Date: 1985-10-08
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

Mr. Chairman. this is the culmination of 1 year and 9 months of work. I say this now because when the Committee rises there will be no opportunity to mention this. I think the way we end probably should be indicative to the farmers of America that all of us are trying. that all of us are trying to do as God gives .us the ability to do as best we can. I want the farmers of America out there to know that we care. that we care so much that we are willing to argue amongst ourselves for an amendment at the.last minute. but yet I think that is because we care. But. the process and the system. Mr. Chairman. that we have to avail ourselves of. is consensus. I always say that legislation is the art of the possible: What is possible this date. this hour. this minute? I think that what the committee has brought together and brought to us and you have been very cooperative during the deliberations you have sustained the committee. except in two instances and one of them was a halfinstance. So. I would hope that our colleagues stay with us and let us vote. Then. when we go to the House from. the Committee of the Whole we should have 400plus votes ready and available to vote on final passage. That is the message we need to send to the farmers of America. that we care. There should be not one person voting against the final version. the product arrived at by consensus. Not everyone is happy. not everyone can be happy. no one is ever happy in the legislative process in a democracy. but it works. Democracy works. We will go to conference. We will see what the Senate comes up with. but on the final vote I hope there are green yes lights all over that board so that the farmers of America know that we are behind them. that we stand up for them. that we will stand with them. And although our end result may not be perfect. although our end result may not be what all of us wanted. it would have been the consensus of this House. Then on this. my friends. will be the last time that we have to vote purely in this House. The next product is going to be a combination of the House and the Senate versions of the farm bill. This will be the last vote by which we can show the farmers of America that we know their problems. that we tried to address their .problems. that we stand with them. that we stand with them no matter what and that regardless of philosophical differences. of regional differences. we have come together at the end. Let us forget individual or special interests. such as just wheat or grains. but think of the entire bill. We have sugar. dairy. wool. wheat. feed grains. cotton. rice. soybeans. peanuts. general commodities. trade. conservation. credit. research. food stamps. temporary food assistance [TEFAP]. nutrition programs. miscellaneous13 different topics. the National Agricultural Commission and aquaculture. That is what is in the final bill. That is what you will be voting on in final passage. That is why we need an aye" vote. I hope there are 400plus votes. beginning with our Speaker. who earlier today said that I could mention his name. that he would lead the way to let the farmers of America know that we stand with them and the way that we stand with them is to stay with the committee. Vote "no"-on this amendment. for we do not know what is in it. but in the final passage. vote "yes" on the committee bill and let rural America and the American farmer know that we stand with them.