    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: WILLIAM J. CLINTON (1999, Book II)]
    [October 29, 1999]
    [Page 1915]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Statement on Emergency Agricultural Assistance
    October 29, 1999

        I am pleased today to designate $8.8 billion in emergency assistance
    for our Nation's farmers and ranchers, to help them recover from the
    second year in a row of low commodity prices and, for many, crop
    livestock losses from severe drought and flooding.
        While this assistance will not adequately address all of the needs
    in our farm-based communities, I have taken this step in order to hasten
    payments to farmers and ranchers who simply cannot wait for the
    legislative improvements we have sought. I continue to be concerned that
    the income assistance in the Act is not targeted to producers most in
    need.
        As with last year's disaster assistance, these funds provide only a
    one-year, temporary fix for the overall problems with the farm safety
    net. That is why I call on the Congress to enact a permanent fix to the
    shortcomings in the 1996 farm bill. A major step toward that goal can be
    achieved this year through crop insurance reform legislation if the
    Congress will act.
        I want to thank Secretary of Agriculture Glickman for his work on behalf of American agriculture. I know he
    and his staff are hard at work right now setting the process in place so
    that most of the payments will be available within just a few weeks.