Eva M. Clayton: “Mr. Speaker, I stand before this body once again to focus attention on the matter of our struggling rural communities…”

“Mr. Speaker, I stand before this body once again to focus attention on the matter of our struggling rural communities and on the need to increase our investment in rural development. Today, we heard on this floor time after time from Member after Member about the struggles of rural America. We have heard in great detail about the difficulties that our rural communities face and have been called upon to respond accordingly. Many have testified to the fact that when the farm economy of rural America suffers, so too does the rest of America, and that is indeed true. Clearly, agriculture has long played and will continue to play an important role in the well-being of rural America. That is why I support the Farm Security Act of 2001 and also urge my colleagues to pass it. It provides a strong safety net for American agricultural producers and rural America in trying times for the farm economy. While I do not think that anybody in this body among my colleagues doubts the critical role that agriculture plays in the rural economy, I believe that we must ask ourselves whether agriculture alone can redeem rural America.”