Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I also rise respectfully in opposition to the gentlelady's amendment. My district located in the Mississippi Delta region grows nearly half all rice produced in the United States. This amendment jeopardizes the safety net row crop producers in my district depend on to manage risk and stay in business. Given the fact that price volatility is the primary risk mid-South farmers face, and the cost of production is extremely high, the Price Loss Coverage program is the only viable option to provide producers adequate protection. Leading experts and ag economists at Texas A&M University show the average cost of production for rice is $14.92 per hundredweight. The $14 per hundredweight reference price established in the FARRM Bill is realistic and will not kick in unless the producer experiences a loss. What is more, CBO projections already take into account the probability of price movements that can impact the overall cost productions of the PLC policy, and U.S. farm policy has come in well under budget projections for at least the last 7 years. This amendment is unnecessary and will do nothing but create more uncertainty for agriculture producers. The House Agriculture Committee has made a good-faith bipartisan effort to craft a farm bill that reflects a farmer's risk across all regions of the country. This amendment is a step backwards. With all due respect, I urge my colleagues to oppose the gentlelady's amendment.”