[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 148 (2002), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Pages 12312-12313]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  DISASTER ASSISTANCE FOR AGRICULTURE

  Mr. HAGEL. Mr. President, I rise this morning to speak about the 
severe drought gripping much of our Nation. The situation is developing 
into a national problem, a big problem that can no longer be ignored.
  Last week in Nebraska, I met with farmers and livestock producers who 
have witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by this drought. For 
many agricultural producers in Nebraska and throughout America, hope is 
again for this growing season. Their crops are wilted and their 
pastures are scorched and bare. These producers need assistance. For 
them, there are no options left. Drought is not just a Nebraska 
problem; it is a national problem.
  According to the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University 
of Nebraska, about 15 percent of the country experiences drought in a 
typical year. Today, more than 40 percent of the entire country is 
suffering from drought. The West is bone dry. ``Exceptional'' and 
``extreme'' drought, as it is termed by the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration, NOAA, has ravaged the Southwest as well as 
Wyoming, Montana, and parts of Texas. The Southern States, along with 
sections of New England, such as represented by the distinguished 
Presiding Officer, and the Mid-Atlantic States are also reeling from 
drought.
  This past spring was the driest in 107 years of data reporting in 
Colorado and the second driest in Arizona and southern California. Keep 
in mind, it is only July 9. To add to this problem, the drought has 
brought swarms of grasshoppers which are now infecting many parts of 
Nebraska as well as the entire Midwest.
  The economic effects of drought are often hard to measure. Unlike a 
hurricane or tornado, droughts area measured in years, sometimes 
decades. The worst drought in recent memory, in the summer of 1988, 
covered almost 40 percent of the entire United States. It cost an 
estimated $40 billion. Compare that to Hurricane Andrew in 1992, which 
cost about $30 billion.
  The bad news is the current drought could be much worse than the 
drought of 1988, considering we still must endure July and August, the 
hottest months of the year. Already, Nebraska is estimating at least 
$307 million damage to its economy, with the loss to crops and 
pastureland alone estimated at $150 million. Again, this is only a 
midyear estimate.
  Government action is now necessary. Congress is quick to respond to 
floods, earthquakes, and hurricanes. Now we must respond to this 
national drought. Some of my colleagues may second-guess the need for 
additional agricultural assistance. After all, Congress, for the past 3 
years, has provided billions of dollars for supplemental agricultural 
spending, mostly due to low commodity prices. Emergency payments were 
supposed to cease with passage of the new farm bill this year.
  Clearly, the new farm bill, which will spend an estimated $180 
billion or more

[[Page 12313]]

over the next 10 years, provides almost no safety net for farmers and 
ranchers hurt by drought. That is one of the farm bill's biggest 
faults, as Senators Roberts and Lugar pointed out often during the farm 
bill debate on the floor of the Senate. Increased price supports could 
not help much when there is no crop to be harvested.
  During the Senate farm bill debate, Senator Lugar brought up the idea 
of expanded crop and livestock revenue insurance. Senator Roberts 
called for more emphasis on direct, decoupled, nonproduction-related 
payments. Both are solid, sound ideas, but Congress did not listen. Now 
we must play with the cards we have dealt ourselves.
  It is important we do not hold drought-plagued agricultural producers 
hostage to a shortsighted farm bill. The President said any new 
agricultural disaster aid must come from the $73.5 billion in new 
agricultural funding. I agree with the President. We should find the 
necessary offsets for this new funding. But we must act quickly to find 
the necessary disaster aid to help minimize the drought's impact on 
local economies. America will see a ripple effect on these economies. 
The economies of many States are directly tied to agriculture and food 
production.
  We are not limited to just an agricultural disaster package. There 
are other ways in which Washington is helping our agricultural 
producers this year.
  Secretary Veneman has been making disaster declarations for counties 
across the country, which allows eligible agriculture producers to 
receive emergency low-interest loans. She has approved grazing and 
haying on Conservation Reserve Program acres throughout the country, 
including almost 40 Nebraska counties.
  Also, I would like to remind my colleagues of an important bill 
recently introduced by the senior Senator from New Mexico. Senator 
Domenici's National Drought Preparedness Act S. 2528 would move us away 
from the costly, ad-hoc, response-oriented approach to droughts to a 
comprehensive, pro-active national drought policy. We need an 
established program that will allow local, State, and Federal 
Governments to work together--to coordinate a drought preparedness 
strategy.
  Droughts do not happen overnight, and the damage they cause to the 
economy and environment do not go away with one measurable rainfall. 
Government cannot bring an end to the drought or bring pastures and 
crops back to life. But we can help our agriculture producers survive, 
weather this crisis, and prepare for the next growing season. With many 
of my colleagues in the House and Senate, I am working on an emergency 
drought disaster package to bring before the Congress.
  I urge all of my colleagues to help find a responsible way to get 
America's agriculture producers the help they need--as soon as 
possible.
  I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, how much time do the Republicans have?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Republicans have 5 minutes 30 
seconds.
  Mr. REID. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, the clerk will 
call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mrs. BOXER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the order for the 
quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.
  Mrs. BOXER. Will the Presiding Officer advise me if the time of the 
Republicans has run out?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The time of the Republicans has 
expired.
  Mrs. BOXER. Thank you very much, Mr. President.
  What is the order now?
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader or his designee 
has control of the remaining 20 minutes.
  Mrs. BOXER. Thank you very much, Mr. President.

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