CONGRESSMAN
COLLIN C. PETERSON
Minnesota - 7th District http://www.house.gov/collinpeterson/
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 2, 2002
CONTACT: Allison Myhre/218-847-5056 or 218-731-1657
House passes 6-year Farm Bill
Washington, DC - On a vote of 280-141, Rep. Collin Peterson (D-Minn) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives approved the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002. The six-year bill contains $73.5 billion in funding over current spending levels to pay for programs in commodities, conservation, rural development, nutrition, and trade.
“This farm bill represents a balanced bill that provides a safety net and flexibility,” Peterson said. “Even though we couldn’t get this done before our farmers were in the field, this vote today provides farmers with at least some predictability for the future.
“Although we didn’t get disaster assistance in this bill, I’m hopeful that my colleagues will help to provide this necessary relief through the Supplemental Appropriations bill that’s currently being debated.
“This is an historic bill for the dairy farmers in that we’ve created a national plan that gives a strong counter-cyclical safety net and targets resources to smaller dairy operations.
“ In the conservation language, we made an enormous commitment to protecting our resources and to provide habitat for wildlife by increasing funding levels by 80 percent. This agreement was made because of broad-based support from farmers, environmentalists and sportsmen alike. We also made a commitment to biodiesel and use of wind energy and biomass.
“I was pleased that we could increase loan rates for most of the program crops with an effective safety net and a new counter-cyclical program that will provide help when it’s needed most. This also allows farmers to make decisions based on the market while providing protection when prices are low.
“We also gave renewed structure to the sugar program by re-establishing the no-net cost feature of the program so sugar growers can better prepare for the market.
“Although there are still concerns about the effect and implementation of the Country of Origin Labeling provisions, I believe this issue will continue to receive attention and direction. Even though this did not become part of the bill, we also made a strong commitment to look closely at the issue of packer ownership of livestock and to update the Packers and Stockyards Act.
“Overall, this Farm Bill is good for Minnesota and good for the consumers in America. We’ve renewed our commitment to rural America.”
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