Political Quotes

“My colleague, Senator Leahy, former chairman of the committee, a man with whom I have worked in the Senate from the time that I started on the Agriculture Committee, has made a number of constructive suggestions. The latest version we are about to vote on is the Freedom To Farm Act but with additional suggestions made by Senator Leahy in the form of a substitute. And I support those additions, Mr. President. I wish to simply recite a few of them for the benefit of Senators who are following this debate. Senator Leahy has said, why not take this occasion to let producers bid for a permanent easement in the Wetlands Reserve Program as opposed to bidding for a shorter period of time. I think that is a very constructive suggestion. He has asked that we encourage innovative range management techniques to be developed in the Southwest under grazing lands authorization. He suggested to make it possible for farmers to serve on State technical committees. So that is incorporated in the legislation. A very significant change, Mr. President, is the reauthorization of the Food Stamp Program and other nutrition programs that require authorization at this time in order to continue.”