Charles W. Stenholm: “I would say in the beginning that I agree with those that have characterized the bill before us as not a perfect bill. I…”

“I would say in the beginning that I agree with those that have characterized the bill before us as not a perfect bill. I would also agree with those that have characterized the process which brings us today as being deficient in many, many areas. But we are here. Now I would say, I think it is time to put in a good word for agriculture. There were some 74 amendments that were to be offered today, but under the moderately closed rule we only have 14. Many of those 14 are very harmful, extremely harmful to an already deficient bill. I would hope that my colleagues could rally and to keep some of these additional bills from passing or the amendments to the bill. Much has been said about market orientation. Let me point out to the House that since 1981, the 1981, 1985, and 1990 farm bills have moved us into the international marketplace. We have been quite successful because this year the expected exports of agriculture commodities are running at $60 billion. The trade surplus is running at $22 to $24 billion. We are told that for every $1 billion there are 20,000 jobs that are created, so this bill today is a giant job creator.”