Max Baucus: “Montana and Idaho and Wyoming are shown on the map in red, which means severe. But also look at parts of Texas…”

“Montana and Idaho and Wyoming are shown on the map in red, which means severe. But also look at parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and New Mexico, look at the eastern seaboard, and these yellow areas, which are areas that are strained. We all know that since January--actually, this is dated December 8, 2001, to January 10, 2002--it has been worse. A little intermittent moisture here and there, but it is worse. So I say to my colleagues, I support the conference report to the farm bill. I deeply regret that the other body did not agree to include agricultural disaster assistance in the bill, even though it was adopted in the Senate with 69 votes. I pledge to my people in Montana that I am going to use every ounce of energy at my command to get agricultural disaster assistance legislation passed this year, because our people so desperately need it. I urge my colleagues to sit back and listen and be supportive of what we need so much in our part of the country.”