Frank Lucas: “I rise today to support the agricultural assistance package, but I must state flatly for the record that I was extremely…”

“I rise today to support the agricultural assistance package, but I must state flatly for the record that I was extremely disappointed last week when this much-needed package was reduced from $6.5 billion to $5.5 billion in committee. A majority of the Committee on Agriculture chose not to support me or the chairman in a package that was equal to last year's assistance. This billion dollar cut will cost Oklahoma producers 10 cents a bushel for wheat and effectively kills the LDP graze-out program for 2002. That is unacceptable. This is the worst time to be cutting funding for agricultural producers. Commodity prices remain low, input prices are increasing and continue to increase dramatically. If anything, we should be increasing our funding for these programs. Yes, this assistance package is a good first step. It is insufficient to meet the needs of agricultural producers, especially in Oklahoma, but at least it is headed in the right direction. I want to assure my friends and colleagues here on the floor that while I think this will help producers across the country, and particularly in Oklahoma too, that I intend to work with the other body to ensure that the cuts made last week by the Stenholm-Boehner amendment are restored and that we provide our producers with that minimum $6.5 billion.”