Ron Kind: “today we have a chance to fundamentally reform agriculture policy so all farmers in all regions of the country will…”

“today we have a chance to fundamentally reform agriculture policy so all farmers in all regions of the country will benefit under the next farm bill. I, along with the gentleman from New York (Mr. Boehlert), the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Gilchrest) and the gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Dingell) will offer an amendment that takes a little bit of the increase of the subsidy payments that the largest commodity producers will receive, and instead move those resources into voluntary and incentive-based land and water conservation programs that our farmers want and are calling for. As the Bush administration made clear in their statement on the farm bill released yesterday, even they cannot support the committee bill because, and I quote, ``It misses the opportunity to modernize the Nation's farm programs through market oriented tools, innovative environmental programs, including extending benefits to working lands and aid programs that are consistent with our trade agenda.'' Our amendment, Madam Speaker, accomplishes these objectives, and I urge my colleagues to support the Boehlert-Kind-Gilchrest-Dingell amendment.”