October 21, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S12425 were 7,692 participants for a total of chief priority was the preservation of become a victim of the USDA’s fiscal 214,000 instructional hours; 800 profes- the peanut program. That year, the austerity in the Republican adminis- sionals were involved as instructors or USDA and a number of Senators tration’s sometimes too broad at- mentors. pushed for its elimination. But Ala- tempts to cut domestic spending in the Mr. President, Gail Whitney and the bama’s farmers had just suffered 2 wrong places. I objected chiefly to the founders of Saturday Academy rep- years of droughts, and they were al- commodity provisions, especially loan resent one of the best models I have ready in a difficult situation. The pro- levels and target price figures, but I seen for cooperative private-public ef- gram’s proponents managed to push voted for the bill anyway because I forts to enhance science and math edu- the program through the Agriculture thought it was more important to have cation. Meaningful reform in science Committee by a vote of 12 to 4. How- a 4-year bill than none at all. and math education has been at the top ever, it was defeated on the floor of the But implementation of this farm bill of my priority list for many of my Senate, and supporters had to work in proved nearly as difficult, especially years in Congress. I am thrilled to see the back rooms to devise the Heflin- for peanuts. The USDA tried to enact this deserving recognition for one of Warner compromise. This effort suc- regulations to cut the peanut poundage Oregon’s finest efforts.∑ ceeded. On the Senate floor, Senator quotas. Its cuts would only hurt the f NUNN credited me with the com- small quota holders who could not af- promise: ford the overhead of production. Sup- REFLECTIONS ON U.S. porters contracted the USDA, and cited AGRICULTURAL POLICY * * * I think the Senator from Alabama has worked longer and harder on the peanut the provisions in the peanut language ∑ Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I have program than anyone I know in this body. He which required a fair and equitable sys- had the opportunity to serve on the has spent literally hundreds of hours work- tem for quota reduction. Targeting the Committee on Agriculture since 1981. ing diligently to protect the program that is small farmer like this was—* * * a mis- The agricultural community in Ala- of vital interest to the State of Alabama and interpretation of both the spirit and in- bama and the Nation, while small in also the State of Georgia as well as other states. tent of the Congress if not an outright number, is a considerable part of our *** I have been following his lead on this violation of the letter of the law itself. economy. In fact in Alabama, agri- issue as well as many other farm issues, and The USDA agreed to back off until it culture and forestry are the largest I thank him for an exceptional job all the had received clarification of congres- sectors of the economy. way through. sional intent. Therefore, I felt compelled to serve However, it was just that—a com- The years following this farm bill on this committee. It has been ex- promise—and I was not entirely please also saw difficulties for the cotton pro- tremely difficult for most of the news- with the outcome. For instance, al- gram. In 1984, the administration paper reporters in Alabama to cover though the 1981 farm bill established sought a freeze in target prices, which the action of this committee. I felt at farm-based poundage quotas, increased it won. I blocked the bill when it came times that my press secretary needed loan supports, and a cost-of-production to the Senate floor, and I set condi- to give them a map to find the Senate price escalator, it technically elimi- tions on this freeze. Specifically, I suc- Agriculture Committee hearing room. nated the peanut allotment program. ceeded in setting the inventory carry- The issues are complicated and few re- During the farm bill debate, Ala- over trigger for the paid diversion of porters have an understanding of the bama’s delegation was also very con- cotton at 2.7 rather than 4 million basics of farm policy. As a general rule, cerned with improving soybean produc- bales in 1985, increasing the rate from this accounts for the sparsity of news tion and exports. Over the previous few $0.25 to $0.30 per pound if this inventory stories about agriculture in Alabama years, the U.S. share of the world soy- reached 4.1 million bales, and $0.35 if it and Washington newspapers. bean export market had dropped from reached 4.7 million bales. I also secured In addition to farm programs, the 90 percent to 70 percent. Despite this assurances for an extra $500 million in committee had jurisdiction over a drop, U.S. soybean production had tri- CCC export credit loan guarantees for great number of rural development pro- pled, but only because planting had tri- 1984, including $100 million specifically grams, rural electrification, and rural pled. Crop yields had not improved, and for cotton, and $2 billion in 1985. Other water programs that are an extremely export policies were lagging. In fact, if successes which came out of this bill important aspect that can improve the the situation did not change, the Unit- included changes to the FmHA disaster daily lives of the millions of people ed States would only create a domestic loan programs, including increased that live in rural areas of this Nation. surplus of soybeans. So I introduced a funding and increased loan ceilings, The agricultural community is con- bill to create the Research Soybean In- eligibility expansion to counties adja- siderably better off today than when I stitute, which would examine ways to cent to declared disaster areas, exten- came to the Senate in 1979. During my improve production, exporting, and sion of application deadlines to 8 years on the Agriculture Committee, marketing. The institute would also months, extension of repayments lim- we have been able to craft foreign pol- address problems such as the cyst nem- its by 8 years, and scheduling of inter- icy which provides market stability atode parasite—and other issues like est rates to their original level or the and allows U.S. farmers to aggressively it. These provisions became a part of current prevailing rate, whichever was pursue international markets. At the the 1981 farm bill. lower. Sometimes it’s like dealing with same time, these farm programs have With Senator Melcher’s help, we a mule—you have to use a 2 by 4 to get dramatically reduced the cost to the passed another amendment to the farm its attention. U.S. Treasury. And the most important bill which required that imported When the next farm bill around in part that is so often overlooked, Amer- meats be held to the same inspection 1985, we introduced the Southern Agri- ican farms provide a stable supply of standards as domestic meats. Specifi- culture Act of 1985 preemptively to food for American families at a lower cally, we sought to prohibit horse and save the peanut and cotton programs. cost than any part of the world. Legis- kangaroo meats from being sold as Specifically, it would increase peanut lation passed by the Committee is ‘‘beef.’’ Clearly, this language had a poundage quotas to the existing level often called farm bills. It would be dual purpose, to protect the interests for the national, edible market. I also more appropriately entitled Food Safe- of the cattle ranchers, and to ensure sought to allow for double cropping, ty and Consumer Protection Legisla- that consumers who bought ham- conservation tillage, and other ideas tion. burgers actually ate beef. endemic to the South. But these pro- FARM BILLS When the farm bill debate came to an grams represented only one small part In 1981, I had my first experience end, I objected strongly to the adminis- of overall farm policy; the export-im- with the Congress’ major farm author- tration’s substitute bill. Although it port programs were certainly as great. ization bill. With this bill, Members retained the peanut compromise, the I had hoped that the United States who strongly supported agriculture kangaroo and horse meat language, might also be able to increase its share sought to expand foreign markets for and the soybean institute, this bill has of foreign markets. U.S. exports and to protect them from gone too far. This was the first attack The House Agriculture Committee selective embargoes. But Alabama’s on the farmer during my career; he had adopted my Southern Agriculture Act S12426 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 21, 1996 that year without changes, making it, net effect is a world price which is program itself. In fact, the program for a time, part of the farm bill. House often below the cost of production in had ameliorated price reductions from Chairman KIKA DE LA GARZA of Texas most, if not all, exporting countries. In domestic surpluses and improved sales gave me considerable support. Incorpo- shaping cotton policy to address this overseas due to U.S. cotton prices that ration of the peanut program was emi- kind of global competition, we had to were on par with world prices for the nently logical because it was the only decide whether to fashion a program first time in nearly 2 years. Competi- program which had actually made the which would enable U.S. cotton to tive prices should provide the commod- Government money over the previous 2 compete aggressively or, instead, as- ity with a turnaround. years. The Senate Agriculture Commit- sume the role of residual supplier. In 1987, I introduced the farmers re- tee also adopted much of my measure, Until implementation of the market- covery tax bill to restore the income but I knew that it would be difficult to ing loan in 1985, U.S. cotton was gen- averaging price, investment tax cred- pass it through the full Senate. The erally relegated to the role of residual its, and capital gains, all of which had Senate committee also incorporated supplier. In 1985, however, we made a been repealed in the 1986 tax reform language proposed by Senator Dole decision to meet subsidized competi- bill. As in the case of the amendments which I cosponsored to create a Na- tion head on. The establishment of the which I supported in 1986, these provi- tional Commission on Agriculture Pol- marketing loan has served to accom- sions applied exclusively to farmers. icy into the farm bill. plish several fundamental marketing Before the passage of that bill, it had When the Senate committee passed objectives: First, permits U.S. com- appeared that our tax policy was the its version of the bill, I was certainly modities to meet price competition, only policy that provided some equity pleased that it included the Southern second, avoids excessive stock accumu- or incentive to the agriculture and Agriculture Act, but I was disappointed lations, third, allows producers to mar- timber sectors, but to compound the with its export provisions. As I saw it, ket commodities over a period of time, economic woes of rural America, the the problem with U.S. farm exports had rather than dumping the entire crop on Tax Reform Act of 1986 repealed provi- been that the agriculture secretaries the market at harvest time and fourth, sions of the tax laws that were bene- had not used the tools Congress created serves as a safety net under producer ficial to these areas of our economy. for them to implement an aggressive income. When the 1990 farm bill came before export promotional program. I am proud of the cotton marketing the Congress, President Bush’s admin- In fact, when the conference commit- loan and believe it has become the cor- istration sought to cut the cotton and tee reported its version of the bill, I nerstone of the U.S. cotton program. peanut programs, but it failed. We also was struck that it deceived and be- The indisputable success in the indus- won a marketing loan for soybeans, trayed soybean farmers. The conferees try supports this assertion as the mar- specifically to increase America’s had dropped our amendment to prevent keting loan has spurred domestic mill international competitiveness in this the U.S. Government from providing consumption and aided exports. For in- market. Last, the bill included provi- loans or grants to foreign soybean pro- stance, the marketing loan is respon- sions we designed to provide funding ducers. The committee had also sible for: reversing a 26-year decline in for rural firefighting and to double the changed another of our amendments to offtake of U.S. cotton; reversing a 43- amount the Government could spend establish a marketing loan without year decline in U.S. mill cotton con- on the development of rural water and lowering soybean loan rates. I intended sumption; and reversing a 70-year de- sewer systems. the measure, which had passed the Sen- cline in cotton’s share of U.S. mill fiber As in 1985, I introduced the Southern ate, to authorize the Agriculture Sec- consumption. Agriculture Act to reauthorize the cot- retary to implement a plan to increase When the Senate considered its ver- ton and peanut programs. The adminis- competitiveness of American soybeans sion of the 1986 tax reform bill, I tration had proposed a 10-percent cut in foreign markets. The conference ver- strongly supported an amendment to in these programs, but this bill would sion, however, effectively legislated restore provisions which allowed farm- maintain the 1985 bill’s statutes. What lower soybean prices for the farmer ers to average their incomes over sev- could the farmer buy that cost 90 per- since it lowered the loan rates. Amer- eral years. It made up for revenue cent of what it did in 1985? Certainly, ican taxpayer dollars were being used losses, which were estimated at $66 farm machinery and fertilizer prices to enhance the competitive capability million, by repealing a tax break on had not decreased. of major soybean competitor countries wealthy, foreign real estate investors With regard to the peanut program, such as Brazil and Argentina. in the United States. Since there had Secretary Yeutter’s proposed cuts In fact, I voted against the 1985 farm been an increasing amount of foreign would be devastating. If it had been bill coming out of conference. I believe investor speculation in U.S. property, adopted by Congress, it would not only that it effectively legislated lower particularly in farmland, I thought it destroy the peanut farmers, it would commodity prices. The credit provi- was appropriate to compensate for the also cause a serious recession in the sions were also unforgiving. FmHA revenue losses through this source. An- peanut-producing areas of Alabama and loan availability decreased, and fore- other amendment the Senate adopted other States. At the end of July, the closures were therefore likely to in- would refund unused investment tax Senate defeated an amendment to im- crease, I believed. credits to farmers. Specifically, the plement his cuts. However, I was pleased that the bill language provided for farmers to apply One of the biggest problems about maintained the peanut program, in- the credits against previous years’ forging the peanut compromise in 1990 cluded better research titles, and ad- taxes at $0.50 per dollar. It also estab- was the fact that division existed dressed conservation. Specifically, the lished yearly limits for the refund. The among the country’s peanut farmers. bill included the Conservation Reserve authors of this tax reform bill sought Georgia’s farmers had split from the Program, and the swamp-buster and to eliminate credits for the future. rest, and I assumed the role of peace- sod-buster provisions, which would However, since farmers were heavily maker between Georgia’s peanut-grow- allow for better long-term farming. capitalized with the high level of mech- ers and the rest, including farmers In hindsight, though, one of the most anization of modern farming, Congress from Alabama. Notably, my com- important provisions, if not the most needed to make tax reform a little fair- promise was the first supported by all important, was the establishment and er for agriculture by permitting farm- the grower groups and major peanut implementation of the cotton market- ers to trade in some of their unused tax product manufacturers. ing loan. It is generally understood credits for cash. The soybean loan included in the bill that U.S. agricultural commodities In 1986, critics of the cotton program would serve to combat cheaper foreign must be competitive in the world mar- maintained that it involved million competition. The loan was something I ket if the sector is to be economically dollar payments to large corporations. had fought for since the 1985 farm bill. viable. But this was an unfair characterization In 1986, I objected to the Reagan ad- Some 95 percent of cotton entering of the program. These large payments ministration’s decision to pursue the world trade does so with the benefit of resulted from the Secretary’s discre- World Bank’s loan to Argentina. Ar- a subsidy of one kind or another. The tion; they were not mandated by the gentina was America’s second greatest October 21, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S12427 competitor in soybeans, and it was able cational programs and technology de- worked so well for Senators over the to undercut U.S. prices and flood the velopments of other areas. Using this years. To demonstrate this point, when world markets by directly subsidizing technology in a medical situation, a I saw that the cotton program was in those firms that process and export doctor at a clinic in a rural area could serious trouble, I offered by support for soybeans. The World Bank loan would send moving images of a brain scan to other programs to gain backing for cot- further subsidize competition to the a specialist at a hospital hundreds of ton. As I told the American Sheep In- United States—an unfair practice. In miles away. dustry Association in June 1994, there 1987, I attached language to the agri- The final bill also included language isn’t much wool in Alabama, but there cultural trade bill to prohibit U.S. sub- to provide Federal assistance for rural isn’t much cotton in Idaho or Montana. sidies for foreign farmers competing development, including water and sew- But if those of us in agriculture didn’t with U.S. farmers. One issue that had ers, and a loan program to aid small, work together, we cannot survive the brought more complaints and more at- rural businesses. There is no one an- plans to dismantle the fundamentals of tention from Alabama farmers is the swer that every community can use to farming in this country. Government subsidies that enhanced achieve economic vitality. However, As it came up for review, supporters the competitiveness of agricultural there are common threads. First of all, tried to impress upon Members the im- producers in countries such as Brazil the leadership for rural development portance of the cotton program. The and Argentina. Sadly enough, many of must be taken to local community or- cotton program was designed to meet these subsidies were provided not by ganizations—rural electric coopera- market conditions in the United States the governments of these countries, tives, counties, economic development and abroad. In 1995, the year that the but rather by the U.S. Government. district, and other local entities. I was Republicans tried to eliminate it, the At the end of 1987, I attached a soy- especially proud of these provisions as cotton program proved itself effective. bean marketing program to the Senate they were included in the final version Although there was a bumper cotton budget reconciliation bill. This amend- of the bill. crop, the market price remained above ment would revive language that I had With Senator PRYOR’s help, we in- the target price. Additionally, we attached to the 1985 farm bill, but the cluded language in the 1990 farm bill to stressed that wheat and feed grains ac- conferees had effectively killed the authorize $15 million for research on count for 50 percent of all farm pro- provision by leaving it to the Sec- poultry diseases and to require that gram costs, and the cotton program retary’s discretion. He did not exercise foreign poultry meet domestic inspec- cost only 10 percent of the total Fed- that discretion. The soybean program tion standards. However, President eral farm outlays. involved CCC loans from 1988 through Bush failed to meet this requirement, Agriculture had already taken its 1990, and I modeled it after my 1985 cot- arguing that it was an impediment to fair share of cuts. The agriculture ton program. I hoped that it would be free trade. In fact, he even imposed a budget had dropped from $26 billion in an innovative approach that would pro- 1990 hiring freeze on inspectors. 1985 to just under $10 billion in 1995. vide enough flexibility to the Sec- In 1991, peanut farmers faced another However, reductions in the peanut pro- retary of Agriculture to meet our problem when the ITC ruled that 300 gram had never resulted in Americans world competitors on a level playing million pounds of foreign peanuts be paying less for their groceries. The cost field. Although it passed the Senate allowed into the American market—a is always absorbed by someone in the shortly later, I had to reintroduce it in total equaling 10 percent of the domes- chain between the producer and the su- 1988. With a marketing loan, U.S. soy- tic market. I contacted the President permarket, and economic studies and beans will be available on the world to protest this ruling, in some large history do not suggest that cuts would market at the same price as that made part because it violated language that reduce the price now. possible by foreign government sub- I included in the 1990 farm bill to re- With agriculture very much in mind, sidies for our foreign competitors. At quire that imports meet the same qual- I voted against the Republican budget that time, U.S. soybean acreage had ity as the domestic product. Chinese resolution. This resolution would have dropped to a quarter of its 1979 level. Of peanuts, known to be infected with the cut $8 billion from farming over 5 course, the loan ultimately became a striped virus, would be among the im- years. Naturally, I had other concerns part of the 1990 farm bill. ports. Further, allowing such a high when I decided to oppose the bill in- With other provisions I included in number into the country would cost cluding Medicare and Social Security, the final bill, I sought to increase the the government $84 million, according as well as the idea of promising to cut farmer’s flexibility to plant second to the USDA. Although he reduced the the deficit and taxes. crops on program plots. This practice number to 100 million, the President After the Senate agriculture commit- is known as double-cropping. decided to allow the peanuts into the tee completed its mark-up on the budg- With the Southern Agriculture Act, country. In 1993, we contacted the et resolution, preliminary estimates we also sought to create a Southern In- trade representative to urge inclusion for the cuts in the commodity pro- stitute for Agriculture Resource Policy of a provision in NAFTA requiring that grams totaled $13.3 billion over 7 years. to conduct scientific studies on im- the stringent domestic inspection Chairman LUGAR’s intention was to do proved farming techniques. standards be imposed on imports. his best to eliminate the commodity The committee also approved a pro- Although farm bills had always been programs, and he had stated his strong posal to provide Federal matching the result of compromise, and therefore opposition for some time. funds for rural firefighters. The money were somewhat less than I had wanted, Along with others, I continued the would go to State forestry agencies and supporters had succeeded in maintain- fight for the preservation of the cotton volunteers, and it was included in the ing the commodity programs at an ac- and peanut programs. Noting that cot- final version of the bill. My language ceptable level until this year. The 1996 ton had enjoyed a record year, I prom- also proposed a Southern Forest Re- farm bill debate posed a serious threat ised to introduce a bill to extend that generation Center. to the continuation of farm programs, program as written, with just a few The final bill included my provisions and southern farmers would be espe- changes. to expand the Talladega National For- cially affected by various proposals. The average peanut farmer has only est into Cherokee County and extend From the beginning of last year, the 98 acres, whereas the 7 largest corpora- an Alabama trail closer to the Appa- Republicans had pushed for elimination tions that use peanuts to manufacture lachian Trail. of the commodity programs and the their products had more than $140 bil- The final bill also included our lan- price supports. Given the successes of lion in total sales during 1994. It is no guage to create the star schools pro- these programs, like the cotton pro- coincidence that some Members of Con- gram. Through the use of state-of-the- gram, I cannot understand the preju- gress who oppose the program just hap- art telecommunications equipment, dice with which they approached the pen to have some of those same cor- the Star Schools-Medlink program that cuts. porations in their states. It is these was passed in the 1990 farm bill allows To pass programs that I believe are same corporations that stand to be the small rural schools or hospitals to be worthwhile, I have frequently involved big winners if the peanut program were linked with the highest quality edu- myself in the strategy which has eliminated, not the real consumers. S12428 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 21, 1996 The GAO had issued a study which dition to extending the marketing fested with boll weevils had recently showed that the consumer absorbed a loan, we increased the loan rate from been eradicated, however, the majority cost of $300–$500 million, but the pro- $4.92 a bushel to $5.25 a bushel. The of these new acres had not been in the gram’s opponents misrepresented this lower loan rate had ceased to be an ef- program long enough to qualify under study in the last round, arguing that fective safety net for oilseed producers. these new rules. Eligibility for partici- this cost was passed onto the retail Our title on oilseeds was heralded by pation in the cotton program would be consumer. As a matter of fact, in testi- the American Soybean Association as reduced nationally by 30 percent, and mony before the House Agriculture the best proposal put forward for oil- in Alabama, 38 percent of cotton farm- Subcommittee on Specialty Crops and seed producers. In the end, a modified ers would be excluded. Furthermore, its Chairman, CHARLIE ROSE, the GAO version of my proposal was adopted and Buck Johnson, director of the Federal testified that the consumer they ref- signed into law. Farm Service agency of Georgia, esti- erenced was the first purchaser of pea- The reason why I introduced this bill mated that the Senate’s version of the nuts, or the manufacturer. They fur- was simply that I utterly opposed reconciliation bill would put 30 percent ther testified in substance that there Chairman LUGAR’s farm bill. Among of older farmers in the South out of was no evidence to support the conclu- other things, his bill would have de- business. sion that any reduction in the loan stroyed the peanut program. However, In response to being closed out from rate would be passed along to the retail I believed that 14 of 18 Senators on the the historically bipartisan task of writ- consumer. committee favored a peanut bill with- ing farm legislation, and seeing the un- Critics who sought to eliminate the out a cut in the price support. Because acceptable changes to the peanut pro- peanut program during the 1995 farm he had such a strong opposition, the gram, Representative CHARLIE ROSE bill debated used this GAO report as chairman employed delay tactics to and I introduced a no-net-cost peanut one justification for ending the peanut push the bill back to the reconciliation program bill in an effort to preserve a program. Armed with the earlier GAO deadline when the members of the viable program for peanut farmers. It testimony, representatives from the Budget Committee could write the would achieve savings by eliminating peanut product manufacturers associa- farm bill. These Senators were much the standing 1.35-million-ton floor for tion were asked if any reduction in the less sympathetic to the needs of the the national poundage quota; in fact, loan rate would be passed to the southern peanut farmer. the Heflin-Rose peanuts program would consumer. They responded by stating At that time, certain Senators tried have saved $43 million more than the that loan rate reductions would not be to put an additional assessment on pea- Republican plan contained in the rec- passed along to the consumer, instead, nut producers. They were trying to onciliation bill. Under our no-net-cost savings would be used to develop new force the farmer to pay for the entire bill, the Agriculture Secretary would products. adminstrative cost of the program. set this national poundage quota, The peanut program has served to However, the Senators who pushed for thereby eliminating undermarketings balance the playing field between small this assessment were from wheat and limiting disaster transfer pay- farmers and multinational corpora- States; notably, they did not try to im- ments. By contrast, the Republican tions. It is bad policy to eliminate the pose the same condition on wheat plan would reduce the support price peanut program only to increase cor- farmers. However, we secured language and freeze it for 7 years. The USDA es- porate profits at the expense of rural which stated that the existing budget timated that the Republican plan economies and the true consumer who deficit assessment paid by producers would immediately reduce peanut will notice absolutely no difference in would be targeted to offsetting pro- farmers’ income by 30 percent. Not the price they pay at the grocery store. gram costs and no other assessments only did it cost more, the Republican In September, I introduced the would then be necessary. plan slashed a peanut farmer’s income Southern Agriculture Act of 1995 to re- With regard to the ongoing farm bill by $68 per ton. A study by Auburn Uni- vise and extend the loan and other pro- negotiations, the Agriculture chairman versity on the impact of potential pol- grams for cotton, peanuts, and oil- continued to refuse meetings, despite icy changes in the peanut program seeds. Under this bill, the cotton pro- the strong bipartisan support for the found that a reduction in the support gram would have been extended as peanut program. He knew that he price to $610 per ton, and a reduction in written. The 1994 crop had been a would not get his way, but that was no the national poundage quota to 1.1 mil- record crop in production, exports, and reason to keep us from meeting to lion tons, would result in a negative total offtake. Many of our competitors come up with a budget bill that saved impact of $219 million and a loss of al- had experienced insect infestations money but did not destroy the peanut most 3,000 jobs in Alabama, Georgia, causing higher world market prices. As program. In the end of committee ac- and Florida. The economic impact and a matter of fact, cotton prices had tion that year, the farm provisions in- job losses are not limited solely to pea- climbed to their highest levels at any cluded a peanut compromise, but I was nut producers. Under this analysis, the time since the Civil War, topping $1 a never consulted. I was shut out of all wholesale and retail trade, service in- pound. Therefore, I saw no reason to discussions about it; the Republicans dustries, real estate and financial sec- alter a program that was functioning told me it would be their bill. I could tors are especially hard hit. In fact, na- effectively. The peanut program would not explain to farmers why these Sen- tionwide, the study indicated total job be slightly changed, with a freeze im- ators voted for a 7-year program for losses of 5,440 and a negative economic posed on the support prices at the 1995 wheat, corn, rice, sugar, and other impact of $375 million. crop level. In an effort to address the commodities, but decided to kill the The cotton program in the Repub- claims of the peanut program’s critics, peanut program after 5 years. lican proposal, too, made no sense. the National Peanut Growers Group Simply stated, this bill would force a Under its provisions, cotton farmers adopted a series of program changes to disproportionate share of agricultural would no longer be paid for the cotton eliminate all taxpayer costs and open budget cuts on the South. It would they produced. Instead, they would the program to new products. I in- have its most profound negative effects sign a production flexibility contract cluded many of the NPPA no-net-cost on new and old farmers there. Most of which would subsidize a farmer, wheth- reforms into my peanut title, including the growth in cotton production had er or not he produces a crop. These de- eliminating the undermarketings pro- occurred in the South, but the new cot- coupled payments would apply to cot- visions. However, from a strategy per- ton program would shut out new farm- ton, rice, wheat, corn, and feed grain spective, I knew that the farm bill de- ers from its provisions. This bill re- producers, and they would actually en- bate would require a great deal of give quired that farmers demonstrate par- courage a wheat or corn grower to and take and felt that under no cir- ticipation in 3 of the previous 5 years plant cotton if the world price were cumstances should we begin negotiat- in order to continue participation in high enough to justify the switch. The ing from our bottom line. Since they the cotton program. Many of the new Republican bill provided for 7 years of did not receive price supports, my bill cotton acres in this program were the narcotic welfare payments designed to would have extended the marketing result of the successful boll weevil bring about the corporate takeover of loans for soybeans and oilseeds. In ad- eradication program. Land once in- agrarian America. This Republican October 21, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S12429 proposal would have undermined every- because we were able to make marginal but cotton came out fairly well, spe- thing accomplished with respect to improvements in the bill and, there- cifically preserving the marketing farm legislation; it would have elimi- fore, I felt that the good outweighed loan, and back payments would come nated the farmer safety net and dis- the bad. Most importantly, the Senate soon, which would help weather-dam- rupted the delicate balance of supply- version of this bill reinstated perma- aged cotton farmers. price stability taken for granted by nent law. By doing so, the inclusion of Administration: In the early 1980’s, consumers. permanent law ensures that Congress the greatest problem facing farmers I commend the President for vetoing must again address farm laws rather was the 20-percent or higher interest this bill. It would have created a wel- than simply allowing them to expire. rates. Most farmers who borrowed fare state. the Republicans claimed Republican lawmakers had intended money to finance their crops in 1980 that they could lower interest rates by the decoupled, fixed-but-declining pay- borrowed the money when interest balancing the budget, but ironically, ments to farmers to be the price paid rates were already high, then they lost their farm bill raised interest rates for eliminating farm programs. Con- money because of the drought. I ar- solely on CCC borrowers. They also gressional Democrats, on the other ranged meetings with Reagan’s Agri- claimed that they wanted farm pro- hand, believed that a stable and abun- culture Secretary Block to impress grams to be more market oriented, but dant food supply to be in the national this point upon him. it removed the 8-month-loan extension interest and, therefore, refused to turn During 1982, I fought the Reagan ad- for cotton. Further, their failure to our back on American farmers. The in- ministration’s plan to subject agri- pass legislation left farmers with no clusion of permanent law was an enor- culture to FTC control in the Com- clear direction for the upcoming plant- mous victory for Democrats thus en- merce Committee. American farmers ing season, and, therefore, banks would suring our commitment to farming were having a tough enough time mak- not give farmers loans for this year’s families and the role they play in our ing ends meet without having to deal crops. society. with yet another layer of bureaucrats At the end of last year, Representa- Additionally, I was able to beat, in Washington, DC, meddling in their tive ROSE and I introduced another no- soundly, efforts by a freshman Senator affairs. net-cost peanut program that would be to kill the peanut program and to keep I strongly supported the recent reor- funded by an assessment on imported a 5-percent penalty for the use of the ganization of the USDA. During 1994, peanuts and revenue from NAFTA and loan program out of the bill. Opponents the Agriculture Committee considered GATT. This bill would have maintained of the peanut program had conspired to a bill to facilitate the reorganization. the $678-per-pound-quota rate. It would include this last provision to penalize The bill would reform the administra- also assure that revenue from NAFTA producers who put their peanuts into tive functions, and reassign sub-Cabi- and GATT would pay for the program the loan. The provision was removed net officers by mission, reduce the rather than reducing farm income. from consideration due to my strong number of agencies from 43 to 29, and it Last, the bill would require that im- objections. would consolidate country offices in ported peanuts meet the same high During conference, the committee favor of one-stop shopping centers. quality standards as domestic peanuts, fought off a number of detrimental Through this effort, the USDA hoped ensuring that they were not grown peanut provisions. I successfully fought to reduce staff and cut costs. Although with chemicals and pesticides banned off a House provision to lower the loan much of this reorganization could, and in the United States. rate another 5 percent if a producer put did, take place on the regulatory level, Clearly, the Congress had failed rural his peanuts under loan. If this language the committee wanted to be certain to America by not passing a farm bill. By had passed the rate would have dropped work out any legislation that might including, historically, stand-alone- to $579.50 per ton; we worked to main- become necessary. Given concerns farm legislation in the broad Repub- tain it at $610. I also fought off another about the deficit, the time had clearly lican proposal to balance the budget, House provision to allow unlimited come to reduce the size and cost of the farmers and rural America became hos- cross-county sale of peanuts. Instead, USDA in favor of a more efficient de- tage to a myriad of issues culminating the committee adopted a compromise partment. In the final days of the 103d with a Presidential veto. As a result, to allow 40 percent transfers after 5 Congress, a USDA reorganization bill farmers were left without congres- years. Under the House-passed version, was passed creating a more stream- sional direction for the upcoming producers would have to pay an addi- lined and efficient Department of Agri- planting season and were anxiously tional assessment to cover program culture. awaiting a new farm law. This neces- costs if any at the end of the year. Fur- Disaster aid/crop insurance: I have sity had become most pressing at the ther, the shellers’ assessment had been always done my best to pay attention beginning of this year. Without a farm exempted by House Republicans from to the needs of farmers in times of nat- bill, the Agriculture Secretary would offsetting program costs even though ural disasters in Alabama. In 1979, we be forced to implement the 1949 Agri- they benefit from the program. How- had a drought and Hurricane Fred- culture Act. That law provided a for- ever, we were able to arrange this so erick. In 1980, we had an even worse mula based on parity with the standard the shellers’ assessment will also go to drought. In 1982, interest rates forced of living in 1949. The difference in the offsetting the costs, which will protect me to request Agriculture Secretary value of the dollar and the standard of the producers from having an unlim- Block to initiate the Economic Emer- living between 1949 and 1996 would cre- ited possibility for increased assess- gency Loan Program. The same year, I ate an explosion in the price of food. ments. As far as the pool compliance urged Block to change a FmHA regula- But fearful of efforts to resurrect the language is concerned, the House bill tion requiring the rescheduling of loan freedom-to-farm bill, I pointed out that would exempt the profits from addi- at the cripplingly high rates of the day. its provisions to guarantee payments tional peanuts from going to cover pea- I testified before the Forestry Sub- to farmers whether they produced a nut program losses. This was changed committee to warn of the impact of crop or not was fundamentally flawed. to the Senate version that would per- these rates. In 1982, I also fought to In times of high market prices, the pro- mit additional gains from buyback and save the NWS agriculture program dur- gram would provide a bonus check, and redemption to be used to offset pro- ing Commerce Committee action. The it would not be sufficient in times of gram costs. This change would also re- farm weather forecasting service saved low market prices. It is unconscionable duce the possibility of the need for in- American farmers more than $750 mil- to make these kinds of payments in creased assessments on producers. lion each year in the production costs times of high market prices, especially Problems with the overall farm bill of the major agricultural commodities when we are reducing school lunches included: It did not provide a safety net of cotton, corn, soybeans, livestock, and other essential programs. for farmers and it made payments re- wheat, and rice, but it only cost $1.2 Ultimately, the Senate passed a gardless of price, but it did give farm- million. The committee approved a bill modified version of the farm provisions ers something to work with as they I cosponsored to combat these high in- that had been contained in the Repub- prepare for planting season; the peanut terest rates on farms. The bill would lican reconciliation bill. I voted for it, language would cut farmers’ income; extend the economic emergency loan S12430 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 21, 1996 program for a year and create an indi- stock provisions, but I was pleased that ance reform and USDA had not fully vidual evaluation program to resched- the House had not weakened the pea- implemented the program while ex- ule existing FmHA loans at their origi- nut provisions. pecting farmers to educate themselves nal interest rates, rather than the high In 1989, I pushed the Air Force to and embrace the reforms in a very rates of 1982. I also called a farm crisis track hurricanes in the gulf and Pacific short period of time. The least that meeting in Montgomery to discuss in- coast States; Hurricane Frederick in could be done was extend the crop in- terest rates and other problems facing 1979, for example, had caused relatively surance sign up deadline and allow the State’s farmers. In 1983, the FmHA little property damage and loss of life farmers adequate time to inform them- ran out of money to pay for its operat- because of advanced warnings. The Air selves of these significant changes re- ing loans in 17 States, including Ala- Force agreed to retain the WC–130 pro- garding disaster assistance. bama. I urged the USDA to reallocate gram. Hurricanes Erin and Opal passed the money, threatening legislative ac- In August of that year, the Senate through Alabama in 1995. I cosponsored tion, the USDA complied. Spring approved the Rural Partnership Act of a Cochran bill to authorize the Agri- freezes also plagued farmers in 1983. 1989. The bill strengthened Federal sup- culture Secretary to provide supple- Near the year’s end, I sponsored a port of State and regional economic mental crop disaster assistance in addi- measure to disregard payment-in-kind programs, or rural electric coopera- tion to benefits provided by the Crop acreage in eligibility determination for tives, and of land grant university re- Insurance Reform Act of 1994. Cotton natural disaster emergency loans. The search and extension programs. It was producers had been plagued by a severe existing program required that a farm- only a modest beginning, but it might drought and worm infestations during er suffer a 30-percent loss to be eligible. be a great help to rural communities. the 1995 crop. This was particularly dis- However, payment-in-kind acreage That same month, the Senate also appointing due to the fact that 1994 was would not count in these estimates, so approved a disaster relief bill. Alabama a record year for the U.S. cotton crop. they were frequently inaccurate. In had another drought in 1990. And we Expectations were high for 1995 and na- 1984, the Senate passed a bill I cospon- had an unusually rainy spring in 1991. tionwide plantings were up by as much sored to establish a 15-member special With Senator COCHRAN, I introduced as 20 percent in some States. While the task force on agricultural credit to en- legislation that year to force the Presi- drought contributed a great deal to the 1995 cotton disaster, the insect infesta- sure its availability at reasonable in- dent to provide emergency funding. tions were particularly devastating. terest rates. I noted a survey of bank- The USDA had made money available The insect situation was so bad that ers, many of whom believed that farm- through FmHA loans, but the Presi- the EPA authorized the temporary use ers would default on their loans. Fur- dent had not delivered it according to his authority provided by a 1991 supple- of the insecticide Pirate to fight the ther, 100,000 farmers would be forced tobacco budworm and beet army worm. out of business that year, and the sta- mental appropriations bill. In the fall of that year, I supported the passage of The final blow to cotton farmers was tistics indicated that half of family Hurricane Opal. After already experi- farmers would disappear in less than a a bill to provide aid through FEMA. This bill included language practically encing terrible growing conditions in generation. In 1985, I emphasized the 1995, just prior to harvesting what cot- farm credit crisis in the country, with identical to language I introduced dur- ing the 1990 farm bill debate to make ton that was left, Opal took care of the a farm debt the size of the Federal defi- cotton that the drought and insects cit; the FmHA had not acted to combat 65-percent payments to farmers who had suffered 35 percent or more in had not. the problem—it had $630 million avail- Hurricane Opal was a devastating losses. After continued contacts with able for Federal loan guarantees but storm, not only for its timing regard- the President, he finally released the used only $25 million. That same year, ing cotton farmers, but for all Alabam- I met with Willie Nelson to advise him disaster money in 1992. Winter storms and flooding, as well ians in southeast Alabama. Opal on how to distribute the proceeds from as a number of tornadoes, plagued the caught a great deal of structural dam- FarmAid. We had another drought in State in 1994. Tropical storm Alberto age and produced a large amount of de- 1986, which spurred me to begin hear- bris. Fortunately, we were able to suc- also caused a great deal of flooding ings to investigate drought cycles in cessfully petition the USDA for assist- that year. I also pushed the disaster as- the South and possible ways to handle ance under the Emergency Conserva- sistance amendment to include funding them. tion Program [ECP]. Under the ECP, for flood victims in Alabama, Georgia, In 1987, I introduced a bill to save the Alabamians received approximately $5 and Florida in the fiscal 1995 agri- farm credit system. It would have au- million in assistance for debris re- culture appropriations. I also pushed a thorized bonds and the restructuring of moval and structural repair. the system, including a cooling-off pe- bill I sponsored to authorize funding In an effort to address the problem of riod before mergers went into effect. It for flood relief through the Agriculture annual disaster assistance bills, and would protect important farmers’ Committee. The Senate passed this provide a model for crop insurance re- stockholdings in the system and estab- measure unanimously. In fact, the vote form, in 1993 I began meeting with lish an assistance board to financial in- on flood relief compelled me to miss grower groups to hear their ideas on an stitutions providing farm loans. I in- my chance to act as the President’s effective system of crop insurance. In troduced another amendment to pro- personal representative on the 50th an- this endeavor, the National Cotton tect advanced payment for prepayment niversary of the liberation of Guam; I Council was particularly helpful. accounts held by Federal land banks, had served as Marine lieutenant and I The message from farmers was that part of the farm credit system. The was one of the first on the beaches. In the cost of production was continuing amendment would simply have re- 1995, I asked the USDA to extend the to rise, cotton prices were declining or quired that money deposited into these Federal crop insurance deadline; there flat at best, and disaster assistance was advanced payment accounts would im- were a number of farmers who had not triggered only by production or yield mediately, prior to the capital deple- applied. The USDA established this losses. tion or insolvency of a Federal land deadline under the previous year’s crop As a result of these roundtable meet- bank, be applied as payment against insurance bill, but it would not help ings, I introduced the Farmers’ Risk the borrower’s loan. any farmers who had not applied; they Management Act of 1994. This legisla- Alabama suffered another drought in would no longer be eligible for disaster tion called on the Federal Crop Insur- 1988. I introduced a drought assistance payments. With the passage of Federal ance Corporation to offer producers the bill to mandate emergency aid from crop insurance reform late in 1994, the option of a cost-of-production system the Secretary of Agriculture. The bill program signaled a break from the rou- which would be based upon each indi- also included a private water project. tine of passing disaster bills. With this vidual producer’s actual cost of produc- It would have created water coopera- new program and approach, I knew tion. This bill would have also allowed tives financed by loans or bonds to there would be a period of adjustment. a producer to choose between using his transport water for irrigation. When I believed that it was a reasonable re- actual yields and his farm program conferees finished their report, I criti- quest given that Congress had only yields in determining his crop insur- cized their changes to the feed and live- months before passed the crop insur- ance yields. October 21, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S12431 Many of the ideas put forth in this extracted promises from the Director Unfortunately, some groups are so legislation were rolled into the Federal of the NWS, Dr. Elbert Friday, to push opposed to the use of animals in this Crop Insurance Reform Act of 1994. As back closing of this doppler radar sta- essential research that they set fire to a matter of fact, the Heflin proposal on tion. I also introduced the Weather research facilities or break into labora- a cost-of-production system was used Service Modernization Review Act of tories to steal animals and destroy to design an income-protection pilot 1994 to require a study on the potential equipment, records and research data. program that is being implemented impact of closing weather stations. The The real price of these types of crimes this year. Vice President ordered the study by are paid by all those who are waiting This new approach will cover farmers the National Research Council. This for cures and treatments for their af- when gross income falls below estab- study revealed that the Huntsville area flictions. Research into Alzheimer’s lished limits. This pilot program cre- would, in fact, suffer from the lack of disease, cancer, AIDS, substance addic- ates a system that would guard against its own NEXRAD station. In 1995, I tion and mental health were at stake yield losses and low harvest prices. cited this study, and contacted the here. The implementation of this pilot pro- committee chairmen who oversaw the Public interest in animal welfare gram could not have come at a more NOAA and the NWS: GRAMM, PRES- should be encouraged. Research utiliz- important time. This first year’s expe- SLER, and HOLLINGS. The Commerce ing laboratory animals has led to many rience with the catastrophic coverage Committee approved an amendment to of medical history’s most significant under the new crop insurance reforms the Weather Service authorization to breakthroughs. These animals are used has proven to be inadequate. More im- make it more difficult to close 32 only when necessary and should be portantly, though, after the 1996 farm weather stations, including the Hunts- housed, handled and treated humanely. bill and its uncertain future effects on ville station. I also contacted the Sec- Those who disagree with the respon- American farmers, we find ourselves retary of Commerce to advocate a new sible use of animals in research do not faced with the possible phase-out of station in the Huntsville area; he have the right to take the law into farm programs. It is, therefore, abso- promised to install a center in north- their own hands. While a few States have already en- lutely essential that we have a reliable ern Alabama. After his death this year, acted laws increasing penalties for crop insurance plan that will provide the NWS announced that it would crimes against research facilities, I felt some type of safety net for producers. honor its commitment to install that it was necessary to establish protec- center. The significance of this new approach tions on the Federal level. is that it addresses fluctuations in After a number of tornadoes in TUSKEGEE price, where the current crop insurance northeast Alabama in 1994, the USDA In 1862, the U.S. Congress passed the program only takes into account losses and I jointly announced that the NWS’ All Hazard Weather Radio Network first Morrill Act which provided for the from reduced yields. establishment of land-grant institu- I am proud of these efforts made on would put up a station to provide early tions in the Southern and border behalf of trying to forge a new and warnings in the area. I had toured this States. These institutions were de- more effective direction in regard to area, including Goshen and its United signed to educate citizens in the field crop insurance. It is my hope that this Methodist Church—which had been de- of agriculture, home economics, the pilot program will grown and be imple- stroyed by the storm—with Vice Presi- dent GORE, where I solicited his sup- mechanic arts and other practical mented on a national level. skills. Since the Southern States were In 1984, Senator HOLLINGS and I in- port to deal with such problems in the uncooperative in funding historically troduced a bill to create a national future. However, I was concerned about African-American institutions under storm-scale operational and research the performance of early warning sys- this law, Congress passed a second Mor- meteorology [STORM] program to up- tems in the State after more tornadoes rill Act in 1890, creating the 1890 land- date the country’s extreme weather hit Arab and Joppa the next year. In 1995, I supported a Cochran amend- grant institutions. prediction systems. With this bill, we Alabama has two 1890 land-grant in- sought to emphasize the transition ment to the Commerce, Justice, State appropriations bill to restore funding stitutions, the Tuskegee Institute and from the old radar systems to the im- for the agricultural weather service Alabama A&M. Tuskegee was created plementation of the new NEXRAD sys- centers at Stoneville, MS, and in Au- by an act of the Alabama Legislature tem. This bill passed the Senate, but it burn. Weather is the single most im- and granted land by the U.S. Congress. died in the House. Senator HOLLINGS portant external element in the pro- Although the 1890 institutions were and I reintroduced this bill in 1986 after duction equation. But this year, as the chartered more than 100 years ago, a NASA lost a weather satellite. Our res- deadline for these centers’ cutoff ap- stream of ‘‘hard’’ money for research olution would also have urged the ad- proached, I met with NWS officials to was not created until fiscal year 1967. ministration to launch another GOES discuss forecasts in the future. With The Tuskegee Institute was not offi- satellite and increase weather recon- Representative BROWDER, I pushed for cially a land-grant college, but in 1980, naissance flights in the interim. The continuation of these ag forecasts by I was able to have the Tuskegee Insti- Commerce Committee passed this reso- transferring the NWS over to the tute added to the permanent list of 1890 lution in June. USDA. Despite Senator COCHRAN’S sup- institutions and ensure there would be In 1990, the battle to preserve Hunts- port, who realized the importance of a continuous stream of Federal re- ville’s weather station began; the NWS specialized ag weather forecasts, the search funds. Further, Congress cre- had proposed dropping the weather sta- Republican agenda of the 104th Con- ated the Chappie James Center at tion serving northern Alabama in the gress called for downsizing the Federal Tuskegee with the 1890 reauthorization implementation of its NEXRAD sys- Government and this vital service fell of the Higher Education Act of 1965, tem. That year, I met with the Deputy prey to privatization. and it ensured funding for each of these Director of the NWS to urge him to RESEARCH institutions with the 1981 farm bill. consider Huntsville’s proposal to do- An action I am most proud of in the AUBURN nate a weather radar system. I contin- field of research is the passage of a bill I have worked closely with Ala- ued this fight in 1994, making certain that I authorized making it a Federal bama’s 1862 land-grant institution, Au- to be continually in contact with the crime to vandalize, destroy or make burn University, over the years and the NWS and the NOAA to advocate main- unauthorized use of animal research fa- 104th Congress was no exception. I was tenance of the Huntsville facility. In cilities, including data, equipment and especially successful in completing, or 1994, I also contacted the Vice Presi- the animals themselves. The Animal continuing, funding for several very dent to solicit his help in the continu- Research Facilities Protection Act, important research initiatives through ation of the Huntsville National which was signed into law as the Ani- the college of agriculture and the Ala- Weather Service Radar. I told him that mal Enterprise Act would impose se- bama Agriculture Experiment Station I believed eliminating the station vere penalties on individuals or groups in cooperation with the Department of under NEXRAD would leave northern who interfered with medical and other Agriculture. Alabama and southern Tennessee in a research facilities where animals are Funding for the completion of the vulnerable position. That same year, I use. new poultry science facility at Auburn S12432 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 21, 1996 was achieved in the fiscal year 1997 ag- an up-and-running research center that turned to the Energy Committee and riculture appropriations bill. This $12 was already accomplishing many of the assisted in preventing this proposal million facility will provide a state of environmental goals set by the admin- from being made a part of the Repub- the art facility for essential research istration. Once this was laid out for lican reconciliation bill. into one of the most important agri- them, they saw that it made no sense TRADE culture sectors in Alabama, the poul- to kill a working program in order to In 1981, I applauded the President’s try industry. create new programs with similar I was also successful in securing decision to lift the Soviet grain embar- goals. go. I did believe that the United States funds for continued water quality re- I also introduced a bill to transfer needed to take action against the Sovi- search conducted at the Alabama Agri- aquaculture from the Interior Depart- ets for invading Afghanistan. However, culture Experiment Station. The re- ment to the USDA. This was a long- it is most regrettable that the farmers search involves a team effort by sci- overdue streaming measure that will of the United States have had to bear entists at Auburn and other land-grant greatly improve the overall efficiency the cost of this foreign policy instru- universities, the CSREES, the TVA, and timeliness of aquaculture research. ment alone. For that reason, in 1982, I State and private agencies, and most Specifically, it saved the Southeastern urged the President to develop a long- importantly, the producers. New tech- Fish Cultural Laboratory in Marion by term, Soviet grain agreement. I advo- nology is implemented immediately, moving it from Interior to the USDA. cated ending grain embargoes and which enhances the development and It was adopted in the most recent farm working to expand export markets, in- growth of agricultural industries. The bill. The U.S. aquaculture industry has cluding multiple year extensions of water quality research also addresses grown more than 15 percent annually trade agreements. A 1-year extension problems that confront rural develop- since 1980. As a result, aquaculture has has the effect of a defacto embargo be- ment and the sustainability of agricul- emerged as a solid alternative for cause it keeps the specter of an embar- tural enterprises. Most importantly, farmers and allowed them to diversity. go looming over the whole grain grow- though, this research is responsible for In fact, aquaculture is of vital impor- ing and exporting industry. The mere developing and implementing water tance to the economy of west Alabama. threat of an embargo keeps grain and crop management practices that Over 20 percent of the area’s population prices depressed and plays havoc with both enhance agriculture production is employed directly in the production the entire farm economy. In 1983, after and protect and preserve an important or the processing of catfish. natural resource—water. the downing of the Korean jetliner at- RURAL ELECTRIC tack, I feared that the President would One specific example of this is the ir- While commodity programs seem to impose another embargo on the Sovi- rigation project being conducted at the dominate agriculture policy, rural de- ets, so I introduced a bill to create a experiment substation in Bell Mina, velopment policy is an area that I have state undersecretary for agricultural AL. Increased demand for irrigation paid special attention to. This is par- affairs. It seemed that increasingly our water in the southwestern United ticularly true with regard to rural elec- agricultural policy is being set by offi- States is causing increased stress on trification. cials of the State Department as they many streams where farmers are pump- Most recently I authored the Rural respond to international events. In ing directly from the stream. As a pos- Electrification Loan Restructuring Act 1984, the Senate passed a bill I cospon- sible method to decrease this demand of 1993 which was signed into law on sored to require congressional approval during periods of low stream flow and November 1, 1993, as Public Law 103– of trade embargoes. It would require to make more water available for irri- 129. gation, a study was initiated to evalu- This legislation eliminated the au- that both Houses approve an embargo ate the feasibility of pumping during thority of the REA Administrator to within 60 days and review it every 6 high stream flows to off-stream storage make 2 percent loans, established cri- months. There was no doubt that past sites. These sites could be on-farm or teria for a REA electric distribution embargoes, and the threat of new em- farmer-shared reservoirs. The irriga- borrower can qualify for a 5 percent bargoes, significantly contributed to tion reservoir at Bell Mina has been loan, and authorized the Administrator the erosion of U.S. export dominance completed and the early results appear to make loans at the municipal cost of and the resulting decline in farm in- promising. capital. This legislation also addressed come. The National Soil Dynamics Labora- high density cooperatives, rural devel- In 1983, when the President was pre- tory at Auburn conducts research de- opment eligibility, and private capital paring to visit Japan, I sponsored a signed to solve soil management prob- requirements among other things. sense-of-the-Senate resolution to urge lems. Developing effective methods of In the 1996 farm bill, I was instru- that United States negotiators should managing soil to maintain its quality, mental in securing additional loan re- insist that Japan dismantle all of its and to improve the quality and produc- structuring authority for the Secretary barriers on imported beef. This resolu- tivity of degraded soil, requires a mul- of Agriculture regarding rural electric tion passed. I urged the passage of a tidisciplinary program. One component loans. We are currently working with similar resolution in 1984. In 1988, the of this research being conducted at the the USDA to promulgate regulations beef agreement with Japan expired, soil laboratory is the agronomic por- that will provide the Secretary with and negotiations stalled. tion. House appropriators eliminated sufficient flexibility to carry out the Then an unusual series of events oc- funding for this component in their ag- intention of Congress. curred. The Japanese Ambassador riculture appropriations bill. Fortu- As part of the Republican plan to bal- asked me in my capacity as chairman nately, I was able to have this funding ance the budget, Republicans proposed of the Subcommittee on Courts of the restored in the Senate bill. The agro- selling off the Power Marketing Ad- Judicial Committee to pass a courts nomic portion of the multidisciplinary ministrations, which provide elec- bill allowing the use of Japanese lan- program at the soil lab is vital because tricity to regional distribution co- guage interpreters in Federal court it is the very portion that facilitates operatives. The primary concern with cases. We succeeded in getting the nec- the technology transfer from the lab to this proposal was that PMA ‘‘pur- essary legislation approved. The Am- the field. chasers’’ would have to increase the bassador thanked me and then asked TVA price at which they made electric me if there was anything he could do I fought for continuation of TVA’s power available in order to recover for me. I replied I would like to meet National Fertilizer and Environmental their purchasing costs. I believed with the Japanese Minister of Agri- Research Center after the Clinton ad- strongly that this would ultimately culture, trade representatives, and two ministration had targeted it for elimi- translate into higher utility costs for members of the Diet. I was able to nation. The administration argued that end-users of rural electric coopera- bring representatives of the National this research should be conducted pri- tives. Cattlemen’s Association to the meet- vately. But I contacted the VP and the With this issue being debated in the ing. We had a very frank discussion and Budget Director, and it was simply a Energy Committee, when a seat on the reported the progress to the U.S. trade matter of explaining that NFERC was committee became available, I re- representatives. Fortunately, a few October 21, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S12433 days later a very favorable trade ar- This year, I urged the President to Of major significance, Congress fi- rangement was worked out and Amer- resolve the trade dispute with the Rus- nally broke the logjam that had lasted ican beef was allowed to be exported to sians when they announced that they for nearly 2 decades and passed legisla- Japan in far greater numbers than be- would no longer import United States tion to rewrite Federal pesticide laws, fore. The arrangement further elimi- poultry. The Russians had refused to bringing about much needed reform of nated the quotas after 3 years, at which recognize the United States system of the outdated Delaney clause. time the Japanese could impose tariffs poultry inspection. Along with several The Food Quality Protection Act, if beef passed trigger levels. of my colleagues, we urged President H.R. 1627, received unanimous support I have been concerned about poultry Clinton to carry this issue to the high- once all the pieces of the puzzle were exports for some time. In 1983, I wrote est levels of the Russian Government. put into place. Traditionally, the bat- to the trade representative to urge him While in Russia, Vice President GORE tleground between industry and envi- to address Brazil’s increase in poultry and Secretary Glickman raised this ronmental supporters, the urgency to exports. From 1976 to 1980, the U.S. issue and soon afterward, an agreement resolve pesticide legislation was cre- share dropped from 20 percent to al- was reached. The poultry industry is ated by court rulings that would have most nothing. Since Brock did not act, extremely important to the economy of ordered the EPA to begin canceling the several other Senators and I contacted Alabama. It accounts for 54 percent of use of some common chemicals. the President directly, noting that the all farm income in the State and 75 The bill as signed into law will revise U.S. share of the world poultry market percent of farm exports. pesticide registration under the Fed- had fallen from 97 percent to 13 percent In conjunction with other Senators eral Insecticide, Fungicide, and over 20 years. To address these con- from poultry producing States, in the Rodenticide Act of 1947, speeding up cerns, I attached a poultry export mar- 104th Congress we also had to fight bar- some EPA registration procedures. The keting program to the Agriculture riers to interstate free trade. The cur- bill also recognizes separate registra- Committee’s payment-in-kind bill. rent regulation regarding the labeling tion procedures for minor use chemi- This bill was designed to open new of ‘‘fresh’’ poultry states that poultry cals, and under legislation I coau- preserved above zero degrees fahr- markets and recapture old ones. thored, antimicrobials, or common enheit shall be labeled fresh, and poul- In 1984, I joined several other Sen- household and industrial chemical try below zero degrees, the point at ators to urge the President to nego- cleansers. tiate with the Canadian Prime Min- which animal flesh freezes, shall be la- Most importantly, this legislation re- beled frozen. ister to address hog trade. Legislation formed the notorious Delaney clause of was before the Congress to impose du- The USDA, on behalf of California poultry producers, promulgated regula- the 1958 Federal Food, Drug, and Cos- ties, we informed the CPM, and their tions to raise the benchmark for fresh metic Act, which barred processed food exports to the United States had risen to 26 degrees based on the premise of from containing even minute amounts 10 times. In 1985, I pressed this point consumer claims that the current regu- of cancer-causing chemicals. The hard- again. Disputes with Brazil over poul- lations for poultry labeling was mis- fought compromise of the Delaney re- try, China over cotton, and Australia leading. form will impose a safety standard to over beef, combined with this trade im- We were able to demonstrate, how- ensure that pesticide residues on both balance had clearly demonstrated that ever, that this was actually an effort raw and processed food pose no reason- the United States needed to put an end by the California poultry industry to able risk of harm. This standard essen- to the use of unfair subsidized competi- erect a barrier to shipments of poultry tially means that there will likely be tion and to recoup its fair share of from historic poultry producing re- no more than a one-in-a-million chance world export trade. I was pleased that gions, specifically the Southeast. I ob- that a residue would cause cancer. The the Commerce Department acted to tained a copy of a report by the Cali- old standard was completely outdated, impose duties on Canadian pork. I also fornia Poultry Working Group, an in- given modern technology, that pre- wrote to the Trade Representative in dustry panel designed to study and vented some chemicals from being used 1994 to urge him to seek Canadian com- make recommendations on the Califor- that actually reduced the natural level pliance with the terms of NAFTA. I nia poultry industry, that stated in its of carcinogens in many commodities. also joined Representative ROSE to findings that the single, most signifi- This is an important reform and I am urge an ITC investigation of dumping cant barrier to industry growth was glad that we were able to achieve this of Canadian peanut paste in the United the high cost of poultry production in victory this year. States. California. On the other hand, poultry While there were some victories over When the United States began to producers in the Southeast are able to the last 2 years, there were also some consider food aid to the Soviet Union produce broilers and ship them to other defeats and close calls. I have long been in 1990, I encouraged the USDA to aid parts of the country at a profit. a supporter of private property rights that country by developing food dis- With Senator COCHRAN’s leadership, legislation. As a matter of fact, the tribution practices rather than simply we were able to block the implementa- only private property bill to pass the granting money. The precedent for tion of this new regulation in the fiscal Senate in the 103d Congress was the such aid was the food for progress pro- year 1996 agriculture appropriations Heflin-Dole private property bill. I am gram created in the 1985 farm bill and bill. During negotiations on the fiscal sorry to say that the effort to pass pri- successfully implemented in the Uru- year 1997 agriculture appropriations vate property rights legislation failed guay round. But as the situation be- bill a compromise was agreed to. Iron- in this Congress. I also regret that at- came more severe in the Soviet Union, ically, the compromise was essentially tempts to move regulatory reform leg- I urged the Agriculture Secretary to the same proposal that I put forward a islation were not successful. provide emergency, ready-to-cook pro- year earlier. Nevertheless, it was a deal As I close out my career in the U.S. visions. People were in desperate need that Southeast poultry producers could Senate, I reflect back on all that has of immediate help, and raw commod- live with. been accomplished. With regard to ag- ities like grain would not be as helpful. CONCLUSION riculture, I am extremely pleased and I did, however, remind the Secretary In addition to rewriting farm policy, proud of the progress made on behalf of that the aid would need to be provided the 104th Congress made substantial rural America and family farms. as a credit, not a grant. I also urged progress in other areas under the agri- Over the last 18 years, I am proud to the Agriculture Secretary not to aban- cultural policy umbrella. Earlier this say that I have been a part of working don United States textile bags in this year, the Congress passed and the to ensure that electricity and water Food for Peace Program; that decision President signed H.R. 2029, the Farm and sewer systems were extended to would have resulted in the loss of Credit System Reform Act of 1996. This areas where they once were not. We American jobs in favor of Chinese slave important legislation brought a degree have strengthened the family farm by labor. I also advocated sending peanut of regulatory reform to the Farm Cred- providing adequate capital to farms butter and other peanut products to it System Banks while also addressing and agribusiness. We have passed farm Russia, which was looking for a cheap needed charges in Farmer Mac and re- bills that have stabilized the family meat substitute. solving the FAC debt issue. farm, made the American farmer the S12434 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE October 21, 1996 envy of the world and at the same HOLM, a long-time friend and colleague. In responding to the Senator, Secretary time, protected the environment and I have had the pleasure of working Block first tried to correct Senator Heflin, reduced the deficit. Through the work with him over the years on many agri- ‘‘It’s the P, I, K program, Senator, PIK!’’ cultural issues, particularly those re- Senator Heflin paused for a dramatic mo- on the Agriculture Committee we have ment and replied, ‘‘Oh, I thought you said P, extended technological advancements lating to the peanut program. Should I, P, the Pig in a Poke program.’’ The room into rural America through telemedi- the Democrats regain the House major- roared with laughter, and everyone under- cine and distance learning initiatives. ity this fall, CHARLIE will probably be stood Heflin’s attitude about the proposed Foreign markets for U.S. agricultural the Agriculture Committee’s new new program. products have been opened wide and ag- chairman. On a more serious note, there can be little ricultural research has led to more effi- I ask that a copy of Congressman doubt, that, over the years, Senator Howell STENHOLM’s remarks be printed in the Heflin has been ‘‘Mr. Peanut’’ in the Senate, cient farming with breakthroughs such and the real reason the program has enjoyed RECORD. It gives an entertaining and as no-till agriculture and precision such strong support over the years in the farming employing satellite imagery. humorous inside account of some of Senate. While a great deal has been accom- our behind-the-scenes battles on these It was not always that way. During the de- plished, I am still concerned about important issues over the years. bate on the 1981 farm bill when the Senator what the future may hold. As the The material follows: was still new in the Senate, then Committee American society continues to become NOTES FOR SPEECH AT SENATOR HOWELL Chairman Richard Lugar offered in the Sen- ate a motion that effectively killed the pea- more urban, fewer and fewer have an HEFLIN EVENT, AUGUST 20, 1996 Senator Heflin was elected to the United nut program. In a dramatic, difficult vote, appreciation for issues affecting rural the Senate approved Senator Lugar’s mo- America. Furthermore, I believe that States Senate in 1978, and begin serving on the Senate Agriculture Committee just as tion. There was then a pause in the delibera- most take for granted that only 3 per- the committee began work on the 1981 farm tions when Senator Heflin and Senator War- cent of the American population, in ad- bill. Everyone knew the ’81 bill would be a ner of Virginia got all the peanut representa- dition to feeding the world, provide challenge, the Republicans had just taken tives and farmers that were in Washington this country with the highest quality, the White House and the Senate. Senator for the Farm Bill debate into a room to dis- most abundant and affordable food sup- Richard Lugar became the Chairman of the cuss what to do next. Everyone agreed the Senate Committee on Agriculture. The Indi- peanut acreage allotment program was dead, ply of any nation in the world. but if another type of program could be de- The 1996 farm bill, which is a major ana Senator was not known for his support of the peanut program. signed in a matter of minutes that would departure from traditional farm pro- Those present at the time and involved in keep peanut farmers in business without al- grams, leaves an uneasy feeling for the the development of the farm bill remember lotments, perhaps the Senate could be per- future. Although it was ostensibly de- that then Freshman Senator Howell Heflin suaded to accept some type of new program. signed to bring certainty to farming, I took a particular interest in the peanut pro- Mr. Ross Wilson, a strong admirer of Sen- believe the 1996 farm bill created many gram. One producer representative, Larry ator Heflin and the manager of the South- west Peanut Grower’s association sat down potential problems that we may not Meyers, has commented that in his 24 years in Washington, Senator Heflin was the only with the peanut leadership present, and even be aware of for some years to wrote out in longhand on a yellow pad what come. Specifically, I believe decoupling Senator who, when asked to support the pro- gram, made Larry sit at the Senator’s desk is essentially the poundage quota program payments from market prices was a while he went through the entire bill, dis- we have today. Senator Heflin and Senator mistake. Only time will tell, but I hope cussing even the proper placement of com- Warner then took that yellow pad to the that there will be Members of Congress mas and semicolons, to ensure the bill re- Senate floor and passed a new peanut pro- who are sympathetic to the needs of flected truly what was best for peanut grow- gram. It was a dramatic moment. It meant hun- ers. rural America should the Freedom to dreds, if not thousands of small farmers That kind of detail and preparation has Farm proposal fail. could stay in business, and it came about be- made Senator Heflin a formidable foe on the I am also concerned about the state cause Senator Heflin was willing to stand up Senate floor for those who sought to end the of the cotton industry. I have been con- with farmers. program. A couple of interesting stories And as a result, you can say Senator How- tacted recently by sectors of the indus- came out of that 1985 farm bill period. Early try raising concerns about the growing ell Heflin is, ‘‘The Father of the Modern Pea- in the farm bill process, another new Senator nut Program.’’ volume of cotton imports into this and now Governor of California Pete Wilson In the ensuing years, during farm bill de- country. This is something that I plan tried to offer a difficult to understand bates and even during appropriations consid- to monitor in the near future. Also, I amendment affecting a small crop in Califor- erations, the peanut program has been at- am curious to see the effectiveness of nia. It was just before lunch, members were tacked several times, But each time, we had the bioengineered Bt cotton seed. Bt anxious to adjourn the meeting and there a peanut leader in the Senate: Senator How- cotton was engineered to be resistant was little interest in the amendment. When ell Heflin would stand and defend the pro- Senator Wilson finished offering his amend- gram strongly as he did this year, and each to insects. To date, reports indicate a ment, there was an awkward silence when no great deal of success with this new cot- time, those attacking the program suffered one seconded the amendment. Suddenly, just defeat and the peanut program continues. ton. I will be curious to review results before the Chairman was about to rule the We owe him a great deal of appreciation. after the current harvest is complete,. amendment out of order and adjourn the Yes, although it can be said Senator Heflin Farming families and rural commu- committee for lunch, Senator Heflin sud- saved the peanut program repeatedly over nities are the backbone of this great denly spoke of the amendment’s outstanding the years, but in addition, there are several Nation. I am proud to have served on merit and seconded the motion. With that, provisions of the peanut program we can their behalf on the Agriculture Com- the Committee quickly approved the meas- look to and know that they developed di- ure and adjourned for lunch. rectly by the Senator: The support price es- mittee for 18 years. As I return to Ala- Senator Wilson quickly left his seat and calator based on the cost of production we bama and the many farmers in north- came around the table to say thank you to enjoyed since 1985 until this year; the three ern Alabama, I will continue to meet Senator Heflin, who he admitted he really marketing associations being written clearly with, and monitor, the state of U.S. ag- did not know since they were both new to into the law; and dozens of smaller provi- riculture and the proud farmers who the committee. sions that have made the program work produce our food and fiber. It is my sin- Senator Heflin replied to Senator Wilson more efficiently and at lower cost to the gov- cere hope that those who remain in with a smile and a wink, ‘‘Senator, we don’t ernment. grow your California crops in Alabama, but In addition, and perhaps most significant, Congress, and those to come, will give we do grow peanuts!’’ and something I have personally witnessed, the proper consideration to rural issues Senator Wilson got the message, and later has been Senator Heflin’s work in Con- as they come before this body. voted in support of the peanut program. ference. Mr. President, back on August 20, At another point about this time, then After the House and Senate pass a bill, 1996, the Alabama Peanut Producers Secretary of Agriculture came before the there are almost always differences that held a dinner in my honor. I was very Senate agriculture committee to promote a must be resolved in what we call a ‘‘Con- thankful and humbled by their out- new program called ‘‘P, I, K’’ or Payment In ference’’; a meeting of members to iron out Kind. After the Secretary finished testifying pouring of affection and humor that the differences and come up with language in favor the PIK program, Senator Heflin both Houses will approve. evening. questioned the Secretary with a long inquiry This is where Senator Howell Heflin has One of the most memorable and hu- wherein Senator Heflin clearly referred to been of most value to this industry, particu- morous speeches was one given by the program as ‘‘P, I, P’’ or as the ‘‘PIP’’ larly this year when we had to make the Texas Congressman CHARLIE STEN- program several times. most of a bad situation. October 21, 1996 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S12435 Charlie Rose and I always knew, if we lost strong commitment and leadership on THANKS TO STAFF an important provision, Senator Heflin behalf of rural America, his efforts would put it back in, or if we could get a new ∑ Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, on the were recognized with the establishment last day the Senate was in session, Oc- provision, Senator Heflin could keep it in of an empowerment zone in south when the bill came to conference. tober 4, I stood on the floor and briefly This year it was particularly true when Texas, one of only three in rural Amer- thanked my staff members for all their you can credit Senator Heflin with killing ica. hard work over the years. At that time, the 5-percent penalty for loan peanuts which I recall working closely with KIKA DE I had a list of their names, hometowns, would have hurt every peanut farmer in this LA GARZA over the years. We have and date of joining our staff inserted country. worked many long hours together to into the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD. I also It was fun to watch: When the debate got restructure the Farm Credit System heated, if you saw Senator Heflin lean back said that later, I would make addi- in this chair, slowly push the plastic back on and provide disaster assistance when tional comments about each of those. his cigar and begin to chew, you knew he was our Nation’s producers have suffered As I said, it is easy to take staff for thinking and was about to close in for the from drought and other natural disas- granted. Much of what they do is car- kill—this year on the Republican Leadership ters. However, what comes to mind ried out in such a way that we might that was seeking to decimate the program. when I think of KIKA DE LA GARZA is not be aware always of what they are I know you are not fully happy with the his invaluable leadership in defense of doing. But they put in long hours just program the way it turned out in the end, the peanut program. It may come as a like we do. They are dedicated not only but we got one. And the challenge can be surprise to some, but the peanut pro- summed up with the remark that Senator to us, but to the States we serve. My Richard Lugar was heard to make after the gram is vitally important to Alabama staff has helped thousands of Alabam- farm bill conference: ‘‘In looking at this lan- and I have personally fought hard to ians and other citizens with problems, guage, I can see that once again, Senator preserve this program. Had it not been questions, projects, and other general Howell Heflin has prevailed over those of us for Chairman DE LA GARZA, though, we concerns. who sought to end the peanut program.’’ would not have been able to maintain I have been fortunate to have many Senator Heflin, that is a fitting tribute. this program that is also an integral long-time staff members who have been Congratulations, and thank you.∑ part of Texas agriculutre. Many were with me for many years, some since my f the occasions that I came to KIKA and first year in the Senate. Others have TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE I told him that I needed his help and not been here as long, but have still KIKA DE LA GARZA without fail, we were able to hold off made valuable contributions. Most efforts to eliminate the peanut pro- have come from Alabama or had some ∑ Mr. HEFLIN. Mr. President, I rise gram. For this, I am deeply grateful to today to pay tribute to the Honorable connection to the State, such as being KIKA. an alumnus of a university there, but KIKA DE LA GARZA. There is nobody in the U.S. Congress As KIKA DE LA GARZA leaves Congress others have come from the Washington more deserving of a tribute than the and returns to Texas, we are truly wit- area or other parts of the east coast. distinguished and longtime chairman nessing the end of an era. KIKA DE LA I am proud of my staff, both here in of the House Agriculture Committee GARZA has outlasted Bob Poage, Her- Washington and in the four State of- and defender of rural America and fam- man Talmadge and Jamie Whitten to fices. They have done an outstanding ily farms. become the dean of American Agri- job for the Senate, for the State of Ala- bama, and for the Nation and I thank KIKA DE LA GARZA began his elected culture. Rural America has had no public service with six terms in the stronger advocate than KIKA DE LA all of them and wish them well as they Texas House of Representatives and GARZA, he has indeed been the cham- retire or move on to new career oppor- was first elected to the U.S. House of pion of the small farmer. tunities. I would now like to say a few words about each of those who are still Representatives in 1964. KIKA was im- When KIKA and his wife, Lucille, re- mediately appointed to the Agriculture turn to Texas, they will return home to serving with us during these final Committee and has served as the com- Mission. Mission, TX, is known for pro- weeks of my term. mittee chairman since 1981. As a mat- ducing famous Texans, among them in- STEVE RABY ter of fact, KIKA was the first Hispanic clude Tom Landry and Lloyd Bentsen. Heading up my Washington staff is American to head-up a standing com- However, none have contributed more Steve Raby, my administrative assist- mittee of the House of Representatives. to improving the lives and living condi- ant. Over the years, Steve has been a KIKA DE LA GARZA is very proud of his tions of all Americans. Congress will tireless worker and voice for the State Hispanic heritage, and with good rea- indeed be a different place next year of Alabama and the Nation. He has su- son. KIKA can trace his ancestry back and it will sorely miss the wisdom and perb judgment and unsurpassable abil- to one of the ruling families of Spain leadership of KIKA DE LA GARZA. ity to motivate workers under his su- and to one of the earliest settlers of From the beginning, man has been at pervision. He first joined my staff in Texas. Don Martin de Leon and his work in agriculture. In Genesis Chap- January 1984 as a legislative assistant wife, Dona de la Garza, petitioned the ter 3, Verse 23, Moses writes, ‘‘There- focusing on agriculture and rural de- Spanish Governor in San Antonio for fore the Lord God sent him forth from velopment policy. In 1987, he became the right to establish a permanent set- the Garden of Eden, to till the Ground my administrative assistant, respon- tlement in Texas long before Moses from whence he was taken’’. Although sible for legislative and political mat- Austin had received permission. KIKA is there are tremendous challenges that ters affecting Alabama. Steve was born also proud of his Alabama ancestry, as lie ahead, the Sun shall rise tomorrow, in Huntsville, AL, and received his he often reminds me that he can trace and we can bear fruit for our neighbors bachelors and masters degrees from some of his forebears to Etowah Coun- and friends and those who are without Auburn University. I have accused him ty, AL. nourishment. As we strive to feed a numerous times of filling my staff with During his tenure as committee growing population, protect our envi- Auburn graduates so he could have chairman, KIKA DE LA GARZA has suc- ronment, and keep farmers and ranch- more support in the Auburn-Alabama cessfully guided the passage of three ers strong, I am confident that with football rivalry. Prior to joining my omnibus farm bills. He is also respon- God’s guidance, those who rely upon staff, Steve worked as a research as- sible for a major overhaul of the agri- him will succeed. We have all been sistant at the Federal Reserve Bank in cultural lending system, Federal crop blessed to have had the wisdom and Atlanta analyzing economic indicators insurance reform, reorganization of the leadership of KIKA DE LA GARZA. As of regional economy. Steve is married USDA, and reforms in pesticide laws. Americans we are all better for his to the former Denise Cole. They have Chairman DE LA GARZA has also service to this great country. As KIKA two sons—Nathan and Keenan. I pre- brought special attention to rural de- and his wife, Lucille return home, as dict a great future for him in anything velopment and the needs of rural fami- Mike and I are returning home, we he undertakes, including politics. lies. He has fought tirelessly for rural wish them both the very best for many WINSTON LETT development programs such as rural years to come. It has been my honor to As ranking Democrat on the Judici- waste and water systems. Through this have served with KIKA DE LA GARZA.∑ ary Subcommittee on Administrative