Eva M. Clayton: “That just shows us how efficient they are, and the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) is right, how we are dependent on…”

“That just shows us how efficient they are, and the gentlewoman from Ohio (Ms. Kaptur) is right, how we are dependent on such a small number of people who are undergirding the support. I am reminded, and I just say parenthetically reminded, that our former chairman, Democratic chairman of the Committee on Agriculture used to say if you wanted to know how important farmers were, he would tell the story about the submarine in World War II, and he was saying that the other countries would say how did you have such a superior submarine, or why were you able to stay there so long? And the answer was: We were able to be superior and hold our place as long as the food would last. Now please understand that is symbolic of a military strength, but food is also symbolic of our national strength. It was important for our military, and it also is an important need for all of our citizens. And so if those small farmers go out of existence, we just do not exist, we just do not exist. Farmers and farm families deserve a chance. Before we had the Freedom of Farm bill of 1996, the farm price safety net was a shield against uncertain fluctuations in commodity prices. When the bill was considered, we referred to it as Freedom to Fail. I am sad to report that our ammunition has been far too accurate in that situation in North Carolina. According to a recent news report, the State's top farm commodities, hogs have experienced 50 percent drop in prices, 1996.…”