Date: 1988-08-09
Speaker: DE LA GARZA (democrat)
Chamber: H

I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker. I rise today to urge my colleagues to support the conference report to accompany H.R. 5015. the Disaster Assistance Act of 1988. H.R. 5015 will provide needed relief to farmers. ranchers. rural businesses. and farmworkers in drought stricken areas throughout America. At the same time. this bill sends a message to American consumers that they can be assured of a continued supply of food at reasonable prices. The conference committee on the Drought Assistance Act of 1988 met for 2 days last week and ironed out remaining differences on a 1988 disaster relief program for American agriculture. Among the major provisions resolved were: Extension of disaster assistance to those who suffered losses due to drought. hail. excessive moisture. and related conditions in 1988. Limiting feed assistance to livestock producers who suffered a loss in their own feed production. Providing for a limited 3 month price support increase for dairy producers. Requiring those who accept disaster payments or other benefits due to the 1988 drought to sign up for crop insurance in 1989 if their losses exceeded 65 percent. and Assisting migrant and seasonal workers In regard to food stamps and job training support. Mr. Speaker. this legislation provides for a comprehensive. costeffective. commonsense program of relief for agricultural producers. The program benefits are based upon production losses. with added payments provided to those who suffered catastrophic losses this year. No individual will receive more than $100.000 in payments under this disaster program. In addition. no person with more than $2 million in gross revenues for crops of $2.5 million for livestock will qualify for relief. Finally. H.R. 5015 ensures that no individual will reap financial gains from disaster benefits and crop insurance payments that exceed what he or she would have received in a normal crop year with normal yields. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 5015 is a lean relief program intended to aid those who need it most. USDA estimates the cost of the programs authorized by H.R. 5015 at $3.9 billion. well below the allowance provided in the budget for farm program spending. Having trimmed away some of the potentially more costly provisions of the bill in conference. I believe that we have crafted a bill that our colleagues and the President can support. I understand that the President is disposed to signing this bill into law when he receives it. Mr. Speaker. H.R. 5015 was prepared with record speed by my colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee and those in the Senate. We began Just 8 weeks ago. when the extent of the drought was becoming apparent. by putting together a bipartisan. bicameral drought task force. That task force crafted a "core" bill that was introduced in the House and the Senate and that served as the basic framework for the legislation before us today. This process and the legislation that resulted should send a clear message to farmers and ranchers. to rural residents. and to all Americans. Where the need exists. the Congress can and will act with speed and efficiency to help those in need. I congratulate my colleagues on the House Agriculture Committee. Senator LEAHY and the members of the Senate Agriculture Committee. and the leadership of the House and Senate. for their assistance In expediting this Important legislation. In addition. I want to express my sincere appreciation for the able assistance of the leadership of the Committee on Education and Labor for help in resolving certain differences in the bill with the Senate. I wish to especially thank my colleague. the Honorable MATTHEW MARTINEZ. for his support for migrant and seasonal workers. I concur in the concerns expressed to me by the gentleman from California for the need for more assistance to farm laborers affected by the drought and am pleased to note that the Department of Labor has decided to make funds. in addition to those provided by H.R. 5015. available immediately. Before closing. Mr. Speaker. there is one item from the House report on H.R. 5015 that needs clarification. On page 121 of House Report 100800. there is a typographical error that I would like to correct for the record. Under the Federal Crop Insurance Program segment of the report. a one sentence paragraph was mistakenly printed that should not have appeared in the text of the report. Instead. that segment of the report should read as follows: