Eva M. Clayton: “since the Congress began in January, all have acknowledged the need to enact emergency legislation to assist our small…”

“since the Congress began in January, all have acknowledged the need to enact emergency legislation to assist our small farmers and ranchers. The emergency supplemental appropriation for farm loans was the result of unprecedented demand for agricultural credit due to the persistent low commodity prices across our Nation. The Department of Agriculture's Farm Service Agency, FSA, needs an additional $152 million in fiscal year 1999 to provide credit and to deliver much-needed services to farmers and ranchers because of the low prices and bad weather. The conferees have yet to resolve the differences in the emergency agriculture supplemental so this desperately needed legislation can be brought to the floor of the House for passage of the conference report. My colleagues, we truly, truly have an emergency. We must act now. The situation is urgent. Let us pass the emergency supplemental so our farmers of America can continue to provide the food and fiber we desperately need.”