FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 1996
CONTACT: Dana Hagerty 202/225-2165
WASHINGTON, DC -- In a procedural move on the House floor today, Congressman Collin C. Peterson (DFL-7th District) was able to strengthen the chances of the reauthorization of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) ending up in the final version of the Farm Bill.
"Before a bill goes to conference, one Motion to Instruct Conferees is allowed," Peterson said. "We had heard that there were plans to bring up a motion to instruct conferees to insist on the House language regarding the dairy program. Had that happened, the fight would have been over. But because of my seniority on the Agriculture Committee, and with the help of Chairman Pat Roberts, I was able to thwart that motion by bringing up one of my own.
"My motion instructs the conferees to reauthorize CRP and to insist on the House language regarding extending the program through the year 2002," Peterson said. "The vote was unanimous -- 412 to 0.
"This was not only a win for CRP, but also for dairy farmers. There is still a possibility that the damaging dairy language could be taken out in conference," Peterson said. "The Senate bill does not have any dairy language, and I will continue to work to either improve the language, or have it taken out completely".