Patty Murray: “While the debate continues in Congress over the future of farm policy for our Nation, I wanted to outline some of my…”

“While the debate continues in Congress over the future of farm policy for our Nation, I wanted to outline some of my priorities for agriculture in 1996. While Congressman Roberts continues to push for his proposal to decouple farm payments, I am committed to maintaining a safety net for our farmers. Coupling payments to both production and the marketplace is a good way to preserve the safety net. Farm payments should occur when prices are low so our farmers can sustain their capacity to produce. When prices are high, the market can and will sustain our farmers. Payments should also be tied to production. Farm payments should be given to those working the land today, not simply to those who have received payments in the past. When Congress authorized the 1990 farm bill it was understood that the program was voluntary. That is to say, you only needed to be farming in order to be eligible to participate. Now the Republican proposal requires participation over the last 5 years in order to continue participating. The farm programs would not longer be open to anyone currently farming, but only to those who had participated between 1990 and 1995, regardless of whether or not they were still farming. I also think we should preserve the permanent authority for farm programs embodied in the 1949 agriculture law. In my opinion, repeal of the 1949 law sends a clear message that our historic commitment to the farmers of our Nation is ending.”