James Traficant: “Mr. Chairman, this is a standard buy American amendment that I have offered to many bills. As Members know, I…”

“Mr. Chairman, this is a standard buy American amendment that I have offered to many bills. As Members know, I substituted this amendment last night under unanimous consent for the weatherization amendment I was to offer. I would just like to state this: I seem to have an acceptance by both parties on this. In 1990, the Congress of the United States legislated there would be 10 regions that would implement a national agricultural weather service, specifically geared to farmers and their needs. The Agriculture Department threw it in the can like many of these executive branch agencies have. So the Traficant amendment would have, in fact, brought that into being and, in fact, extended it to all 50 States. Before I close out my time, let me say this to the Congress: I think in agriculture, we should have a program with our technology where a farmer in your State and in your county can call an 800 number and find out if it is going to rain in the next couple days, a little basic common sense. So I have withdrawn that amendment. I am working with the committee. I want help for it. And if I do not get the help, I will not withdraw it next time. But this buy American amendment makes a lot of sense. It does not tie anybody's hands. I would like to compliment the Committee on Agriculture here. One of our good, positive balance of payments is in agriculture.”