Calvin Dooley: “Mr. Chairman, in regard to the comments made by the gentleman from New Mexico, I think that what I am simply proposing…”

“Mr. Chairman, in regard to the comments made by the gentleman from New Mexico, I think that what I am simply proposing is that all the programs that have been earmarked are programs that could well have merit. But I contend that in order to do the best job in meeting the priorities of agriculture and the priorities of farmers in this country and at the same time ensuring that the taxpayers are getting the greatest return on the investment of their dollars that we should be funding agricultural research programs based on a competitive basis, and that many of the programs that are earmarked in the appropriations bill will receive funding on a competitive basis. But why should they not be required to compete with other agricultural research priorities? Why should we identify a set of programs to be funded at the expense of funding other programs when they have not gone through a competitive process? I am one of the strongest supporters of agricultural research. I think there are some great projects that are funded in the earmarks section of it. But why do we not do justice to the farmers of this country and justice to the taxpayers of this country to ensuring that the tax dollars that we invest in agricultural research will be done in a matter which ensure that they are meeting the highest priorities of the farmers of this country. I urge my colleagues to vote in support of this amendment.”