More Reaction to Terrorist Actions

September 14, 2001

Officials from within the agricultural community continue to respond in the aftermath of Tuesday's terrorist attacks on New York City and the Pentagon.

Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA) said the nation must not "succumb to panic. We must meet this tragedy with resolve, determination and the coordination of federal, state and local agencies. Let me be very clear: these cowardly acts against our great nation will not stand. I stand with President Bush in calling on every resource of the federal government to be used to track these cowards down and bring them to swift and certain justice."

The International Dairy Foods Association thanked those who had inquired about the safety of IDFA staff in downtown Washington. No one was hurt, and staff on travel were expected to return to Washington within days.

IDFA noted that the events of Tuesday had altered priorities on Capitol Hill. The farm bill debate now takes "a back burner position to security matters," the IDFA statement said, but IDFA was "communicating with congressional offices in order to discern the upcoming schedule of Congress."

Donald G. Ogilvie, executive vice president, American Bankers Association, said the nation's banking system continued to operate smoothly, "deposits are protected, and customers worldwide have access to their funds.

Every bank in the country has, and is required to have disaster recovery plans and multiple backup systems, he added. "Banks have addressed challenges in the past by working with the Federal Reserve and other bank regulators to ensure both public confidence and liquidity in the nation's financial system. For those banks with branches affected by this week's tragic events, those plans and practiced procedures have been and will continue to be in play, every day and every night, until the country returns to normal."