[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 160 (2014), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 2161]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             SUPPORT THE CONFERENCE REPORT ON THE FARM BILL

  (Mr. SMITH of Nebraska asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SMITH of Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, ag producers have waited nearly 3 
years for a long-term farm bill, and I would like to thank my 
colleagues for their efforts thus far. Policy certainty will help our 
country be competitive.
  Last year, conferees were appointed to negotiate and resolve 
differences between the House and Senate versions of the farm bill. The 
House bill included language meant to encourage compromise on a fix to 
avoid trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico and bar individual 
States with unscientific laws from disrupting interstate commerce, 
something which will only burden producers and increase costs for 
consumers.
  I tend to believe if we are going to call a piece of legislation the 
farm bill, the measure ought to recognize that farmers and ranchers are 
the primary stewards of our natural resources, as well as the animals 
in their care.
  This farm bill does include important reforms, such as eliminating 
direct payments, and it helps hardworking taxpayers in finding an 
estimated $23 billion in savings.
  Ultimately, Mr. Speaker, I support this return to regular order. For 
these reasons, I will support the conference report before us today, 
but it is my hope this body will act quickly to find solutions to the 
outstanding issues not addressed in this bill.

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