Political Quotes

“I support this Department of Agriculture reorganization bill as reported by the Agriculture Committee. With over 112,000 employees and an annual budget in excess of $60 billion it is one of the largest departments in the U.S. Government. It will be a big job to streamline and improve the delivery and efficiency of services to farmers, while not compromising the quality and availability of those services. During Secretary Espy's confirmation hearing, he said that his reorganization preference for the Department would begin at the Washington level. I am pleased to see that this is the approach the Secretary is authorized to take in this bill. Since 1980, the number of U.S. farms has declined by over 14 percent, while the average farm size has increased by 10 percent over the same time period. Although the number of farms is declining, the number of farmers participating in the numerous farm programs is increasing. In addition, the Department of Agriculture has experienced more demanding responsibilities, with the new requirements of each successive farm bill. There is much more complexity in all farm programs, as well as increased environmental and conservation compliance requirements. While we all want to end Government waste and improve efficiency to get the most out of Federal funds, we must also recognize that the Department of Agriculture supports the largest industry in our Nation.”