Johnny Isakson: “I rise in full support of Senator Chambliss, the farmers of Georgia, and farmers around the United States of America.…”

“I rise in full support of Senator Chambliss, the farmers of Georgia, and farmers around the United States of America. This amendment, while I am sure it is well-intended, has the effect of destroying agriculture in the South and in particular in Georgia. The cost of operations in Georgia is tremendous. To have an arbitrary cap such as this will be absolutely destructive to our part of the State and to the No. 1 industry in the State of Georgia. Why are we trying to hurt farmers who only wish to provide a decent living for their families? This is a diverse and distinguished Senate with Members who have all kinds of experience. But I doubt anyone here has ever bought a cotton picker--not one, not two. Many Georgians have to have two. When they buy them, they buy them at a quarter of a million apiece. That investment in infrastructure alone, added to the trucks, the pickers, the bins, and all the other facilities one needs, shows that this limitation would be absolutely punitive to the farmers of the South. While I respect greatly the Senator from Iowa and those who bring this amendment forward, I strenuously object to it on behalf of the farmers of Georgia. I concur with the other Senator from Georgia, Mr. Chambliss, that we should join other Members of the Senate in ensuring defeat of the Grassley amendment. Passage of this amendment would result in many traditional family farms going out of business in many, many States.”