Larry Combest

Mr. COMBEST

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Everett). (Mr. EVERETT asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to House Resolution 403, I call up the conference report on the bill (H.R. 2646) to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2011.

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding time to me. I simply want to thank the Committee on Rules for their warm acceptance of our testimony yesterday before them, for granting this rule, and for the kind words of support that have been indicated by the members of the Committee and others.

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I include for the Record a list of the groups we have heard from just today in support of the bill. National Cattlemen's Beef Association South East Dairy Farmers Association National Milk Producers Federation The Alliance of Western Milk Producers National Pork Producers Council United Egg Producers Alliance for Agricultural Conservation National Association of Wheat Growers Coalition for Food Aid Food Research and Action Center National Farmers Union United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association National Cotton Council Renewable Fuels Association National Corn Growers Association Land O'Lakes American Farm Bureau Federation USA Rice Federation National Grain Sorghum Producers American Sheep Industry Association Dairy Farmers of America American Beekeeping Federation U.S. Apple Association American Sugar Alliance American Sugarbeet Growers Association U.S. Beet Sugar Association American Sugarcane League Florida Sugarcane League Rio Grande Valley Sugar Growers Inc. Hawaii Sugar Farmers Sugar Cane Growers Cooperative of Florida Illiinois Corn Growers Association National Barley Growers Association National Sunflower Association USA Dry Pea and Lentil Council U.S. Canola Association American Soybean Association US Rice Producers Association CoBank Independent Community Bankers of America National Association of Conservation Districts National Association of State Foresters Ducks Unlimited Center on Budget and Policy Priorities Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation Ducks Unlimited International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies National Rifle Association Pheasants Forever Quail Unlimited The Wildlife Society Wildlife Management Institute Mr. Speaker, I heard concerns about how our trading partners to the south, our trading partners to the north, our trading partners in Europe may be looking at this. Mr. Speaker, this is a farm bill for rural America. This is not for rural Mexico, this is not for rural Canada, this is not for rural Europe. I would also call to the attention of my colleagues, in the motion to recommit it mentions that parts of the money would go to conservation programs, parts of money would go to nutrition programs, parts of the money would go to rural development programs, parts of the money would go to energy programs. So for my conservative colleagues that think that this spends too much money, it does not change the spending; it simply puts it somewhere else. Also, it may be great language for a recommit motion, but I would encourage my friends to read the conservation title, the nutrition title, the rural development title and the energy title. Those all have extensive programs. The decision of where that would go would take, I feel, a great deal of time, having spent the last 2 months working through a conference. I would also say you do not create a conference report of this magnitude in a vacuum. Anytime you make a change in one area, you make substantive change somewhere else. It may be easy on the floor to say well, we could just do this and then move on. That is simply not possible. It would take a tremendous amount of time to go back in and look at the programs that are in place that are based upon the conference report as was reported. It would take extensive amounts of time to go back in and try to rebalance those. We would have to look at all of the conservation payment limitations that are in fact in place. We would have to look at the payment limitations in other areas, such as the farmland protection areas. All this would take considerable time. Mr. Speaker, we do not have the time. We are out of time. And let there be no doubt about it, if the motion to recommit passes, this conference report is dead. We will be back to writing a new program under a new budget score. And if we think it was difficult to write this over 2\1/2\ years, I cannot even imagine the difficulty in writing a new one. Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the intensity of all of the Members who have participated today. This is a day that I have looked forward to for 2\1/2\ years. I include the following: House of Representatives, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC, March 7, 2002. Hon. Larry Combest, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Longworth Building, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: We have reviewed the Senate amendment to H.R. 2646, the Farm Security Act of 2001, which is now before the Conference Committee. Under rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has jurisdiction over ``pollution of navigable waters.'' Certain provisions of the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2646 fall within that jurisdiction, including: Section 203--This section amends section 1243 of the Food Security Act of 1985 to authorize funding for, among other things, meeting the purpose of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Section 213--This section amends section 1240 of the Food Security Act of 1985 to include as a purpose, assisting livestock producers in complying with the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Section 262--This section establishes a Klamath Basin Interagency Task Force that includes the Environmental Protection Agency, and includes as a duty, using existing Federal programs in the Klamath Basin for ``improvement of water quality.'' Existing federal programs for the improvement of water quality in the Klamath basin are programs under the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Our Committee recognizes the importance of this legislation and the need to conclude the conference expeditiously. While we have a valid claim to jurisdiction over the provisions outlined above, I have not asked that the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee be named Conferees. This is conditional on our mutual understanding that we are not waiving any jurisdiction over these or any similar provisions and that you work with us to resolve any concerns we may have about them. I would also appreciate it if you would have this letter and your response inserted into the Record when the Conference Report on the legislation is considered on the Floor. I look forward to working with you on this matter and thank you for your cooperation. Sincerely, Don Young, Chairman.

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle), the chairman of the Committee on the Budget. (Mr. NUSSLE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Missouri (Mr. Blunt), the chief deputy whip.

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Chambliss), chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management.

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, could the Chair please give us once again the remaining time.

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Walden).

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Goodlatte).

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Oklahoma (Mr. Lucas), chairman of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research of the Committee on Agriculture.

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, before I get into the discussion of the heart of this bill, I want to take a moment to thank my friend and my colleague, the ranking member on the Committee on Agriculture, the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm). Two-and-a-half years ago, we literally linked arm in arm to try to move down a path of finding an answer to what had been plaguing the agricultural economy in America for a number of years, and we have seen it continue to exist and grow. This was done in a strongly bipartisan manner. We included all of our committee. We went across this country and had hearings and listened to people tell us what their concerns were. We have heard and we will hear throughout this day opposition by people who, certainly their opposition in their mind is as justified as it is part of our process. But I would say that looking at this in total and in whole, and looking at this from the standpoint of where we are if this conference report does not pass, I would say that to anyone who has a true care about agriculture and rural development and rural America and nutrition and conservation and research and trade, that there is no other option. It is either basically this or it is nothing. I want to thank my friend for those long plane rides and those long hearings, for those hours of discussion that we moved through together. Because without that effort and without that opportunity, I do not believe that we would be where we are today. So I thank my friend. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the conference report on the farm bill. This is the end product of over 2 years of very hard work by members of the Committee on Agriculture. After dozens of hearings in Washington and around the country, and hundreds of hours of work, we brought a farm bill to the floor last October that passed this House with 291 votes. We went into a difficult conference over 60 days ago, and after a great deal of effort and compromise, we produced the conference report that Members will have before them today. Because we could not finish a bill last year, the time needed to put in place a new farm bill for this crop year is almost gone. If the House does not pass this conference report today, there will be no strengthened safety net for farmers this year. Instead, the House will be faced with passing a fifth temporary emergency spending bill for farmers. Both farmers and taxpayers are shortchanged by slapping Band-Aids on the problem of the farm economy. Farmers are facing the fifth year of record low prices, and the lowest real net cash income since the Great Depression. As a result, Congress has spent nearly $30 billion over the last 4 years in emergency assistance. While desperately needed, these ad hoc payments always left producers and their lenders in a state of uncertainty. There was no ability to use this money efficiently. One of the primary reasons for acting quickly on the farm bill was to end dependence on the ad hoc legislation. The conference report we have before us provides better, more flexible help for farmers. While the emergency bill averaged $7 billion per year, this farm bill, according to its scoring, averages less than $5 billion a year in additional spending to help farmers. Clearly, putting in place an improved farm bill, beginning with this crop year, is better for everyone. But we have reached in the 11th hour. In a matter of days it will be too late to implement an improved program for this year. Congress will then be left with the option of yet another emergency spending and the job of redrafting a farm bill. I want to emphasize to my colleagues that today's conference report is the best compromise we are likely to see. In addition to desperately needed help for farmers, it contains the largest single increase in conservation funding in history, significant gains for food stamps and nutrition funding, more resources for agricultural research, increased incentives for renewable fuels production, and a strengthened commitment to our rural communities. It is all accomplished within the limits of the budget. Failure to act decisively today to secure the gains in this conference report would jeopardize the future of our farmers and all of the others who benefit from this work that went into the farm bill. This bill is supported by dozens of farm groups, ranging from the Farm Bureau to the Farmers Union to the Food Research Action Center to Ducks, Unlimited. Yesterday, the Secretary of Agriculture said she would recommend the President sign the legislation. Today we have a statement from the President commending this legislation. They all know that this conference report benefits everyone. Mr. Speaker, let us not pass up the opportunity to help American agriculture and rural communities. I would strongly urge my colleagues to support this conference report. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. COMBEST

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call my colleagues' attention to the tireless dedication and tremendous accomplishments of Lubbock Mayor Windy Sitton. Mayor Sitton, the first female mayor of Lubbock, TX, began her political career as a city councilwoman in Lubbock in 1994. Mayor Sitton will focus her public service efforts on her new role as member of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board when her current term as mayor expires next month. I have every confidence that all Texans will benefit from her new endeavor as those in Lubbock have while she has been their city council representative and mayor. Mayor Sitton earned a bachelor of science degree in education from North Texas State University in 1966. She also has earned a master of art degree in counseling from Texas Women's University in 1971. She received the prestigious honor of ``Distinguished Alumni'' from Texas Women's University in 1997. Mayor Sitton is married to Frank and has one son, John, and two grandchildren. Before entering public office, Mayor Sitton taught High School English for 10 years and was a high school counselor for more than 7 years. During her public service in Lubbock, Mayor Sitton has helped foster a more cooperative spirit among business, education, and government, which created a stronger and more diversified economy in Lubbock. During her service as mayor, she also supported the adoption of the Ports-to-Plains Corridor, which will link Lubbock to an internationally important trade route and provide Lubbock and the West Texas region with continued economic growth. She also was instrumental in forming the Community Relations Commission and the Youth Commission, which have opened dialogues to address complex community issues. Mayor Sitton's accomplishments have reached far into her community affecting numerous local government services Lubbock residents receive, including the areas of parks, police training, firefighting, libraries, sanitation, economic development, race relations, and establishing a much needed drainage system that better protects Lubbock residents and their property. Mayor Sitton's achievements have been met with accolades at the local and state level. Some of her notable recognitions include designation as the Best Business Leader in 2000 by the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, a recipient of the Women of Excellence Award in 2000, and the ``Woman of Distinction'' Award in 1997 by the Leadership Texas Hall of Fame. Her desire to help more women enter the political arena and take advantage of community service opportunities can only be benefitted from the example Mayor Sitton has given through her successes in public office. Mayor Sitton exemplifies the positive impact women can have in the political arena. I would like to extend to Mayor Sitton my thanks for her generous service to the city of Lubbock, and my sincerest best wishes in all her future endeavors.

Mr. COMBEST

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Father Malcolm Neyland and the Vatican Exhibit Foundation, Mr. Gary Edson and the Museum at Texas Tech University, and the countless local and community leaders who have made the distant dream of the Vatican Exhibit 2002 become a reality. Because of their dedication and relentless efforts, a priceless collection of frescoes will be transported from the Vatican Museum in Rome, to the Museum of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Preparations for this exhibit began over fourteen years ago. Father Neyland made a series of trips to the Vatican City and after continuous hard work, he successfully convinced Vatican Museum officials to allow the frescoes to be exhibited in Lubbock. Since that time, he and many others have spent literally years making arrangements for this historical exhibit. The Vatican Exhibit will open on June 2, 2002 and will continue until September 15th. The exhibit features 31 medieval frescoes created by master painters of the Roman School during the 12th and 13th centuries. The frescoes originally adorned the walls of the Basilica of St. Agnese and St. Nicola. As the church was renovated throughout the years, the frescoes were removed and placed in storage in the Vatican. They were recently removed from storage and restored to their original brilliance. This will be the first time the frescoes have left Rome and, once this exhibit is over, they will be returned directly to the Vatican Museums. In addition to the frescoes, the exhibit will feature other rare art from museums in Texas and paintings, sculptures and religious artifacts from the Museo Franz Mayer, the Biblioteca, and the Condumex in Mexico City. This is an unprecedented opportunity for Americans to view a variety of artifacts that have contributed to the shaping of our society and the formation of Christian beliefs. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor and pleasure today to express my thanks to the Vatican Exhibit Foundation and the many community leaders whose efforts brought this amazing exhibit to West Texas and the rest of America. Thanks to these individuals, thousands of people will now have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to experience magnificent artwork from the Vatican Museum.

Mr. COMBEST

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to commend Jeremy J. Warren for his selfless service to citizens of the United States during the September 11 tragedy in New York. Jeremy and 11 of his classmates at the United States Merchant Marine Academy were called to aid in rescue efforts merely hours after the World Trade Centers collapsed. Jeremy used his extensive rescue training to help search the debris during the critical post-collapse hours in hopes of finding survivors. Jeremy worked at ground zero through the night and was relieved from the operation in the early morning hours of September 12. In 1994, Jeremy graduated from Midland Lee High School in my congressional district. He sought a nomination to the United States Merchant Marine Academy and was granted the appointment. In June 2002, Jeremy will graduate from this institution. The excellent training Jeremy received at King's Point paid off not only for himself but also his country. Mr. Speaker, it is my honor to publicly thank Jeremy for his actions on September 11, 2001, and to extend my congratulations to him on the occasion of his upcoming graduation. I wish him nothing but the best for the future.

Mr. COMBEST

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I am in complete agreement with my good friend from Wisconsin, the Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, that this motion to instruct House Conferees on H.R. 2646 to accept section 1071 of the Senate amendment could negatively affect the good progress that has been made in the bankruptcy conference. The bankruptcy conference has been dragging on for too long, and it is time for the bankruptcy bill Conferees to finish the handful of outstanding issues so this important conference report can be brought back to the House for approval. In addition, however, I am aware of the immediate need for Congressional action with respect to Chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code relating to farm bankruptcies. This section has been expired since October of last year, and has negatively impacted many farmers and ranchers across the country. An expedient solution to this dilemma is required. I am also aware of the broad support in the House for a solution. At this moment, we are working very hard in the conference on H.R. 2646 to find consensus on all outstanding issues, and I am hopeful that we can complete work on the farm bill. Knowing Chairman Sensenbrenner's concerns about section 1071 of the Senate amendment and recognizing that the bankruptcy conference could also be completed any day now, I am ready and willing to work with my good friend from Wisconsin to find a resolution to this issue in a manner that he would find acceptable.

Mr. COMBEST

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I would like to call the attention of my colleagues to a town in West Texas for which I am proud to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives. On April 18, 2002, Odessa, Texas will mark the 75th anniversary of its incorporation. This will be a day to reflect upon the rich history and heritage of Odessa, and to look forward to at least 75 more years of prosperity. While the origin of the name is not certain, one story is that the city was given its name by railroad workers. The terrain reminded them of the wide, flat prairies around Russia's city, Odessa, which was the wheat distribution center of the world at the time. but if that does not suit you, another story is that it was named of a beautiful Indian maiden who died in the area. Cattle ranches were established in the area in the late 1800's, but the railroad really marked the founding of Odessa. A railroad construction campsite of the Texas and Pacific Railroad was organized in 1881. Odessa quickly became a major cattle shipping hub for the ranches in the area. Situated in an area that was an ancient sea, Odessa has rich reserves of oil and natural gas. The town would become ever-tied to oil and gas production after the 1927 discovery of oil. Today, the Permian Basin is known throughout the world as one of the major oil field technology centers, and Odessa remains a vital segment to the Basin. Every even- numbered year, the City hosts the Permian Basin International Oil Show, celebrating its links to the industry with the world's largest inland exhibit of oilfield products and services. Odessa is home to the University of Texas of the Permian Basin, a branch of Texas Tech Health Sciences Center, and Odessa College. It also has an excellent coliseum exhibit complex, a combined performing symphony with neighbor city Midland, the Ellen Noel Art Museum, a Presidential Museum, and two working playhouses. Some of you may know the group of volunteers known as the Odessa Chuck Wagon Gang, which has been in existence over 60 years and has fed barbeque to people all over the world, all the while promoting the City of Odessa. I am proud to be an honorary member of this terrific and hard-working group. Known for football prowess, Odessa is home to the Permian High School Panthers and the Odessa High School Broncos, which each have captured numerous state titles. We also can claim to have the winners of minor league hockey's Governor's Cup, the Odessa Jackalopes. Odessa is a thriving city, thanks to the petroleum business, and many other ranching, farming, industrial and enterprise developments. Today it is more than twenty times the size it was when oil was discovered, and she is Texas' 23rd largest city. I am very proud to represent the citizens of Odessa here in the House of Representatives. I salute the City, her leaders, and her citizens on this very special occasion. I offer my sincere best wishes for at least another 75 years of prosperity and good fortune.

Mr. COMBEST

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the gentleman yielding me the time. Mr. Chairman, in early October of last year this House passed a new approach for farm legislation in a very strongly bipartisan manner and in a margin of over two to one. It was the intent of our committee at that time to have hopefully a conference report that we could bring back to this body and have signed into law a new farm bill sometime last year so that we would begin to be able to deal with the problems that have been confronting the agricultural economy for the last 4-plus years. Unfortunately, there was no item with which we could conference. However, in February, on Valentine's Day, we finally had that item that we could conference. We are in conference now, and it is this Member's hope that early in April upon our return we will be able to provide to the body a conference report. We, however, have lapped over into a new budget cycle. What made it possible for us to be able to write that farm bill last year was the strong commitment of the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle), the chairman of the Committee on the Budget, and the good work of the Committee on the Budget in providing $73.5 billion in last year's budget and providing $73.5 billion in this year's budget to allow us to continue. While much of the focus may be on the Committee on Agriculture as those farm bills are being written, the American farm family owes a great deal of gratitude to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. Nussle) and to the Committee on the Budget for holding their commitment to provide a strong agriculture because where we are today, Mr. Chairman, would not have been possible without that support. I appreciate it very much. I commend the committee for the work they have done.

Mr. COMBEST

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to take from the Speaker's table the bill (H.R. 2646) to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2011, with a Senate amendment thereto, disagree to the Senate amendment, and agree to the conference asked by the Senate.

Mr. COMBEST

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I rise to join Midland and Permian Basin in congratulating the Midland Christian School football team in their great victory in the Class 4A state championship title in the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. Their November victory over Denton Liberty Christian is an accomplishment that is truly deserving of recognition and praise. The Midland Christian School football program has been built upon a solid foundation of hard work, dedication, and sportsmanship. The Mustangs have shown what today's youth can accomplish when teamwork and determination are applied. They will forever hold a place of honor in the pages of Texas athletics. It is with great pride that I recognize the members of the Midland Christian School football team and their coach Greg McClendon for this accomplishment. I would also like to recognize the administration and fans that carried them through to victory. Thanks to their tremendous efforts, Midland, TX, is now home to the 2001-2002 Class 4A State Champions for the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools. I congratulate the Midland Christian Mustangs for brining home a state football title.

Mr. COMBEST

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call my colleagues' attention to the tireless dedication and tremendous effort of Dr. Bob Albin, the Associate Dean of Research for the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at Texas Tech University. For more than 40 years, Bob has shaped the minds of agriculture students, initiated cutting-edge research throughout the agricultural college, served as a committed faculty member and student advisor, and been a unswerving friend to all of agriculture. As he retires, Bob can look back on his time at Texas Tech with great pride on his many accomplishments. As the Representative of Lubbock, TX and of Texas Tech University, I have personally witnessed Bob's work to bring collaborative quality research to Texas Tech through his determined efforts to establish the Agricultural Research Service (ARS) Plant Stress and Water Conservation Laboratory in Lubbock. Bob traveled to Washington on a regular basis to testify before the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee and to explain the need for an ARS laboratory in Lubbock that would focus on the plant and crop needs in semiarid production environments such as in West Texas. I am pleased that after all of his hard work, funding was provided for this important facility, which is now nearly constructed and that houses research initiatives between ARS and the University. Thanks to Bob's efforts, scientists have used this facility for research critical to plant science which will keep our farmers the most efficient producers of food and fiber in the world. I know Bob will be missed by faculty and students alike, but his support and enthusiasm for Texas Tech and agriculture will endure. Bob has always been a Red Raider, and he always will be in the future. Mr. Speaker, it is my distinct honor and pleasure today to express in this public forum my thanks to Dr. Bob Albin for his outstanding service to Texas Tech University and American agriculture and wish him all the best in his retirement.

Mr. COMBEST

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Chairman, I am going to have to go with the gentleman from Tennessee someday to one of his town hall meetings. I have yet to have the luxury of a town hall meeting or sitting around with a group of people in a coffee shop in Texas and have them unanimously agree to the fact that we ought to bring them under some new Federal regulations. It seems to me that the last two opponents of the amendment have pretty much brought about the argument that is being brought about tonight, that anybody who is concerned about their farmers or their workers or their families is bringing a poison pill. I have not quite figured out why it is in the legislative process, if Members are trying to protect the group of people that they represent, it is a poison pill. It may have an impact on a piece of legislation that the proponents would love to see put into place without any changes, but I am hopeful that the legislative process does not work that way; but it blows holes in it, and it is a poison pill. I would say that if there is no concern about, as regulations are being changed in regards to campaign financing and campaign law, that we could assure those people in rural America, to those farmers and workers and families, that in fact they would be protected if we adopt this amendment. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. COMBEST. Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Flake).