Sam Brownback: “As we confirm the nomination of Mr. Jack Lew to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, I want to take this…”

“As we confirm the nomination of Mr. Jack Lew to the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, I want to take this opportunity to highlight a problem that OMB has the power to help correct, but to this date has chosen not to. As many are aware, there is a real problem right now in rural America brought about the dismal farm prices. The only way that commodity prices are going to increase is to boost exports. Certainly, passage of Fast Track, funding of the IMF, continuing normal trade relations with China, and lifting sanctions are necessary parts of the strategy to grow our export markets. However, there is also a tool, the Export Enhancement Program, that the federal government can be using to help boost exports and revive farm exports in the near term. Congress has done its part in providing appropriations for this program, but the Administration has failed to utilize the program. The EEP program is designed to help our agricultural exports compete in the face of subsidized competition in international markets.”