[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11573]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             THE FARM BILL

  (Mr. COSTA asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, despite our economic challenges, 
agriculture is one of the bright spots in our economy. Last week, the 
House Agriculture Committee, in an overwhelming bipartisan fashion, 
sent a simple message: We need a farm bill now.
  We have challenges in American agriculture to be sure, such as dairy 
price fluctuations, the current drought affecting crops nationwide, and 
creating a level playing field for farmers to compete in foreign 
markets. This bill isn't perfect, but there's a great deal of consensus 
in it. Our farmers need certainty, and only a farm bill can give them 
that.
  There are 11 days left for the House to vote on a farm bill before 
the August recess. The American people are tired of Congress bickering 
just to keep the lights on. This legislation has bipartisan support in 
the committee and in the United States Senate.
  Madam Speaker, if the leadership of this House is serious about 
providing certainty and promoting economic growth, they will bring this 
legislation to the floor for a vote now.
  The farm bill has traditionally been a bipartisan effort. Let's keep 
it that way.

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