Charles W. Stenholm: “The intention of this amendment is to recognize the tremendous pressures and the frustration that has occurred this year…”

“The intention of this amendment is to recognize the tremendous pressures and the frustration that has occurred this year between the appropriators and the authorizers regarding the adequacy of funding for many of the programs in the agricultural function. I am perfectly willing to let the appropriators make that decision, if that were possible, but the gentleman and I both would agree that if we put this money into the discretionary pot, then it would be up to the appropriators as to whether the $3.5 billion would end up in the agriculture function or would end up somewhere else, meeting more appropriate needs. But what we are trying to do in the same spirit of the transition market program, in which we are capping entitlements, this is one entitlement that is being capped. I believe the gentleman would agree with that. That is the strength of the Freedom To Farm Act. It is capping the expenditures at a fixed limit. It is reducing it by 46 percent as compared to the last 5 years.”