Rubén Hinojosa: “As we proceed with our work on Budget 2000, I want to take this occasion to pose the following question: Are we doing…”

“As we proceed with our work on Budget 2000, I want to take this occasion to pose the following question: Are we doing everything we need to do to support our American farmers? That is a question we all need to seriously think about. In 1998, the agriculture sector of the economy suffered through one of the worst years in American history. Drought and other weather conditions, coupled with extremely low prices, significantly affected many producers in my home State, Texas. Farm and ranch production values declined more than $2.4 billion from 1997 in Texas. The resulting loss in agribusiness income is an $8 billion blow to the State's overall economy, mostly to the small rural communities like I represent in the 15th Congressional District. Nationally, from 1996 to 1997, net farm income dropped 6.8 percent from $53.4 billion to $49.8 billion. Economists forecast a 15.7 percent drop from $197 billion to only $42 billion in 1998. To say the least, these declines are dramatic. While weather conditions will hopefully improve, the current price situation for crops and livestock remains bleak.”