Eva M. Clayton: “Before the 105th Congress adjourns, we must be certain we conclude all of the unfinished business before this Congress…”

“Before the 105th Congress adjourns, we must be certain we conclude all of the unfinished business before this Congress, especially in the area of agriculture and in education. Looking at agriculture, it is a travesty that the appropriations process has zeroed out the $60 million for funds for rural America which provides important capital for rural economic development. This funding should be reinstated. It is important to recognize that the long-term economic health of rural America depends on a broad and diverse economic base which requires investment in agriculture, rural businesses, infrastructure, housing stock and community facilities. The availability of credit is a crucial factor in the success or failure of all small farmers, especially family farmers; both and large and small, I must say, also suffer from the failure of having availability of credit. In the 1996 farm bill, those persons who, for whatever reason, had to renegotiate their credit, whether one time or two times, were denied the opportunity to get another direct loan or another guaranteed loan.”