Barbara Boxer: “I strongly support the Market Access Program. I urge my colleagues to support the sense of the Senate amendment, offered…”

“I strongly support the Market Access Program. I urge my colleagues to support the sense of the Senate amendment, offered by my colleague Senator Kempthorne, to assure funding for this very important and effective agricultural export program. I would like to point out to the Senate why this Market Access Program (MAP) is so important for agriculture in my State of California, and many other states as well. Using the MAP's $90 million annual funding level as a fractional offset for the now $214 billion transportation package, has an enormous negative impact on American agricultural export efforts at the very time when our farmers are contending with constricted markets in Asia and increased EU help for competing agricultural exporters seeking to displace American products in the marketplace. My objection is not against transportation needs but the termination of an important agricultural export tool. The purpose of the MAP is to increase U.S. agricultural project exports. This increase in such exports helps to create and protect U.S. jobs, combat unfair trade practices, improve the U.S. trade balance, and improve farm income. The MAP is an important tool in expanding markets for U.S. agricultural products. Continued funding for this program is an important step in redirecting farm spending away from price supports and toward expanding markets.”