Byron Dorgan: “the underlying amendment offered by Senator Grassley from Iowa and the amendment that will be offered as a counter to it…”

“the underlying amendment offered by Senator Grassley from Iowa and the amendment that will be offered as a counter to it is exactly what needs to be discussed when we talk about the Federal budget. What are our priorities? What do we think is important in this country? What do we as Senators and Members of the House believe ought to be done? What ranks near the top? We come, those of us from farm country, to the Congress saying family farming is important to this country. We believe that family farming contributes something very substantial to America; it always has. There was an author who died some years ago named Critchfield who described what family farming provides to our country. He described the origin of family values coming from family farms, and rolling from family farms to small towns, to big cities, refreshing and nourishing the family values of our country. I believe that to be the case. I believe a network of food producers across this country is important to this country's strength and its security.”