Larry Combest

Thanks to crop insurance, the American farmer and rancher is much better positioned to meet the challenges ahead in feeding, clothing, and fueling the country and a great many around the world.

Crop Insurance empowers farm and ranch families to purchase equipment and inputs, to plant the seed, to nurture and harvest their crops, to raise their livestock, and to get to market with confidence because they have something as basic as…

Mr. Speaker, before I get into the discussion of the heart of this bill, I want to take a moment to thank my friend and my colleague, the ranking member on the Committee on Agriculture, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm)…

Mr. Chairman, in early October of last year this House passed a new approach for farm legislation in a very strongly bipartisan manner and in a margin of over two to one. It was the intent of our committee at that time to have hopefully a…

as we have seen in recent weeks, there certainly is an effort to develop a national policy, and it has been somewhat elusive. I understand the gentleman's concerns. We appreciate the gentleman offering this amendment, and I would be happy…

Mr. Chairman, just to make the record clear, subsection B of the amendment would have provided an opportunity for a point of order by the Committee on Appropriations. The gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. Andrews) has worked this issue out…

reclaiming my time, it does nothing to address the issue of concern about those people who are trying to ship totally legitimately poultry within the United States; that may be a totally legitimate shipment that would not be involved in…

You would make the adjustments into the future if, in fact, you bumped the limit. That is what the trigger mechanism is. I again oppose the amendment. I think it is totally unworkable.

A countercyclical program works in such a way that if prices are low, there is a safety net which is built into the program. I think, to my budget-conscious colleagues, of which I am one, this is much more of an honest way to deal with…

Biotechnology offers extraordinary potential, not only to improve the economic viability of farms in the country, but to also help combat animal and plant diseases, improve food safety and quality, and enhance our ability to produce more…

I oppose this amendment, not on the substance of the amendment nearly as much as I do on the effect of the amendment. When I was fortunate enough to chair the Research Subcommittee of the House Committee on Agriculture, and I have made…

I think, however, it is much more identifiable which dogs potentially are going to be used for fighting purposes than there are for game birds.

Like the gentleman from Virginia, I recognize and respect the role that the farmers have played in our Nation's history and the importance of their work to our national economy. The development of this bill represents the best package we…

just so the record is clear and for those people who have not followed this quite as carefully as we have on this committee, this process started well before the decision about who the current administration was, I think before either…

Last week, the Democratic candidate for Vice President made a brief stop in Odessa, Texas, in my district. He arrived with an agenda to embarrass our hometown son, Governor George Bush. He tried to cast Odessa in a bad light by making…

I strongly support this rule and urge its passage and the accompanying conference report. This is a measure that we have been working on for about a year and a half. It is something that in fact needs as soon as possible to get into law so…

One of the glaring concerns that agriculture has faced over the last 3 years has been a concern about the ability or inability to expand markets. While I recognize and appreciate the deep-held feelings of those people who were opposed to…

Mr. Speaker, I am extremely proud today to bring this conference report to the floor. With this single piece of legislation, we have the opportunity to strengthen farmers' ability to manage the risk the future may bring and to provide them…

the vote on permanent normal trade relations with China may be one of the most important votes that we will cast in years. China represents an agricultural market that is vital to the long-term success of American farmers and ranchers…

I rise to welcome and honor the Reverend Elizabeth Sisco, who graciously offered today's morning prayer. Reverend Sisco is a remarkable pastor and civic leader who has touched the lives of many in the West Texas community. Reverend Sisco…

Let me just mention a few of the people that are out there that this bill has tried to intend to help that support it: The Southwest Peanut Growers Association of Virginia, North Carolina Peanut Growers Association, the American sheep…

I appreciate very much the productive efforts of the gentleman from Maine (Mr. Baldacci) throughout this process. Part of what he is suggesting is, a part of the whole concept behind this, is to look at new types of programs that can be…

Mr. Speaker, I just would like to say I rise in support of this rule. I think it is a process by which all Members should have an opportunity if they have desires to discuss this subject. It should give plenty of time for that. There are…

I would certainly be able to say yes just indicative of the fact that there is a bill to implement a different policy that I think has almost half of the Members of the House that are cosponsors of the bill. Certainly with the interest and…