This program does not insure cost of production. It is a market-based program that ensures a revenue stream based on historical growing conditions on a farm and prevailing market prices.

However, if all the commodity programs were gone tomorrow, we could probably make it as long as we have crop insurance.

if all commodity programs were gone tomorrow we could probably make it as long as we had crop insurance.

I think it is appropriate that as we approach the end of the first year of the 2008 Farm Bill we begin the process of reviewing how farm programs are working.

We need to make certain we get RMA's attention today and in the future that Congress has told them to act and they need to respond.

Unfortunately, some of the testimony is testimony that we have heard in previous years and it is discouraging to me.

I think this is a very insightful panel. I appreciate very much the testimony of each of you.

I think that is still an issue that while maybe there is some evidence that what ultimately may occur in the farm bill may be helpful in shallow losses, I am still at a loss to understand why we can't in an actuarially sound way address…

I appreciate your testimony, and what Mr. Spillman was indicating is that most farmers in his neighborhood and in Kansas are older than he is, and we are glad to see that there is a young farmer making it work in Sheridan County, Kansas.

U.S. climate policy would be more of an opportunity for, rather than a hindrance to, the U.S economy.

With Medicare costs rising to $454 billion in fiscal year 2008 and Medicaid expenditures topping $352 billion, it is important for us to continue to exercise robust oversight of these programs.

We cannot afford to squander billions of taxpayer dollars on administrative errors and deceitful practices in the Medicare and Medicaid programs.

I would just be interested if the witnesses are in agreement with that.

The problem is not simply one of waste, but also of fraud.

The Waxman-Markey bill puts that out there; it says we're going to have this separate goal, we're going to put some investment directly in deforestation.

the government in Pakistan -- is basically abdicating to the Taliban and to the extremists.

I do want to talk about Pakistan, which I think poses a mortal threat to the security and safety of our country and the world. I think that we cannot underscore the seriousness of the existential threat posed to the state of Pakistan by…

Is basically abdicating to the Taliban and to the extremists.