James M. Jeffords: “As we bring this to a close, I know everyone is interested in saving their dairy farms. The question is whether you try…”

“As we bring this to a close, I know everyone is interested in saving their dairy farms. The question is whether you try to do it at the expense of some other dairy farmer. Vermont has lost one-third of its farms in the last 10 years. I know the Midwest has done likewise. But they are not hurt by us. As pointed out, they can ship to us now. They can ship at a higher price if this goes through. But they cannot do it; they are too far away. That is our problem. We are too far away from anything. We are at the end of the energy stream. We are at the end of everything. We are tucked up in that little corner barricaded from markets in Canada. We could get 50 percent more for our milk if we could go across the border. We want to stay alive, and our States and our State legislators want us to stay alive. When you get six States to approve something that helps the farmers primarily in two States, you have got to really believe that they are sincere in their efforts to try to do what is best for their State. Mr. President, I urge a 'no' vote on this motion to strike.”