Senate Proceeding on Nov 15th, 2007 :: 6:53:46 to 7:11:01
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6:23:20 to 6:53:46( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Blanche Lincoln

6:53:38 to 6:53:46( Edit History Discussion )

Blanche Lincoln: great land that we have. so i thank you, madam president, and i thank my colleagues. i look forward to working with them, and i yield the floor. the presiding officer: the senator from new hampshire.

6:53:46 to 6:53:56( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: mr. geg: i understand that the senator from idaho intends to speak at this time, and after he speaks, i would ask unanimous consent that i be recognized. the presiding officer: is there objection?

6:53:46 to 7:11:01( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Michael Crapo

6:53:56 to 6:54:10( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: without objection, so ordered. the senator from idaho is recognized. mr. crapo: thank you very much, madam president. and before she leaves the floor, i want to commend my colleague, senator lincoln

6:54:10 to 6:54:20( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: from arkansas. i agree with her strong defense of and support of america's farmers, particularly our family farms, and of the need for a farm bill. she and i may come from different parties but we

6:54:20 to 6:54:33( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: have shown that you can work together together. i consider her to be one of my very good friends and allies here as we work toward good policy in this country, and i appreciated the opportunity to

6:54:33 to 6:54:47( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: sit here and hear your remarks, blanch. it's great to see someone stand up and respond to the attacks that we see coming against american agriculture. it seems that every time we have a farm bill, then

6:54:47 to 6:55:00( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: the attacks begin again. yet it's an america -- in america where american consumers spend the lowest percentage of their disposable income on food and fiber because we have such strong farm policies.

6:55:00 to 6:55:13( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: i ao agree with her comments about the need for us to remember that we are in global markets these days. and those who produce food and fiber in other nations have tremendous subsidies from their

6:55:13 to 6:55:22( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: governments, where their governments enabled them to compete unfairly against our producers. and, in fact, not only do their governments provide unfair extensive subsidies to their producers, they also

6:55:22 to 6:55:35( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: erect significant anticompetitive trade barriers, both tariff and nontariff trade barriers so that the products they send to us are subsidized and the products we try to send to them are stopped at

6:55:35 to 6:55:48( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: the border because of these barriers. and it's because of these kinds of international market circumstances and the global competition that we face these days that it's important for us to recognize

6:55:48 to 6:56:01( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: the role of the farm bill in helping american producers level that playing field. and again, i -- i just appreciate so much the opportunities that i've had to work with senator lincoln as on this and many other

6:56:01 to 6:56:12( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: issues we have worked together to strengthen and improve american policy. i came down here, madam president, to talk about the farm bill and i'm going to do that. but before i do so, i want to talk,

6:56:12 to 6:56:24( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: frankly, a little bit about the process because i'm very disturbed by the process the senate is in right now. we could have been debating amendments to the farm bill for a week or two now. but instead,

6:56:24 to 6:56:36( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: we have been stalled by a procedure that has filled up the amendment tree, for those that don't follow the rules of the senate. the amendment tree has been filled up so that no one can file amendments to the

6:56:36 to 6:56:48( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: farm bill bill. and yet i understand there are over 260 amendments which have been prepared and which are out there in the wings waiting by different members of the senate. now, we're not going to see

6:56:48 to 6:57:03( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: all 260 of those amendments be debated and voted on. that never happens. but we should see a significant number of them debated and voted on. those of us who served in -- serve in the -- in the

6:57:03 to 6:57:16( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: agriculture committee or the finance committee have seen both pieces of this farm bill be very vigorously debated at the committee level with all sorts of amendments and -- and work developing the right

6:57:16 to 6:57:25( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: kinds of process. and now it's the same time for that same process to occur here on the floor yet we have not seen one amendment be allowed to be brought forward. the farm bill affects so many people's

6:57:25 to 6:57:36( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: lives through providing food and fiber and security and enabling global competitiveness and ensuring a better environment. and i could go on. but we must allow all of the senators of this chamber

6:57:36 to 6:57:48( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: the opportunity to bring amendments that they feel need to be debated before we have the final vote on the farm bill. you know, we've all heard by now in the debate on the floor and in other places

6:57:48 to 6:58:02( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: around here, the numbers highlighting the multiple roll call votes that we've had on previous farm bill debates. and let me just review a few of those. according to the information that i have, during

6:58:02 to 6:58:20( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: the 2002 farm bill debate, which is the most recent farm bill debate that we've had, there were 49 amendment votes, including 25 roll call votes. in 1996, on the farm bill precedin the current one,

6:58:20 to 6:58:36( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: there were 26 amendment votes, including 11 roll call votes. and during the farm bill debate previous to that in 1990, there were 113 votes, including 22 roll calls. in 1985, there were 88 votes,

6:58:36 to 6:58:49( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: 33 of which were roll calls. and yet now during this debate or nondebate, we have had zero votes on any amendments because the amendment tree has been blocked. and i'm very discouraged by that because we could

6:58:49 to 6:59:02( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: have made significant progress on this farm bill. and now what we see is a -- is a maneuver which is proposing that a cloture be entered which would cut off debate on the farm bill and push it forward

6:59:02 to 6:59:14( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: without giving the opportunity for a full and robust debate of amendments. i encourage our leadership on both sides to get past this impasse. i know that there has been a lot of progress made in terms of an

6:59:14 to 6:59:29( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: effort to limit the number of amendments and try to get a determination of how many amendments will be allocated to each side and allow us to move forward. but for whatever reason, we haven't been able

6:59:29 to 6:59:39( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: to get that agreement resolved. and i, for one, want to say that it's -- the farm bill is too important for these kinds of partisan politics and maneuvering. i know that there are concerns about certain

6:59:39 to 6:59:51( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: amendments that may be brought and there are some on either side, depending on the amendment, who would prefer tonight see the amendment brought because it could -- prefer not to see the amendment brought

6:59:51 to 7:00:00( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: because it could cause an embarrassing vote on behalf of some of the members here on the floor. i will face votes on certain amendments. there will be amendments that will be difficult to faissments but

7:00:00 to 7:00:12( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: it's something that we must do. it's the tradition of the senate that we fully debate on matters such as this and that debate is not closed down. and so i say again to our majority leader and our

7:00:12 to 7:00:23( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: mil that we need to -- and our minority leader that we need to work together, avoid cloture votes and avoid restrictions that prohibit members from bringing their debate forward in this chamber and allow

7:00:23 to 7:00:34( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: us to have a full and robust debate so that we can move the farm bill forward. i remain committed to working together to move this farm bill forward through the senate through a full, fair, and open

7:00:34 to 7:00:47( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: process, and i hope we can get to one soon. now let me turn to my comments on the farm bill itself.~ you know, many people say that we really should not call it the farm bill. in fact, i think this

7:00:47 to 7:00:59( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: actually does have a different title now. because the farm bill is much, much more than just a bill that deals with commodities programs. in fact, the farm bill with the new addition of the finance

7:00:59 to 7:01:13( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: committee title, will have 11 titles in it only one of which is the commodities title. there are other titles dealing with rural development, with energy policy, and as most people aren't aware,

7:01:13 to 7:01:27( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: with the food programs of our nation. in fact, if you look at the allocation of resources in the farm bill, only about 14% of the cost of the farm bill is truly allocate ed to the agricultural commodity

7:01:27 to 7:01:37( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: programs. over 60% -- i think around 67% of the cost of the bill goes to our nation's food programs, like our food stamp program and the other programs that we have in international aid. and then

7:01:37 to 7:01:50( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: there are the programs dealing with conservation, which i'm going it talk about in a minute which are probably the most significant conservation effort that this congress gets engage ed in in any

7:01:50 to 7:02:06( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: kind of an on ongoing basis and yet far too few americans reels realize the commitment to preservation and conservation and improvement of our environment that is contained in the farm bill. there are

7:02:06 to 7:02:23( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: more than 25,000 farms and ranches in idaho producing march than 140 commodities statewide. idaho leads or is ranked among the top states in the production of potatoes, peas, lentils, mint mint,

7:02:23 to 7:02:40( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: sugar beets, dairy, hops, wheat, wool, cherries and other commodities. therefore, the farm bill is of vital importance to the idaho agricultural industry which is an essential part of idaho's economy. in preparation

7:02:40 to 7:02:57( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: for this farm bill authorization, like chairman harkin and ranking member cham ably, the house agriculture committee, the former agriculture chairman johanns and others, i sought advice from others and listened

7:02:57 to 7:03:07( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: to many, many of constituents who have voiced their criticism, bring forward their criticism and praise of the last around and current farm bill. what i heard loud and clear is dhat basic structure

7:03:07 to 7:03:18( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: of the 2002 farm bill is solt solid and rather than starting from scratch we should make changes to and improvements to that basic structure as needed but not lose that structure that has been so

7:03:18 to 7:03:31( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: helpful to our farmers and to our rural communities in particular throughout america. i've been pleased to work with my colleagues on the senate ag committee and in the congress in general to craft

7:03:31 to 7:03:44( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: a bill that i believe sticks with that principle. the bill before us today does not wipe away existing farm policy but bids on it for bid builds ton for a stronger farm policy and makes some very

7:03:44 to 7:03:58( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: significant and needed reforms to move in the direction of addressing the concerns that many have raised about some in inequities in the farm bill processes. the legislation includes essential provisions

7:03:58 to 7:04:13( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: such as the new specialty crop subtitle that strengthens specialty crop sub subprograms. i appreciate ed working with others on this effort and i thank senator headquarter harkin and senator chambliss

7:04:13 to 7:04:25( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: and senator conrad and others in shaping farm policy. additionally i want to thank our committee chairman baucus and ranking member grassley on the finance committee for the time they've spent in

7:04:25 to 7:04:39( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: crafting the farm bill that enables us to make some additions anz additions and tweaks that were needed. it's been an honor to be one of the senators who serves on both the finance and the agriculture

7:04:39 to 7:04:53( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: committee, the two committees whose products willes merged together on the floorts -- will be american merged together on the floor of the senate. there are a number of highlights in the tax title

7:04:53 to 7:05:09( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: of the farm bill that i want to mention. i worked with several senators to to includeimprovements to the endangered species act. for years we have struggled with the burden that the endangered species act

7:05:09 to 7:05:20( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: puts on private property owners. notably, about 80% of the en enjianged jiang en endangered or threatened species in america are found on private property yet we have put the burden of protecting and recovering

7:05:20 to 7:05:38( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: those species unduly on our private property owners. this bill that i've introduced and worked with many others in the senate on will provide participants with the option of a tax credit instead of

7:05:38 to 7:05:55( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: conservation reserve program, wetlands reserve program and grassland reserve programs. the farm bill also provides support for wheat, barley, sugar sugar, wool, and pulse crop programs. they will become

7:05:55 to 7:06:07( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: eligible for countercyclical assistance. there are significant investment investments in energy programs that would assist producers with efforts that support energy independence. changes to "project search"

7:06:07 to 7:06:18( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: would allow financially dis disdescries distress distressed communities in idaho and others for assistance for their water infrastructure needs needs. the fresh fruit and vegetable program would be significantly

7:06:18 to 7:06:31( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: expanded to allow all states to participate. expanding expanding this program nationwide will further the effort to provide healthy food chias s chough choices for our children children. it is a

7:06:31 to 7:06:42( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: win-win for students, producers and teachers. i have visited idaho schools and seen first hand how the fesh fruit and vegetable program has been a big help to our students. i look forward to seeing the

7:06:42 to 7:06:56( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: additional benefits to this program by making it available to more students. there are many other provisions of importance in this legislation that i could bring up down here in reviewing for this

7:06:56 to 7:07:08( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: extensive legislation, but instead nts i want to just focus on one vital area of the bill, the conservation title. before conclude ing my remarks. i have appreciate ed having the opportunity to work

7:07:08 to 7:07:20( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: with my colleagues on the conservation title which provides landowners with both the financial and technical assistance necessary to achieve real environmental results. as i said earlier, no federal policy

7:07:20 to 7:07:35( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: contribute ed more to the improvement and protection of our environment than the farm bill. through the incentive-driven conservation programs, the conservation title provides $4.4 billion in new spending for

7:07:35 to 7:07:47( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: conservation programs. the title continues with the current combination of conservation programs with improvements to make them work. for example, the senate farm bill makes changes to the eqip or environmental

7:07:47 to 7:07:59( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: equipment quality incentives program, to ensure that private owners receive the help they need. chairman harkin made numerous changes to the conservation security program which has been renamed to the

7:07:59 to 7:08:11( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: conservation stewardship program. the senate farm bill provides $1 $1.28 billion in new spending spending for that program. there are also adjustments made to increase participation of specialty

7:08:11 to 7:08:23( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: crop producers in the conservation stewardship program program. dedicate ed conservation program resources and higher technical assistance levels to increase participation of social socially

7:08:23 to 7:08:37( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: dis disadvantage ed farmers and ranchers. the title also edge ccurrence pollinator habitat improvements on forest land. funding is provided for t wetlands reserve program and the grasslands reserve program

7:08:37 to 7:09:00( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: which did not have baseline funding in 2008. the wetlands reserve program would be provided with funds to enroll 250,000 acres per year through 2012. the grasslands reserve program would be provided

7:09:00 to 7:09:11( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: with $240 million for fiscal year 2008 through 2012. the conservation reserve program would be maintained at $39 at 39.2 million ainchts the wildlife program would have. 85 million a year from 2508 to

7:09:11 to 7:09:23( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: 20126789 the farm protection program would being reauthorized at $-9d 7% million per year for the duration of the farm bill. it provides for the creation of a -- to facilitate the participation

7:09:23 to 7:09:35( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: of farmers in greenhouse reduction and other environmental services markets. now, i understand the challenges face ed in writing this farm bill and the significant investment that has been made in conservation

7:09:35 to 7:09:47( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: programs, especially having to cover baseline shortfalls for the wet lands reserve program and the grass lants lands reserve program. however, broader investment is needed in our conservation programs.

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Michael Crapo: such as the environmental quality incentives program and the grassland reserve program so that we can better capitalize on the conservation, interest, and needs across this nation. i'll continue to work for

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Michael Crapo: investments in working land coervation such as the eqip program and the g.r.p. or grass grasslands reserve program. with any legislation that is as comprehenssafes this, there are always provisions --

7:10:10 to 7:10:21( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: comprehens comprehensive as this, there are always provisions that with each of us would like to see come out differently. however on a whale a whole, this bill before us builds upon past farm bills

7:10:21 to 7:10:32( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: and sets u.s. agriculture on the right course. throughout the crafting of this bill it's been refreshing to see that more people are starting to understand each aspect of this important legislation. truly there

7:10:32 to 7:10:44( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: are few pieces of legislation that have the ability to impact so many lives and this bill afengts affects our nation nation's food security, our global competitiveness, the condition of our air,

7:10:44 to 7:11:01( Edit History Discussion )

Michael Crapo: water, and land as well as many other aspect aspects of our lives. i look forward to getting past the impasse that we face here on the senate floor and moving forward a timely debate and enactment

7:11:01 to 7:11:10( Edit History Discussion )

Judd Gregg: of a farm bill that enables sound federal farm policy. thank you, madam president. and i yield the floor . ment yield the floor. mr. grassley: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator

7:11:01 to 7:39:35( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Judd Gregg