[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 157 (2011), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9297]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Alabama (Ms. Sewell) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. SEWELL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of farmers and 
producers all across these United States, and especially in the Seventh 
Congressional District of Alabama. As we debate and discuss issues 
surrounding the Agriculture appropriations bill, let us remain mindful 
of the enormous impact that the agriculture sector has had on the 
United States and our world economy.
  Agriculture employs more than 21 million American workers and 
accounts for 15 percent of the total U.S. workforce. In fact, in my 
home State of Alabama, agriculture contributes nearly $5 billion to the 
State's economic sector every year. Any Agriculture appropriations bill 
must take into account the potential economic impact and the 
strengthening of the agriculture sector that is needed for the 21st 
century.
  I understand that we are making very difficult budgetary decisions; 
however, I am concerned that the types of cuts proposed in this year's 
Agriculture appropriations bill are ill-advised and disproportionate. 
This bill reduces the funding for agriculture research programs, 
including the Agriculture Research Service and the National Institute 
for Food and Agriculture, by over $354 million from last year's level.
  Now, I know that that's a substantial cut in very important research 
that must be done, both nationally and within our individual States. In 
fact, the National Institute for Food and Agriculture fulfills this 
mission by supporting research education and extension programs at land 
grant universities like those in Alabama like Auburn, Tuskegee, Alabama 
A&M University and others. We must preserve funding for each of these 
critical and important investments in the future of agriculture 
research and food safety.
  Under this Republican appropriations bill, food and nutrition 
programs like SNAP and child nutrition are funded at nearly $2 billion 
less than the President's budget. SNAP is an important and essential 
program in these challenging times for low-income individuals who 
cannot afford to purchase food for themselves and their families. Since 
the program was created, SNAP has literally saved millions of lives, 
and currently provides essential support to over 165,000 individuals in 
my district alone.
  The proposed funding for the Women, Infants and Children Food 
Assistance program, WIC as it's known, is far below what is needed to 
serve all those individuals who are eligible for benefits. WIC provides 
essential nutrition to new mothers, babies and small children under 5 
that are nutritionally at risk.
  Nearly 50 percent of the babies born in our country each year rely on 
WIC. In Alabama, WIC provides assistance to over 140,000 individuals 
and over 25,000 just in my district alone.
  Contrary to popular belief, this program is cost-efficient, and it 
serves nearly 10 million people each year, costing less than $100 per 
person receiving benefit. The lack of proper funding in this 
appropriations bill is yet another example of Republican attacks on 
hardworking families and children that definitely need assistance for 
nutrition. I cannot stand idly by and let this occur.
  We must ensure that any appropriations bill provides robust and 
adequate funding for these essential programs, both now and in the 
future. The Republican Agriculture appropriations bill reduces funding 
for essential rural development programs by $337 million below last 
year's levels. These reductions disproportionately impact loan 
authority for 502 direct housing programs.

                              {time}  1050

  Without these loans, low-income rural families could not find 
financing options that would help them purchase homes and simply be 
able to live.
  This bill also seeks to reduce funding for agriculture business and 
rural business grants by $20 million below last year's level. In a time 
of economic recovery, we must continue to make strategic investments in 
small and rural businesses, and not make reductions.
  It is important that we who know better do better. Agriculture in our 
global society is of the utmost importance. As our global population 
increases, food security and adequate food production will be necessary 
for our national security, economic development, and our overall 
survival. It is my hope that all on both sides of the aisle will pass 
an agriculture approps bill that is both fiscally responsible, forward-
thinking, and makes economic sense.

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