David Obey: “Mr. Chairman, let me simply take some time right now to indicate that I think the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen)…”

“Mr. Chairman, let me simply take some time right now to indicate that I think the gentleman from New Mexico (Mr. Skeen) has done a lot of hard work trying to essentially squeeze a small amount of dollars into an even smaller bag. I think the problem is that because of the unrealistic limitation placed upon this subcommittee by the full committee allocation, which was made necessary by what I consider to be a misguided budget resolution which passed this place, it means that this bill falls far short in a number of areas. It certainly falls far short with respect to food safety items. It falls far short with respect to resources needed to deal with market concentration. The average farmer is in danger of becoming a serf because of the huge concentration that we see in the poultry business, the meat packing business of all kinds, frankly. That is happening in other sectors of agriculture as well. The problems in agriculture, pests and diseases, the bill falls very, very short of where it needs to be. The conservation programs fall some $70 million short of the budget request. If we look at other problems, rural development, especially rural housing is $180 million below the budget request. PL-480 overseas food donation program is significantly below the request. Agriculture research and extension programs are $63 million below the request.”