Eva M. Clayton: “this rule is, indeed, unfortunate, because agricultural research provided for in the committee bill is much needed, for…”

“this rule is, indeed, unfortunate, because agricultural research provided for in the committee bill is much needed, for a variety of reasons. I cannot conceive that we would think feeding legal immigrants is any less important than any other part. I come from the rural areas, and I know there is a deadline and crop insurance is much needed. But people needing food is basic, too. And I just cannot conceive that we would even want to be part of a bill that would place the vulnerability of some 800,000 legal immigrants at risk, and that we could not craft a balanced approach. In fact, the Senate and the House crafted a very balanced approach. If we are about rural America, if we are about agriculture, if we are about research, we will vote against this rule. We can make this rule right and we can move on and have a fine, acceptable bill for production, for research and for crop insurance, as well as something for legal immigrants. Defeat this rule.”