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“WE NEED ACTION NOW ON REAL CRISIS IN FARM COUNTRY” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H5350 on July 12, 1999.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
WE NEED ACTION NOW ON REAL CRISIS IN FARM COUNTRY
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bereuter) is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. BEREUTER. Mr. Speaker, during the Independence Day district work period, this Member continued his series of town hall meetings with 14 additional meetings to hear the views and questions of my constituents. Many subjects were discussed, but two subjects understandably dominated their concerns.
The first, overwhelmingly expressed, as it has been all year, related to the deplorably bad conditions for farmers and the communities and small businesses that serve farmers and depend upon agriculture. All grain, soybean, and livestock prices are very low, some unprecedently low this year, while the predictions are all equally gloomy.
World surpluses and export losses in the Asian markets, huge projected 1999 harvest numbers, coupled with the strength of the dollar as compared to our export competitors' agricultural commodities and products, have created desperate conditions for farmers.
It is reported that the U.S. Government has actually spent more in farm subsidies during the current year than during the most expensive year of the previous farm bill. But those subsidies are not appreciably alleviating what is a real crisis in farm country. Net farm income per farm in my State of Nebraska last year is a negative number after average Federal subsidies are subtracted, as contrasted to a net farm income of over $40,000 two years ago.
This Member has said for nearly a year now that no ideas or proposed solutions are off the table, all deserve consideration. No ideological blinders or pride of authorship of any current farm policies should stand in the way of finding answers quickly for turning around and meeting this farm crisis. The administration must use the export promotion tools and dollars the Congress has authorized and be more innovative and aggressive in meeting the crisis.
Without immediate and concerted actions now, thousands of farm families who have been financially responsible and good farmers will be forced from their farms. Modest accumulated savings and assets built up through years of effort and investment are being wiped out and growing debts look overwhelming.
Mr. Speaker, the bipartisan leadership and members of the Agriculture Committees of the two Houses of Congress must find solutions and proposal actions now, not after the 1999 harvest is complete. That will be too late for thousands of farmers, ranchers, and agribusiness-
dependent families and communities. A whole farm infrastructure is threatened. The leaders of the two Houses also must give this matter a top priority for action.
Mr. Speaker, this Member knows these terrible economic problems are not being ignored by our agriculture committees here on Capitol Hill even if the White House and USDA seem indifferent. Solutions to our current dilemma are not obvious. The situation results from perhaps an unprecedented or at least totally unexpected combination of factors.
When this Member asked his farm constituents for ideas or solutions, few have specific answers and there certainly is little agreement. However, one comment is heard over and over again: the loan deficiency payments arrangement provides no floor for prices. And it may, in fact it is suggested, be driving commodity prices down and helping only the major grain companies. This must be examined.
Second, farmers argue in large numbers that they want to see a farmer-held reserve reinstituted.
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That needs to be seriously considered and a decision made, one way or another, with an explanation for the decision. And, third, farmers and agriculture leaders also believe the growing concentration of companies that supply the farm population with key inputs and others which serve as their markets deserve closer and immediate scrutiny by the USDA and the Justice Department. These complaints need to be seriously addressed before it is too late.
Mr. Speaker, we need action now on a real crisis in farm country.
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