Joe Lieberman: “I voted today for the farm bill because I believe that it provides some needed relief to our strapped farm industry as…”

“I voted today for the farm bill because I believe that it provides some needed relief to our strapped farm industry as well as provides some new and much-appreciated assistance to the farmers of Connecticut. Our farm economy right now is in dire shape, and farmers from across the nation have pleaded with the Congress to give them the assurances that this bill possesses. I do not believe it is a time at which we can turn our back on the nation's farmers. The bill also provides some precedent-setting relief to the often ignored farm industry in my home state of Connecticut. In particular, the extension of the dairy program, the new assistance for the speciality crops that dominate our farmland, the increases in conservation funding over the status quo, and the various incentive programs for organic agriculture all will bring benefits to Connecticut farmers. Finally, the provision of $600 million annually in new nutrition programs, including the restoration of food stamps to many legal immigrants, will allow many Connecticut residents to provide essential supplies of food for their families. While this bill does provide support for who depend on the land for their living, like most legislation it is not perfect, and so I cast this vote with some reservations. I am concerned that several of the features that made the Senate-passed bill desirable have been weakened in conference.”