[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 150 (2004), Part 14]
[Senate]
[Page 19524]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      AGRICULTURE DISASTER FUNDING

  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, I rise to speak in support of the 
agricultural disaster assistance package that was included in the 
Senate Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Many farmers and ranchers 
in my home State of South Dakota are suffering from their third, fourth 
and even fifth year of drought. As House and Senate differences are 
reconciled, I urge the conferees to retain the important disaster 
provisions that were approved on such a wide bipartisan basis in the 
Senate.
  The drought provisions I supported, along with Senator Daschle, will 
help farmers and ranchers survive a severe drought. While I would have 
hoped producers wouldn't be faced with a choice for assistance for 
either 2003 or 2004, I understand that money is short in these times of 
soaring budget deficits. The Senate disaster assistance plan will 
provide almost $2.9 billion to farmers and ranchers across the country 
who are suffering from agricultural disaster. The $475 million for the 
Livestock Assistance Program, in addition to the $2.464 billion for the 
Crop Disaster Program, are critical to my State.
  This drought package was introduced by my colleagues, Senator Baucus 
and Senator Burns, and with the help of Senator Daschle it was added as 
an amendment to the fiscal year 2005 Homeland Security funding bill by 
a voice vote. A voice vote reflects the overwhelming bipartisan support 
this drought aid package has. It is frustrating that there are members 
of the House majority party who would reduce or even eliminate disaster 
aid funding for ailing farmers and ranchers, or choose to gut other 
crucial agricultural programs to pay for this necessary assistance.
  In 2002, Senator Daschle and I proposed a $6 billion drought package, 
which was opposed by the President and some Members of the House. That 
package was pared down to $3 billion before its passage. The current 
package is very similar to the package that was approved for the 2001-
2002 drought. Thanks to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, 
including Senator Daschle's efforts to secure an opportunity to address 
this issue, we have a drought package that will allow many family 
farmers and ranchers to stay in business through this extensive 
drought.
  Over 23 groups expressed their support for the disaster assistance 
provisions in the Homeland Security funding bill for fiscal year 2005 
at the beginning of this week, including the National Farmers Union, 
American Farm Bureau Federation, American Soybean Association, and 
National Association of Wheat Growers, to name a few. Such wide and 
strong support not only speaks to the number of producers who require 
assistance, but also to the merit of the provisions accepted in the 
Senate bill.
  Drought is a real disaster and we must treat it as such. I am hopeful 
that my colleagues in the House realize how important this issue is for 
our agricultural producers, who are the economic engines of our rural 
communities and the backbone of our Nation. The Senate passed 
agricultural disaster assistance in a broad bipartisan manner, and I am 
hopeful that the House will show their support for America's producers 
by ensuring agricultural assistance remains at the levels authorized in 
the Senate bill.

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