Dick Lugar: “I want to summarize our debate--which has been a good one this morning--by saying that it is very important that we act…”

“I want to summarize our debate--which has been a good one this morning--by saying that it is very important that we act today to pass the conference report. As the distinguished Senator from Mississippi stated eloquently and correctly, failure to do that will throw into chaos farmers who are now planting and who count upon crop insurance, reformed albeit as we have reformed it, as an underlying safety net in the year of El Nino, remarkable weather circumstances, it is unthinkable simply to kick away that safety net through our indifference. Secondly, Mr. President, the agriculture research, which has been characterized as an entitlement, along with crop insurance and other provisions, of course, is a 5-year program, as is our farm bill program. We have payments to farmers and Conservation Reserve Program payments for the environment. We have designated $120 million for vital research which we believe is necessary simply to fight back the pest diseases that are now jeopardizing our growth. Mr. President, the yield of wheat in our country has been flat in yield per acre over the last 15 years of time. The breakers are not occurring, and we must triple and not have a zero gain. Finally, let me simply say that there will not be people lined up all over the world trying to get into America to ruin our welfare reform. As a matter of fact, welfare reform has brought about a better America. This bill will help preserve that in a humane way.”