Bill Barrett: “I do support the use of sanctions as a foreign policy tool, but I believe that the USDA has used them all too…”

“I do support the use of sanctions as a foreign policy tool, but I believe that the USDA has used them all too frequently. The bill we are considering today would allow USDA to guarantee U.S. wheat sales to Pakistan and to India. Without the bill, American farmers would not be able to sell their product. As has been mentioned by my colleagues from Illinois and Washington, Pakistan is expected to request bids for wheat very soon, possibly as early as tomorrow. This could involve nearly $40 million in sales of U.S. wheat. I have examined the proposals to address the crisis in American agriculture, Mr. Speaker. There are some producers out there that are hurting; there is no question about it. I do not believe that the proposed solutions we are hearing about will do as much good as some believe. The so-called solutions would only rechain American agriculture to the dictatorial whims of our government. However, the Federal Government, Congress and the executive branch, must live up to the promises of the 1996 Farm Bill or we could face a crisis. We must commit to a long-term, focused trade agenda. We need to expand our markets, enhance markets and find new markets. It is a good bill. I hope the body will support it.”