On the recordOctober 10, 2013
For 2\1/2\ years, I have come to this House floor and talked about the importance of a farm bill and the need to have a farm bill for our national security interests. Our producers in this country make sure the people that live in this country have the opportunity to partake in an affordable and safe food supply, not relying on another country to feed us, or they truly would control us. We don't have a farm bill today, but the Speaker has assured me we will go to conference soon and get one done. But let me tell you about a tragedy that happened in South Dakota last week. This picture beside me would be very sad if it just reflected one situation in South Dakota, but western South Dakota is littered with tens of thousands of dead cows, horses, and sheep that were killed by a tragic blizzard that hit South Dakota just last week. The stories we have heard of losses to families are tragic. One mother visited with us and told us about driving her kids to school every day, and it looks like she is driving down a road covered with dead cattle filling the ditches. We have a farm bill because we need to make sure that there are disaster programs to cover situations like this. The livestock programs that I authored that are included in the farm bill that needs to be signed into law would help protect some of these families and keep them in business in the future. ____________________
