I am supporting a congressional resolution expressing our intent for the administration to immediately renegotiate a new agreement to make sure America s timber industry is competing on a level playing field. Without a settlement of this dispute, upon the expiration of the current agreement, we are going to see a flood of subsidized Canadian lumber entering this country. We have already lost over 100 mills nationwide, losing thousands of jobs in the process. Conservation practices continue to have an influence on farming and ranching operations. As chairman of the Congressional Sportsman s Caucus, a group of over 250 members of Congress which supports the interests of the hunting, fishing and wildlife communities, I have strongly supported these and similar conservation programs.
Trade is extremely important to the farm economy.
Trade is vital to the existence of American agriculture. Agriculture production is so efficient in our country that thousands of farmers would have no choice but to go out of business without trade. To enhance trading opportunities, Congress must continue to reduce trade barriers and fight subsidized foreign competition. Over the past decade, the European Union has imposed barriers to U.S. agriculture by claiming that our products are not safe. Technology plays an important role in allowing American farmers to produce enough food and fiber to feed and clothe an exploding world population.