[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 19]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 26059]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




   THE CONFERENCE REPORT ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2006 AGRICULTURE, RURAL 
    DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
                     APPROPRIATIONS ACT (H.R. 2744)

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. BETTY McCOLLUM

                              of minnesota

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, November 15, 2005

  Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the 
Conference Report on the fiscal year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations 
Act. While this bill takes some positive steps, overall it is a missed 
opportunity.
  This bill provides increased funding for critical food assistance 
programs, including Women, Infants and Children, WIC, and school lunch. 
The conference report also upholds current adjunctive eligibility 
requirements for WIC and Medicaid. This will save local WIC agencies in 
six states, including Minnesota, from having to conduct 275,000 
duplicative eligibility determinations and keep resources devoted to 
nutrition assistance.
  Voluntary conservation programs that I support, such as the 
Conservation Reserve Program, CRP, and the Wetlands Reserve Program, 
WRP, receive $840 million in funding. For generations, farmers and 
others working close to the land have made positive contributions to 
the conservation effort. Programs like CRP and WRP assist landowners in 
reducing erosion, improving soil and water quality, and enhancing fish 
and wildlife habitat.
  Funding for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS, is 
increased to address food safety and emerging diseases, namely avian 
influenza. Prompt action is needed to safeguard against further spread 
of this deadly strain and to be prepared for a potential outbreak at 
home or abroad.
  Despite these positive aspects, Congress missed an opportunity to 
make a real difference in the lives of families by failing to provide 
relief for the millions of Americans facing soaring prescription drug 
prices. I supported language passed by the House of Representatives to 
allow reimportation of prescription drugs. Unfortunately, this 
language--which would have barred the Food and Drug Administration, 
FDA, from preventing prescription drug reimportation--was stripped in 
conference committee for a third year in a row. It is unacceptable for 
anyone to suffer because prescription drugs have become too expensive, 
and it is disappointing that once again Congress has prioritized 
pharmaceutical companies over families.
  This bill also imposes further delays upon implementation of 
mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling, COOL, requirements. COOL provides 
our families with important information on meat, fish, fruits and 
vegetables. It also gives U.S. producers credit for the considerable 
investment they make in the quality and safety of their products. The 
2002 Farm Bill required mandatory labeling by 2004. but the fiscal year 
2004 Agriculture Appropriations Act delayed implementation of COOL to 
2006. This conference report further delays implementation of COOL 
until 2008.

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