Dick Lugar: “the legislation offered by the distinguished occupant of the chair contains provisions that respond, in my judgment, to…”

“the legislation offered by the distinguished occupant of the chair contains provisions that respond, in my judgment, to a number of unintended consequences for the farm sector of our economy. I believe it is a matter of fact that in order for Senators to have a pretty good idea, at least, of how this amendment shapes up, a letter has come to me from a number of groups that are affected. Let me cite those groups. It was signed by the American Cotton Shippers Association; American Soybean Association; National Cattlemen's Beef Association; National Chicken Council; National Corn Growers Association; National Cotton Council; National Pork Producers Council; National Sunflower Association; United Egg Producers; U.S. Canola Association, and the Wheat Export Trade Committee. They have written the following letter, which responds to the Senator's amendment: The Senate Agriculture Committee may soon be considering legislation as part of the Farm Bill to address the issue of agricultural competition and concentration. This extremely broad legislation would give the U.S. Department of Agriculture unprecedented authority to regulate corporate relationships, commercial practices and contracts for the production of agricultural commodities. Tough laws already exist to ensure open and fair competition throughout the U.S. economy--including agribusiness. The current laws should be aggressively enforced.…”