Eva M. Clayton: “Mr. Chairman, I think that, obviously, as we look at this program, the question is, is this a program that is of value…”

“Mr. Chairman, I think that, obviously, as we look at this program, the question is, is this a program that is of value to the American people? Is it a program of value to the American farmers? And should we be investing in promoting the American farmers' product abroad? I think there is value in investing in the promotion of the American farmers, because not only is that a public policy that we support our farmers. True enough, in 1996, we had a farm bill that said we were removing ourselves from the subsidy model and we are going more to a market model. I personally did not support that. But nevertheless, even in a market-driven model, not to have this tool is counterproductive. This tool simply says that it is a tool to market our farmers who were heretofore dependent and subsidized. Our farmers are having a very difficult time. If we are not going to make the market available as a tool to them, as we pull away the safety net, how do we expect our farmers in rural areas to survive? How is it that they are going to be on a competitive basis with other countries subsidizing large quantities if we expect they have no safety net, and yet we are not going to give them the tools to survive? We are struggling in rural America. I cannot think of a commodity that made money in my State. And without this tool, they certainly would not have it.”