Sherwood Boehlert: “I think by now the thrust of the Boehlert-Kind-Gilchrest-Dingell amendment is well-known. Our amendment would…”

“I think by now the thrust of the Boehlert-Kind-Gilchrest-Dingell amendment is well-known. Our amendment would significantly increase the conservation funding in the bill, while leaving total farm bill spending essentially unchanged. This amendment will protect water quality, preserve open space, foster wildlife populations, and increase opportunities for sportsmen, all while helping more farmers in more States than the base bill. That is why the amendment is supported by a wide range of groups, including Ducks Unlimited, the Wildlife Management Institute, the Izaak Walton League, groups representing the Nation's water and sewer agencies, the National League of Cities, and the League of Conservation Voters. Quite simply, our amendment is good environmental policy and good agriculture policy. This amendment will provide increases for the numerous important conservation programs that do not receive significant increases in the bill. These programs, like the Wetland Reserve Program and the Conservation Reserve Program, which help farmers, especially small farmers, have a long waiting list. As the administration's own recent report, Taking Stock for a New Century acknowledges, these programs could and should help many more farmers work the land, care for the land, and protect water quality. I represent an agricultural area, and I know from the farmers in my own congressional district just how vital and successful these programs can be.”