Political Quotes

“We are not going to let Trudi get off that easy because she is going to have to listen to some 1-minute speeches. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the farm bill conference report. As Illinois farmers look forward to spring planting season, this bill provides them with a stronger crop insurance program and gives them a choice of commodity programs that work best for their farm. It takes important steps to end direct payments, streamline conservation programs, close food stamp loopholes, and saves $24 billion over the next decade. However, one issue the bill does not address is Country of Origin Labeling, or COOL. Current COOL regulations could potentially put American livestock producers in violation of our trade obligations and could put the U.S. meat under retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico. The WTO announced just last week that they will be holding hearings on this issue. I have been told by the leadership of the House, who had this provision in the House part of the bill, that the bill would be filed, hearings will be conducted, and we will move legislation to address this concern. I want to thank Chairman Lucas and Ranking Member Peterson for all the hard work that the Ag Committee has done to provide Illinois farmers certainty. ____________________”