Dusty Johnson: “I rise today to applaud Senate adoption of legislation I introduced to re-authorize and expand a popular program which…”

“I rise today to applaud Senate adoption of legislation I introduced to re-authorize and expand a popular program which provides mediation services between agricultural producers and the various credit and United States Department of Agriculture agencies who family farmers and ranchers work with to maintain their farming and ranching operations. On June 15, 2000, I introduced S. 2741, legislation to re-authorize, expand, and clarify the state agricultural mediation program. Nine Senators cosponsored this legislation, including Senators Daschle, Roberts, Conrad, Grassley, Kerrey, Craig, Harkin, Dorgan, and Levin. I thank these colleagues for their bipartisan support for my bill, which was included as part of the Grain Standards Act adopted by the Senate earlier this week. Extension of this mediation program was adopted with wide bipartisan support in the Senate as part of the Grain Standards Act Reauthorization. The present state agricultural mediation law was set to expire this year, but our reauthorization extends it through 2005. This step was significant because family farmers and ranchers in my state of South Dakota and all across this country continue to suffer from a depressed rural economy and rock-bottom commodity prices. Agriculture is the backbone of our economy, and we must not fail to provide support to our family farmers and ranchers who are coping with these difficult times.”