The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“THE FARM BILL” mentioning the U.S. Dept of Agriculture was published in the Senate section on pages S3034 on March 27, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
THE FARM BILL
Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I am voting for the farm bill. I support the freedom-to-farm concept. This is not a perfect farm bill, but I find it somewhat ironic that some of my colleagues are voting against it, yet, urging the President to sign it, and then going out and criticizing it. It would be better to improve it and to be constructive.
Our farmers need a farm bill passed now. Many of them have already gone to the fields in our Nation. In South Dakota, they are meeting with their bankers, making their plans. It is time for us to pass a farm bill.
Mr. President, for years, we have had all this regulation and paperwork in agriculture. I come from a farm. I am a farmer. Last year, deficiency payments were sent out to the farmers. Then the commodity prices were high enough that the deficiency payments were sent back to the Department of Agriculture. All this requires a great deal of paperwork, and it costs the taxpayers a lot.
Let me commend Senator Lugar and the managers of the farm bill, and Senator Grassley and others, who have brought us a farm bill that will not only save taxpayers money, but will also help our Nation's farmers and ranchers.
Mr. President, let me say that I think the most important farm bill besides this is a balanced budget because, if we have a balanced budget, we will be able to export our commodities and the commodity prices will be high enough. Because of a balanced budget we will have low interest rates and a stable dollar and high exports. That is what farmers and ranchers really want. They do not seek handouts. They want good prices on the world market. And they are there for us if we take advantage of it.
So there are many improvements we could make in this farm bill the next year or the year after. But let us pass it now. This is the best deal we can get at this time. If somebody had a better one, they should have brought it up.
Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business for 3 minutes for the purpose of introducing a bill.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Lugar). Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. PRESSLER. I thank the Chair.
(The remarks of Mr. Pressler pertaining to the introduction of S. 1647 are located in today's Record under ``Statements on Introduced Bills and Joint Resolutions.'')
Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I thank the Chair. I thank my colleague from Iowa and Indiana and congratulate both of them for their work on the farm bill which was very outstanding.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, first, just one sentence to compliment the now Presiding Officer, the Senator from Indiana for his leadership on getting the farm bill passed. I am going to speak tomorrow on the farm bill. This evening, in morning business, I am speaking on the subject of the drug problem.
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