Sanford Bishop: “I rise today to reluctantly support H.R. 4461, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and…”

“I rise today to reluctantly support H.R. 4461, the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2001. I wish to commend Chairman Young, Ranking Member Obey, Subcommittee Chairman Skeen and Subcommittee Ranking Member Kaptur for their hard work during this stressful time for American agriculture and our hard-working farmers. I support this legislation with the understanding that while this bill falls short in many areas, Congress needs to move now to stem the flood of debt, drought and despair in rural America. Indeed, this bill has some acceptable provisions. To address the credit gap that farmers face, this bill appropriates the Administration's request of $130 million to support $4.6 billion in loans to farmers and ranchers through the Agricultural Credit Insurance Fund. There is increased funding for Farm Operating Loans and Farm Ownership Loans. In addition, there is $150 million for emergency disaster loans and $100 million for boll weevil eradication loans. As an increasing number of farmers sell their commodities at prices below their cost of production, the availability of this credit could be the difference in keeping many of the farmers in my District on the land. This bill appropriates adequate stop-gap funding for Farm Service Agency salaries and expenses which will allow farmers to continue to get the services they need at their local FSA offices.”