Dusty Johnson: “I rise to speak in favor of an amendment which I have cosponsored which provides direct and immediate emergency aid to…”

“I rise to speak in favor of an amendment which I have cosponsored which provides direct and immediate emergency aid to the nation's farmers and ranchers coping with a drought of devastating proportions. Mr. President, recently President Bush visited my home State of South Dakota at Mount Rushmore. He was met with great courtesy, respect, and hospitality which we always extend to Presidents of either political party. I was there, along with my wife, to greet the President at Mount Rushmore. We are proud of our State and always pleased to have an opportunity to show it off. There was a great deal that the President said in South Dakota on which I could agree. There are a number of areas of common ground on which we can work together as Americans. I have to say, however, that I was profoundly disappointed that the President chose at that time to express his opposition to emergency drought relief for farmers and ranchers in my State all across America. Some 40 States have been struck to some degree or another by this relentless drought. There are areas in my State in dire circumstances. We have lost almost $2 billion in the South Dakota economy over the course of this past year, and in our small State, that is an enormous hit. I have visited farmers and ranchers across my State who detail with great pain and emotion the problems they're being forced to cope with due to this drought.”