. Commodity prices once again are below the cost of 
producing the crop. Imagine the frustration of investing one's heart 
and soul and extending virtually everything they own to grow a crop 
that when it is harvested and it is taken to the elevator, the money 
that is received does not even cover the costs they had of growing it. 
That is, of course, if the production season is a good one and a crop 
is actually gotten.
  Yesterday I was in fields in North Dakota that have been totally 
devastated by hail. There will be no crop for these farmers. There will 
be no income of any kind at the elevator. I raise this to everyone's 
attention because in a few minutes we are about to consider the 
Agricultural Supplemental Relief Act. Unfortunately, the Committee on 
Agriculture brings forward a proposal that reduces by about 15 percent 
the amount of relief and support we gave to farmers last year.
  Now farmers' inputs have gone up. It is costing more to grow the 
crop. The prices are still lousy. It is no time to cut relief for our 
farmers. Reject this and increase assistance.

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