Thomas Foley: “I give strong compliments to the chairman, Mr. Roberts, and Senator Dole for their leadership on this excellent farm…”

“I give strong compliments to the chairman, Mr. Roberts, and Senator Dole for their leadership on this excellent farm bill we are about to pass. I rise today in strong support of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2854, the Federal Agricultural Improvement and Reform Act, historic legislation to completely overhaul this Nation's farm policy. Yet, as we move toward a more market-oriented agricultural policy in this Nation, one fact is easily overlooked in this entire farm bill debate--and that is Congress is about to pass the most environmentally sensitive farm bill ever. All of this is done without any new mandates, regulations, requirements or bureaucratic redtape. It makes the Federal Government a partner with agricultural producers in addressing agricultural changes, rather than an adversary. In particular, I am especially pleased that this conference report contains $200 million for funding of land acquisition and environmental restoration activities in one of our true national treasures--the Florida Everglades.”