Reactions to Clinton Ag Appropriations Bill Signing

October 25, 1999

Republicans and Democrats alike react to the signing of the fiscal year 2000 agricultural appropriations bill Friday by President Clinton. For Republicans, the general theme is, "It's about time!" For Democrats, the prevailing wisdom is, "Fix the 1996 farm law and quickly!" Here are some samples.

President Clinton: "While these additional (emergency) funds have been absolutely critical, the very fact that we've needed them points out the underlying flaws in the 1996 farm (law). For all its positive features, that bill simply did not do enough to help our farmers and ranchers cope in crisis. It doesn't give USDA the tools it needs to help farmers and ranchers thrive in the short and long terms. It doesn't direct payments to where they're most needed. And it's providing payments to those who aren't even farming anymore.

"The bottom line is this: we need to revised, revamp and improve the 1996 farm (law). It is not providing adequate support that our farmers need to prosper. So, once again, I urge Congress to work to fix the farm (law) permanently, so American farmers can have an adequate safety net – just as the vice president and I have worked hard to reinvent government and give government more impact and more effectiveness, even though we have the smallest federal government since 1962."

Vice President Gore: "I am especially disappointed that, continuing an unfortunate trend in this Congress, this bill fails to provide adequate support for farmers and ranchers practicing conservation. Good stewardship is not without costs, and it adds to the pressures facing small producers. This makes it especially important for us not to let the burden of the current farm crisis fall most heavily on those working farmers who are struggling to be good stewards of our lands and waters. Our future farm policies must recognize that conservation is a farm commodity that must be valued along with crops."

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX): "After a nine-day delay, President Clinton signed the ... bill. I'm glad the President signed this important bill, though I don't understand why he delayed for so long. If he had signed it earlier, farmers could be getting their checks in the coming week. While it won't solve all the problems facing American producers, this assistance will allow them to make it through this harvest and plant next year. With the House passage and progress of expanded crop insurance legislation and my agenda for reviewing farm policy early next year, we will also be laying the groundwork for addressing the future needs of farmers and ranchers."

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA): "There are aspects of the emergency package that should have been improved...It has far too little in it for livestock producers, such as pork producers who have lost some $4 billion in equity over the past 22 months. It has no money for emergency conservation work and repairing flood damage or any economic assistance specifically for hard-hit rural communities. The fact that Congress had to pass a stopgap emergency package for the second year in a row proves conclusively that the Freedom to Farm (law) has failed. Freedom to Farm is a bankrupt policy that is bankrupting America's farm families. The time is long overdue for Congress to get to work and amend (it) before the next crop year."

Sen. Charles Grassley (R-IA): "This package is critical to stimulating farmers' cash flow. And the President's signature is the final step needed to begin moving money from Washington to farmers' pockets. In fact, if President Clinton had signed this bill the day he received it, the checks could have been in farmers' mailboxes this weekend. I'm working to make sure the federal government doesn't turn its back on the family farmer...I will continue to work for tax, trade, farm and antitrust policies that enable independent producers to prosper and make a decent living off the land."

American Farm Bureau Federation President Dean Kleckner: "We're not out of the woods yet. The U.S. government must seriously tackle the issue of trade sanctions reform to enhance market opportunities for our farmers. We still need to reform our nation's dairy policy, and we must be vigilant to the needs of farmers who have suffered additional losses due to weather disasters. We applaud the efforts of our elected leaders who continue to develop strategies for a stronger farm economy through continued flexibility, improved risk management programs and the expansion of markets."

National Association of Wheat Growers: "Although NAWG was very disappointed that an agreement could not be reached to include lifting unilateral sanctions to allow for food and medicine into the bill, (we) are pleased with the increased funding levels in the package. Farmers have been dealing with devastating losses this year and last year. NAWG will continue to push for programs that (we) believe will address these issues with a longer term solution."