Lugar Chides House Farm Bill Decision

September 28, 2001

Sen. Richard Lugar (R-IN), ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, believes it is "irresponsible" for the House of Representatives to take up a farm bill debate next week in light of important war issues that need to be considered, the over all recessing economy, the need to pass government funding bills and the fact that funds available for agriculture will be something less than the $73.5 billion previously assumed. House leaders have said the bill will be debated around the middle of next week.

"It is time for the administration to give a clear idea what the money situation is. As we are dealing with a war, the internal security of the country, and the enormous economic problems facing the country, we need to determine what is adequate for rural America and agriculture. To proceed down the road in debating a farm bill before we have some context would be inadvisable," Lugar said. His comments came at a committee hearing featuring Agriculture Secretary Ann Veneman.

Lugar said that Americans as a whole "need to have an interest in the farm bill." He said the public will be more interested in a farm policy focused on a broader public benefit such as conservation. He noted that additional money set aside in the budget for agriculture was part of the contingency fund which would also need to be available for Medicare reform, Social Security reform, prescription drug coverage for seniors and enhancing of homeland defense. Meanwhile, he said, the "surplus is melting away" because of the weakening economy.

Lugar called "ridiculous" the argument by some that the farm bill needed to be passed quickly to assure food security for the American people and the military. "We are producing so much, it is coming up around our ears. We need to export a substantial portion of our production just to be profitable," Lugar said.

Veneman responded that "it will take time to take a deliberative approach." She noted that the farm bill does not expire until a year from now and that under current policy and emergency assistance, net cash farm income this year would be a record $61 billion and farm land values were 20 percent higher than 1996. Lugar said that while the picture was better, the areas of deep problem cry out for taking the time to develop a new approach that strengthens the rural economy. "We need to take time to do this right," Lugar said.