Max Baucus: “I rise to address a natural disaster that is occurring in America. That is the unrelenting drought. For my State of…”

“I rise to address a natural disaster that is occurring in America. That is the unrelenting drought. For my State of Montana and many States this year, particularly in Colorado and other Western States, it has brought economic hardship to our agricultural producers and to our rural communities. In 1996, before the drought began, Montana wheat producers made $847 million from their wheat sales, close to $1 billion. In 2001, 4 years into the drought, Montana producers made just $317 million from wheat sales. That is a 62-percent decline. Let me add a new context to that figure. Agriculture is more than 50 percent of my State's economy. It is truly the backbone of our State. I ask those who oppose natural disaster assistance one question: How is a State like Montana supposed to survive a loss of that magnitude, 62 percent, without assistance, when half the economy is agriculture? The most efficient, the most effective, the most successful businesses in the world could not absorb that kind of a loss. That 62-percent decline in sales for Montana wheat farmers--and I might add, the same devastating effect is felt by livestock producers because of lack of pasture and feed--is through absolutely no fault of those producers.”