[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.