8606 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS March fl~ , 1977 EXTE,NSIONS OF REMARKS NATIONAL AGRICULTURE DAY, Of particular interest to farmers this a "caseload" of as many as four young­ MARCH 21, 1977 year will be provisions in the farm bill sters simultaneously. Indeed, I am grate­ concerning price supports, grain reserves, ful for the St. Paul Dispatch article and disaster payments, agricultural research, the attention paid to this side of the HON. MARC L. MARKS and food aid. Very often consumer and many-sided Dick Long and his numer­ OF PENNSYLVANIA farmer views on these issues differ; the ous good works. His versatility is IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES contention revolves around prices paid acknowledged by the fact that he offici­ Monday, March 21, 1977 and received for agricultural goods. I ated at both the winter carnival-and Mr. MARKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise in would encourage each of us this year to we ~re well known for our winters in St. tribute today, National Agriculture Day, carefully consider the best way to first, Paul-and the St. Patrick's Day parade to our Nation's 1 % million farmers and assure farmers a fair and adequate re­ during our salubrious springtime. The farmworkers. Special attention needs to turn in years of less than 100 percent of realization that it snowed on March 17, be paid these fine people this year for the production world market demand-those although the chamber of commerce amazing job they perform. Although this years when overproduction depresses called it sleet, did nothing to quell the group comprises only about 1 % percent prices. Second, we must provide for pro­ enthusiasm of parade participants and of the total work force in the United grams flexible enough to make our agri­ revelers. Truly, Dick Long is a man for States, they successfully produce enough cultural goods competitive on the world all seasons. food to both feed the balance of the U.S. market--our farmers would not benefit The article follows : population-at prices far below those in from overly high loan rates which would LEPRECHAUNS CHAT ON JOHN IRELAND other industrial countries-and export force a return to the era of accumulated BOULEVARD produce and commodities in amounts Government stocks. The United States (By Oliver Towne) valued in excess of $12 billion. As the must remain a prime, not residual, sup­ I was standing on John Ireland Boulevard sixth-ranking growth industry, it would plier of world food needs. Last, we must near the Cathedral and turned to the bear in mind that taxpayers and con­ leprechaun next to me. be fair to say that agriculture is one of "Cead mile falta" (A thousand welcomes) the primary supports of our economic sumers are the ultimate providers of agri­ cultural support-both by taxation and I said. freedom. "Bonjour, monsieur," he said. The year 1977 promises to be a red­ consumption. A balanced agricultural "Wrong language," I said. "You're Irish letter year for the American farmer in a price support plan will a void the ever­ and Thursday is St. Patrick's Day." number of different ways. First, the 1977 escala ting cost of maintaining Govern­ "Non, monsieur," he said. "To coin a farm bill will attempt to reauthorize or ment-held reserves. The consumer could phrase, we French are as Irish as you change traditional agricultural programs not benefit in the long run from expen­ Americans." due to expire at the end of the 1977 crop sive programs which tend to depress "But you've got Bastille Day (July 14) for year. Second, costs of farming are ris­ production. your own. Why muscle in on the Irish?" Again, I would urge thoughtful con­ "Ask the leprechaun next to me, monsieur, ing-land, machinery, fertilizer, feed, s'il vous plait." and so forth. The past few years' de­ sideration of the impact agriculture has "Isn't St. Patrick's Day for the Irish?" I creased profits will be aggravated by this on the American lifestyle today-from said. winter's severe snowstorms in the East the food we eat to the economic implica­ "Ya wohl ... und auch unsere Deutsche," and drought in the Midwest; both will tions for the balance of trade. Depend­ (Yes and also our Germans.) reduce spring crop yields and put an un­ ing on Congress interpretation, we could I turned now to the third leprechaun and bearable strain on the farmer's needed make this year the best yet for our he made the sign of "V" for victory. farmers. "Skol," he said. cash flow. USDA is already predicting "Don't tell me the Irish are really Swed­ further increases in the farm debt; in ish?" I said. 1976 alone it rose 12 percent. DICK LONG, KING OF THE ffiISH "You yust bettcha," he said. "Weren't you Coupled with the issue of how to struc­ here Sunday afternoon when an those Irish ture Federal supports for agricultural men and women came running down Summit production will be the need to consider HON. BRUCE F. VENTO Avenue and this hill in their BVDs?" the cost to United States and foreign "The St. Patrick's Day mini-marathon," OF MINNESOTA I said. consumers of our agricultural commodi­ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ties. The first group is primarily con­ "Ha," said the Swedish leprechaun. "Yust Monday, March 21, 1977 more of that Irish blarney. cerned with maintenance of low food "Those Irish were being chased by the prices; the latter views U.S. agriculture Mr. VENTO. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Richard Swedes from Minneapolis. We just about in more absolute terms as a reliable Long is one of St. Paul, Minn's., out­ caught them, too." source-either by outright purchases or standing community leaders. He is well "You mean," I said, "that maybe this year in the form of U.S. food aid. known for his many civic activities, in­ I ought to march behind Paul Villaume's The one indisputable fact regarding cluding tenure as Boreas Rex, the 39th, French-Irish banner? Or the Volksfest Asso­ American agriculture is that the United ciation? Or the Svenskarnasdag Sangerfest king of our justly famous annual win­ and Sytennde Mai Society? States must continue to export all that it ter carnival. Of course, that was a great "Oui, monsieur, you would be more Irish," cannot consume if farm income is to honor but I am sure, considering Dick's said the French leprechaun. keep pace with real prices. There has heritage, that he much prefers his cur­ "Gewiss. St. Patrick war ein Deutsche," been a good deal of discussion about re­ rent designation as "Mr. Pat" at St. (Certainly, Patrick was a German), said the turning agriculture to the free-market Paul's well-known St. Patrick's Day pa­ German leprechaun. system and abandoning Government rade. It is an awesome task to preside "Skol," said the Swedish leprechaun. programs. Agricultural support programs over the Irish and the would-be Irish on "If you can find the Snuss Boulevard Buc­ have been in effect in varying forms since St. Patrick's Day; particularly in St. caneers or Payne Avenue Patriots, you'd be the New Deal era of the 1930's; it would Paul. I am sure he was equal to the task. more in the right ethnic if not firing range." realistically appear that some variation In addition to the activities and hon­ I turned to the last leprechaun. of these need to be continued to shield ors listed above, Dick Long has long been "Ah. begorra lad," he said and I rejoiced the agricultural producers from the rav­ because at last I had found a real Irish a volunteer probation officer for the leprechaun. ages of wild price fluctuation. Further­ juvenile court. He has counseled and more, since we must export roughly 60 "Ah, lad, 'tis true what they say. There helped many troubled youth to find their is not one among us who is a true son of percent of our annual production, a place in society, as mentioned in the Eire. We are imposters-all of us." prime Government role might be en­ article below. In addition to Gary Hie­ "But O'Connor, Gallivan and Sweeney, Tim couraging the expansion of foreign mar­ bevt's-Oliver Towne--comments, it O'Gara and Cochran, Connelly and O'Con­ kets for our crops. should be noted that Dick Long handled nel ... names like that." March 22, 1977 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 8607 "Lad, they're all Spaniards ... you didn't man of the Orange Council, Boy Scouts imaginable-all hills, lots of steps and a hear any of those names used in Ireland until of America, and was named Mr. Hunt­ large number of uncontrolled dogs. .after the wreck of the Spanish Armada in ington Beach in 1972 by the Boy Scouts Over the past 25 years we have had many 1588." carriers, but none can equal the competence "But surely Dick Long, Mr. Pat, is pure 100 for his 30 years of service. of Mr. America. He is acquainted with his per cent green," I said. Furthermore he was chosen man of patrons and makes deliveries promptly and "Lad, Dick Long comes from a long and the year in 1973 by the Huntington Beach properly. In his absence, I have had im­ nomadic ancestory. His compassion and as­ Chamber of Commerce and was com­ portant mail left at many different houses, sistance to boys in trouble as one of our mended by resolution by the California although the mail was properly addressed. most dedicated volunteers to the cause of State Assembly.