Orrin Hatch: “I rise to discuss the recent enactment of H.R. 2646, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, and to explain…”

“I rise to discuss the recent enactment of H.R. 2646, the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, and to explain why I made the very difficult decision to vote against it. First, I wish to express my sincere thanks to the members of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees and the conferees for their very hard work in producing this farm bill. I have no doubt that their aim was the good of America's farmers and of rural America. There are a number of important provisions in the farm bill that will have a positive impact on our family farms. I am pleased that significantly more funds will go to conservation programs and to help livestock producers and feedlot operators to better protect the environment. I am especially proud of language included in the farm bill that will restore a modest and carefully constructed wool program for our sheep industry. The new wool payment is crafted to provide some assistance during difficult times but not so much that the wool market will become distorted. I think the wool payment program is a good model for providing farmers with a good safety net.”