John B. Breaux: “Mr. President and Members and, really, indeed, everyone who is concerned about the farm situation in this country must…”

“Mr. President and Members and, really, indeed, everyone who is concerned about the farm situation in this country must be wondering whether the Congress will have the ability to get the job done. Here we are in February, and people in the Deep South, and Louisiana in particular, my farmers, are wondering what is going to happen this year. They have their implements being prepared, the combines, the tractors, the irrigation systems they are concerned about putting into place, and they are wondering while they are working on the equipment what in the world is the program they will operate under for 1996. I think it is extremely important that the Congress move expeditiously on this legislation. We should have done it last year. I have been in Congress for 20 some-odd years, almost 24 now, and we have always had farm bills done the year before. Generally, farmers had to be in the field deciding what to do. I think we are late. Farmers cannot be late in their planning. Congress should not be late in tending to our business, the business of passing a farm bill of substance. I hope we can conclude action today.”