Political Quotes

“Times are tough for Idaho's farmers right now. No one who has read a commodity report in the last few months would disagree. Wheat and barley prices are at record lows as are prices for other important Idaho agricultural products. Growers all over the state are on the verge of bankruptcy. This is an emergency. In a time when the situation is so desperate, eliminating a market that represents almost half of Idaho's white wheat exports could permanently cripple the grain industry in my state. That is why sanctions against countries such as India and Pakistan, at least those based on agricultural commodities, don't make sense. In fact, the only loser--the only group that will suffer as a result of the sanctions--will be America's farmers. While I completely understand the reasons behind sanctioning countries that violate the Arms Export Control Act, I cannot support punishing Idaho wheat farmers for the actions of foreign governments. This body cannot stand by while much of the nation's wheat crop is sitting in grain elevators. Closing an existing market to America's grain producers could have dire consequences. American wheat producers are already shut out of 20 percent of international markets. I believe that we need to expand new markets, not close off existing ones. It is for that reason that I am an original cosponsor of S. 2282, the Farmer Export Relief Act.”