Cal Dooley

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. I think we need to reflect on why the National Beef Cattlemen's Association and why the National Pork Association, who represents the majority of producers of those livestock commodities which are subject to this mandatory labeling, why they oppose this. They oppose this legislation because they realize that it is going to result in additional cost to their producer, be they small or be they large. They also understand that this also is not a health issue, and they make a distinction on what is the appropriate role of government in terms of placing mandates on producers and that we should have mandates when we have an issue that is related to the health of consumers, but we should not have a government mandate when it relates to a marketing issue. That is what this measure is all about. We have had a number of my colleagues that have got up on the floor and said, we have labeling of our items of clothing that we wear. But we do not have labeling on our clothing that we wear that tells where the wool came from, where the cotton came from or any of the products that are part of this. We only know where this product, where this clothing, was actually manufactured. We are going far beyond that in this approach. There is nothing in law today that precludes producers from having the opportunity to voluntarily label where their beef or pork or meat product came from. That is the appropriate tack I think that we should be taking today. We should once again I think back up and at least have another time-out, which is what the chairman's proposal does, to give the industry more time to understand how we can move forward in a more responsible manner. This amendment that is on the floor today is one which will, unfortunately, cost producers the most. And what also I think is very apparent, it is going to create an unintended consequence of exposing producers to liability, exposing them to private rights of action by groups that might be motivated by welfare issues, by a whole host of issues that will now have an opportunity to seek legal and civil recourse against a lot of small and large livestock producers. That is not what we should be doing with this legislation.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Robert J. Graves, who will be celebrating his 90th birthday on July 17th of this year. As a leader in the agriculture industry for over half a century and a veteran of World War II, Mr. Graves has served both his country and community with inspiring dedication. Robert Jackson Graves was born in 1913 in Manhattan, Kansas, the first of five children. In 1935, Mr. Graves graduated from the University of Maryland at College Park with a BA in Agriculture Economics. After graduation, Mr. Graves took a job at the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a Regional Director for Marketing Administration. After a few short years with the Department of Agriculture, Mr. Graves went to serve our country in World War II. When a tropical disease forced his return to the states, Mr. Graves continued to serve our country by working in procurement and supply for the U.S. Navy while stationed in Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. After the war, Mr. Graves' work endeavors brought him to California's San Joaquin Valley, where, as a contractor, he supervised the building of a number of migrant farmworker camps. It was in the San Joaquin Valley that he found success as an entrepreneur, starting the Real Fresh Milk Company, which utilized a patented process developed by his father. The company produced a line of innovative dairy products, and it was his efforts to market globally that made his fresh milk a highly coveted commodity on military bases throughout Southeast Asia and the Middle East. Mr. Graves continued to contribute to the growth and development of the United States food industry through his extensive involvement with the National Food Processors Association, where he served on the Board of Directors for six years, chaired the Public Affairs Council, and served as Director of the National Food Laboratory Inc. Mr. Graves has remained involved with California agriculture over the past thirty years through his association with the walnut industry. He has held many prestigious posts in this capacity, serving as a member of the Sun-Diamond Growers board of directors for 24 years before he retired in 2000. During this time he also served as a member of the Federal Walnut Marketing Board, and he currently serves as the alternate director of the California Walnut Marketing Association. Mr. Speaker, Mr. Graves has served his country and his community with pride and determination. I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating Robert J. Graves as he celebrates his 90th birthday.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise to ask that the previous question be defeated so we can offer a real prescription drug benefit to seniors. It is unfortunate that the bill being offered by our Republican colleagues is one that seniors are going to find is so complex that it is going to result in taxpayers displacing a lot of private sector contributions which are already providing prescription drug benefits. Why in the world would we design a drug benefit program where we are actually going to be trading taxpayer dollars for dollars that are already being spent by corporations for their retirees? There is a better alternative, and that is the bill we would like to offer, that is, we take the $400 billion that President Bush has talked about, roll it into Medicare part B, and use a drug card much like President Bush has talked about which ensures that every senior will have access to negotiated prices which ensures that they have 10 to 20 percent savings. We do this without an increase in premiums. We also target seniors facing catastrophic health care costs by ensuring that after they have purchased drugs that cost $4,000, that the Federal Government will be there to pick up the vast majority of their drug costs from that point on. We also recognize that there are a lot of seniors in this country that cannot afford the $4,000, so we provide a low-income benefit that provides significant assistance to all those seniors who have incomes less than 200 percent of poverty. This would ensure that 50 percent of the seniors on Medicare today would have a subsidized low-income benefit that would help provide them access to much-needed prescription drugs. It is time for this Congress to come together and say, if seniors have a limited amount of resources, let us target those resources of those seniors that are in greatest need. Those are the seniors with very high drug costs and those seniors with the least ability to pay, and the system should be simple. The Republican plan that we are going to be considering on the floor today provides seniors the benefit if they are low-income, but not if they have $6,000 in assets or a car that is too valuable. We need a plan that seniors can understand, that they do not need to be an accountant to figure out; and that is what our alternative would provide.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of this legislation. One of the most difficult challenges facing those of us in Congress is how do we deal with the growing number of uninsured in our country, a number that is currently over 40 million. With the increases in health care costs that we are going to be seeing in the near future, that number is only going to continue to grow. This piece of legislation is an attempt to ensure that we can find ways in which small employers and farmers across the country can come together to develop a purchasing power that can allow them to negotiate better benefits at a less cost for the people they employ. I represent a district in the central valley of California. It is 65 percent Latino. Many of those families are farm-worker families. They are low-wage workers. They are almost without exception without health insurance today. If they do have health insurance, it is through an association health plan that was offered by Western growers. They have coverage today that is benefiting them, and it is just basic coverage. This legislation is an attempt to ensure that more of those low-wage workers will have access to health care. It is unfortunate that it is not going to be a plan that has all the mandates that some of the States would require, but what I get so frustrated with is that we are willing to deny the ability of employers to come together to offer a basic level of health insurance to a lot of their low-wage workers and their families that right now are not having access to care. We can do better. This legislation is an attempt to do so. I am struck by a lot of the opponents of this legislation that are saying that this is going to lead to cherrypicking. I will tell you today, there are not many insurance companies that are offering a plan through the State HIPCs or whatever else that are interested in coming out and trying to market a health insurance plan to a lot of the farmers and the farm workers whom they employ. This is an attempt to ensure that we can have an association of people who are committed to that industry and to those employers that will be able to come together to develop a basic health insurance product that will benefit the health of these low-wage workers. I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the amendment and the bill. Mr. Chairman, over the last decade, elements of the class action litigation system have gone terribly wrong. H.R. 1115 is a moderate, sensible measure. This bill is not tort reform. This legislation makes a common sense correction in Federal law so that large, multistate class action lawsuits can be heard in Federal court. Cases that are national in scope should be decided by courts that represent the nation at large, not individual county courts, where oftentimes, judges are elected by the very trial lawyers who are bringing suits to their courtroom. This bill does not take away anyone's right to file a class action. This bill does not cap damages. This bill is a process improvement. Chairman Sensenbrenner has worked with Democrats to improve the bill and make key changes to include a provision crafted by Senator Dianne Feinstein that keeps a single state case in that state's courts, not Federal court. On February 10th 2003, the American Bar Association's House of Delegates overwhelmingly endorsed a resolution of the ABA's Class Action Task Force, voicing qualified support for the principle of expanded Federal jurisdiction over class actions. That is precisely what this bill accomplishes. H.R. 1115 is the only proposal on the table that will curb abuse. Vote ``yes'' on Final Passage. Vote ``yes'' on the Sensenbrenner, Boucher, Moran, Dooley, Stenholm, Terry amendment.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor our local Lemoore Naval Air Station, LNAS, pilots who fought in Iraq. An Appreciation Dinner for our local LNAS pilots has been organized for Saturday, May 17, 2003 by a local radio station serving the entire Central Valley of California. Saturday's dinner should serve as just one expression of our deepest appreciation for the commitment and resolve shown by the men and women of our Armed Forces. Pilots from the Lemoore Naval Air Station and courageous reservists and enlistees from the Central Valley joined forces with thousands around the world in Iraq. I would like to join with the hundreds of individuals who will attend the dinner to thank those who put their lives on the line for the sake of freedom. Our local reservists and enlistees sacrificed for the betterment of our nation and the entire world, and it is only fitting that they receive the proper appreciation this weekend. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today to honor the pilots from the Lemoore Naval Air Station for their brave and courageous efforts on behalf of our country.

Mr. DOOLEY

Mr. DOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. This terrible human tragedy must not be forgotten. Like the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide stands as a tragic example of the human suffering that results from hatred and intolerance. The Ottoman Turkish Empire between 1915 and 1923 massacred one and a half million Armenian people. More than 500,000 Armenians were exiled from a homeland that their ancestors had occupied for more than 3,000 years. A race of people was nearly eliminated. It would be an even greater tragedy to forget that the Armenian Genocide ever happened. To not recognize the horror of such events almost assures their repetition in the future. Adolf Hitler, in preparing his genocide plans for the Jews, predicted that no one would remember the atrocities he was about to unleash. After all, he asked, ``Who remembers the Armenians?'' Our statements today are intended to preserve the memory of the Armenian loss, and to remind the world that the Turkish government--to this day--refuses to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. The truth of this tragedy can never and should never be denied. And we must also be mindful of the current suffering of the Armenian, where the Armenian people are still immersed in tragedy and violence. The unrest between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues in Nagorno- Karabakh. Thousands of innocent people have already perished in this dispute, and many more have been displaced and are homeless. In the face of this difficult situation we have an opportunity for reconciliation. Now is the time for Armenia and its neighbors to come together and work toward building relationships that will assure lasting peace. Meanwhile, in America, the Armenian-American community continues to thrive and to provide assistance and solidarity to its countrymen and women abroad. The Armenian-American community is bound together by strong generational and family ties, an enduring work ethic and a proud sense of ethnic heritage. Today we recall the tragedy of their past, not to replace blame, but to answer a fundamental question, ``Who remembers the Armenians?'' Our commemoration of the Armenian Genocide speaks directly to that, and I answer, we do.

Mr. DOOLEY

Mr. DOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Paul Betancourt, who is being honored as the outgoing president of the Fresno County Farm Bureau, FCFB. Paul Betancourt has spent more than a decade serving my district through his activities with the Fresno County Farm Bureau, which represents over 6,000 members, produces more than 300 crops and grosses more than $3.2 billion annually. Paul Betancourt has set an example through his dedicated commitment to our community. Since completing his 2-year role as president of the FCFB, Mr. Betancourt continues to serve on the FCFB Executive Committee and he was recently appointed to serve as the Industry Representative on the San Joaquin Valley Unified Air Pollution Control District's Citizens Advisory Committee. Before serving as FCFB President, Betancourt also served as the FCFB secretary-treasurer and second and first vice presidents. In addition to all of his work with the FCFB, Mr. Betancourt has served in a number of various community activities. Through his Farm Bureau activities, Mr. Betancourt served on the board of directors of the Fresno Chamber of Commerce, and represented FCFB at many industry and community forums and events. Mr. Betancourt currently serves on the Kerman Unified School Board of Trustees, and is involved in the Fresno Area Collaborative Regional Initiative. Additionally, Mr. Betancourt is a noted columnist for a local business publication and he teaches Sunday school at the Kerman Covenant Church. Mr. Betancourt currently farms more than 750 acres of cotton and almonds in Fresno County, where he has also grown crops such as tomatoes, sugar beets, cantaloupes, barley, and cattle. Paul Betancourt's intimate knowledge of farming issues and his dedicated commitment to farmers and Fresno County residents as a whole should serve as an example of leadership and dedication in the Central Valley of California. Mr. Betancourt has contributed to the improvement of the community through his work in and out of the Fresno County Farm Bureau. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating Paul Betancourt on his retirement as president of the Fresno County Farm Bureau.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, yesterday our nation, along with a coalition of more than thirty supporting nations, entered into military conflict with the nation of Iraq. I want to express my deepest appreciation for the commitment and resolve of our American men and women in service and their families. I join today with all of my colleagues in offering the unyielding support for all of our troops in the United States Armed Forces and their families. Joining the thousands of troops from around the world in Iraq are many brave and courageous reservists and enlistees from the Central Valley. I join today with all those who have family members and friends in the region as we hope and pray for their safe and speedy return. There is no question that Saddam Hussein is destabilizing the region, that he is willing to use deadly force against his own people, and that he is a threat to U.S. security. Yet, regardless of how each of us feels today about entering into this conflict, we must stand resolute behind our Commander in Chief and behind our men and women in uniform. Our hearts and thoughts are with those who will be putting their lives on the line for the sake of freedom in the days ahead.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, the Conference Committee for the FY 2003 Omnibus Appropriation Bill has included language relating to the funding of the installment due on or before September 30, 2003 under the Consent Judgment entered on February 7, 2003 in Sumner Peck Ranch, Inc. v. Bureau of Reclamation. By including this language it is not Congress' intent that the United States default in the payment of that installment. Creating such a default would be unwise. Instead, the intent of the language is to indicate that funds under the Energy and Water Development Appropriation Act are not authorized to pay such installment. By so indicating, it is further intended that payment of the Peck judgment installments is ``not otherwise provided for'' as that phrase is used in Section 1304 of Title 31 of the United States Code. Appropriations exist and are available under Section 1304 for payment of such installment, and it is intended that such appropriations be so utilized.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Mr. Fred Hardy, who is being presented with the Lifetime Achievement award, and will be bestowed the title of Labor Leader Emeritus by the Fresno- Madera-Tulare-Kings Central Labor Council and the Building Trades Council. Mr. Hardy has served in a leadership role with the Building Trades Council since 1958 and has set an example through his dedicated commitment to my community. For more than 56 years Mr. Hardy has been involved with organized labor, both as a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), and as the Business Manager for the IBEW Local 100. In addition to his work with IBEW, he has served as the Executive Secretary of the Fresno-Madera-Tulare-Kings Building and Construction Trades Council. For all of his leadership efforts with organized labor, Mr. Fred Hardy was recognized by the Central Labor Council as the Labor Leader of the Year in 1981 Mr. Hardy has not only dedicated his time to organized labor efforts, he has also passionately served his community through a number of volunteer organizations. Mr. Hardy is a veteran of the United States Army and has served on numerous boards, including the Fresno City Police and Firemen's Pension Board, the Board of Directors for the Fresno County Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Valley Area Construction Opportunity Program. The people of the Central Valley have been fortunate to have such a passionate and dedicated servant for the community for so many years. Mr. Hardy has contributed to the improvement of the community through his work in and out of organized labor. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating Fred Hardy on his retirement and on his much-deserved Lifetime Achievement award.

Mr. DOOLEY

Mr. DOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the Westlands Water District, which celebrates its 50-year anniversary on November 17, 2002. I have the privilege of representing many Westlands water users in Congress. The Westlands Water District encompasses over 600,000 acres, of which 560,000 acres are applicable for irrigated agricultural production in Fresno and Kings counties. Westlands is comprised by approximately 600 family-owned farms and 2,400 landowners, making Westlands the largest water district in the world. For 50 years, the Westlands Water District has been a leader in innovative irrigated agriculture and water resource utilization in the Western United States. Through its irrigation practices, Westlands and its farmers have helped develop the west side of the San Joaquin Valley into one of the leading agricultural producing regions in the world. Farming in the area known as Westlands began during California's Gold Rush era. Irrigated agricultural production began around 1915 and by 1942, landowners organized to develop a water supply system. Westlands Water District itself was formed in 1952 and began delivering contracted water from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation to farms on the west side of the San Joaquin Valley in 1968. The leadership that has characterized the first 50 years of the Westlands Water District has helped to make the west side of the San Joaquin Valley a unique place of opportunity for families and small businesses. Today the farmers of Westlands produce over 60 different commercial food and fiber crops sold for fresh, dry, canned and frozen food markets, both domestic and for export. The estimated annual production value of agricultural commodities produced in Westlands is $1 billion, which generates approximately $3.5 billion in related economic activity for Fresno and Kings Counties. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me today in congratulating the Westlands Water District for fifty years of valuable service to the residents of the west side of the San Joaquin Valley and in wishing them continued success in the future.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask my fellow colleagues to join me in recognizing Coach Bob Bennett on his retirement as the head coach of the Fresno State baseball team. Coach Bennett has served as the head coach of the Fresno State Bulldogs since 1970, and he recently joined an exclusive club by becoming only the seventh coach in NCAA Division I history to win more than 1,300 games in his career. Prior to his appointment as head coach in 1970, Coach Bennett spent 11 years coaching high school baseball and was a standout catcher for Fresno State from 1952-1955. During his coaching career, Bob Bennett enjoyed consistent success. This past season marked his 26th straight winning season as head coach. His teams have won or shared 17 divisional titles, advanced to the NCAA regionals 21 times and have gone to the College World Series twice, in 1988 and 1991. In 1988, the Fresno State Bulldogs were the top ranked team in the nation after a 32-game winning streak. Bennett has earned conference Coach of the Year honors 14 times and was named NCAA Coach of the Year by the Sporting News in 1988. Beyond coaching success, Coach Bennett has helped build Pete Beiden Field into a well-respected venue for college sports. Under Coach Bennett's leadership Fresno State has become a consistent national leader in attendance and fan support. Coach Bennett's service to Fresno State and the greater community has been outstanding. He is a role model that all coaches should look up too. Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring Coach Bob Bennett of the Fresno State Bulldogs, and congratulate him on his 45 years of service as a head coach in my community.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H.J. Res. 114, the bipartisan resolution authorizing the use of military force against Iraq. Like most Americans, I understand that our security is threatened by rogue nations suspected of crafting biological and chemical weapons, and by those who seek access to nuclear weapons. I am convinced that Iraq is building an arsenal of weapons of mass destruction, following repeated refusals, over many years, to comply with United Nations weapons inspections. I believe it is our responsibility to ensure that Saddam Hussein is no longer positioned to pose a major and imminent threat to U.S. national security. I further believe that the President should have the authority to use force against Iraq, if he deems it necessary.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Captain John V. Stivers, Commanding Officer of Naval Air Station Lemoore at Lemoore, California since 1999. After a long and successful career in the Navy, he is retiring on January 1, 2003. Captain Stivers enlisted in the U.S. Navy in November 1970 and was assigned to NAS Lemoore as an Air Traffic Controller. Later, he graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, and was designated a Naval Aviator in 1977. Captain Stivers's visionary leadership and unrelenting personal drive are directly responsible for the unparalleled infrastructure improvements at NAS Lemoore, and successful career of distinctive accomplishments. Additionally, his infectious enthusiasm combined with a true grasp of local issues allowed him to build an extraordinary relationship with the surrounding communities of Lemoore and Hanford. Captain Stivers, among many other accomplishments, superbly led and directed NAS Lemoore through a critical period of regional reorganization. This included the execution of a congressionally supported plan that invested over $500 million in construction and renovations of hangars, weapons facilities, airfield pavements, maintenance facilities, barracks and housing, Navy Exchange, Navy College, Commissary and numerous Quality of Life/Morale, Welfare and Recreation facilities. Moreover, all of these challenges were met during a period in which NAS Lemoore experienced a 30 percent growth in military personnel, with the addition of a new fleet replacement squadron and three FA-I8E/F fleet squadrons. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in congratulating Captain John V. Stivers on the occasion of his retirement from military duty. I wish him a favorable departure and continued success.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I want to first off commend the conferees that put together this conference report, in particular the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas), who joined with the majority leader in the Senate, Mr. Daschle, and Senator Max Baucus, a member of the Senate Committee on Finance, and really put together what I think is a significant step forward on the Trade Promotion Authority that is complemented with the Trade Adjustment Act. These individuals, Democrats and Republicans, came together because they understand that the future and the welfare of the American people is going to be best advanced if we move forward with a trade agenda that embodies a policy of economic engagement, and that by building stronger trade relationships we are going to provide greater economic opportunities for the businesses and the workers that they employ. But these Democrats and Republicans also understood that we also have to be providing assistance to those workers who are dislocated because of increased competition in trade. They built upon some of the good work of Democrats in the House in the Trade Adjustment Act. They ensured that this final package that we are going to be voting on today, for the first time, includes health benefits for workers who are dislocated because of trade. Sixty-five percent tax credit for their health insurance. This is a new benefit that never has been provided before. This trade adjustment package also ensures for the first time ever that older workers will have wage insurance that they have not had before. And this Trade Adjustment Act package we are voting on today ensures we have a significant expansion of coverage for secondary workers. That is going to ensure that tens of thousands of workers that were not eligible for trade assistance benefits in the past will be covered today. This is a comprehensive package that embraces the best of policies in terms of how we can advance our economic opportunities and also expand the values of the United States. Through this increased trade with these countries, we ensure that we can expand democracy and capitalism and human rights, while at the same time providing the legitimate safety net for the workers in this country.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment. I think all of us in this Chamber understand that our objective is to enhance the safety of passengers on the airlines. There is nothing in this legislation that is circumventing that objective. When we recognized after the events of September 11 that we had to do more to enhance safety, we set some arbitrary deadlines to establish goals when we could have equipment in place that could make a difference, that could ensure greater safety. But with a lot of goals and objectives that are established, it sometimes becomes apparent that we do not have the resources nor the time in order to achieve them. What we are doing today is not saying that we are backing away from our commitment to provide safety, it is a recognition that we need to set up a process that recognizes that there are some airports in this country that unfortunately cannot meet this deadline. In order to meet the needs of those airports as well as the passengers they serve, we need to have some prescriptions and some guidelines that are going to ensure that they are on a track towards the earliest possible moment to implement those systems that can make a difference in ensuring that our air travel is safe.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, due to district business, I was unable to cast a vote for H. Res. 392 to express solidarity with Israel in its fight against terrorism. Had I been present for the vote, I would have voted ``aye.''

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill with a great deal of personal anguish because of the respect I have for the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Combest) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Stenholm). But as a Member of Congress serving on the Committee on Agriculture, and as a farmer, I believe this is not the right policy for U.S. agriculture in this new century. Henry Wallace, back in the 1930s, when he was Secretary of Agriculture under President Roosevelt, said when they instituted programs very similar to these that these were temporary solutions to deal with an emergency. We are still dealing with the same temporary solutions. And where has it gotten us? It has gotten us to the point where last year 40 percent of net farm income in this country was government taxpayer dollars. And with the bill that we are passing today, that 40 percent will increase to 50 percent in the near term. Too many times we hear people do not understand how little of agriculture is actually receiving these taxpayer subsidies. Eighty percent of the agricultural products that are produced in this country receive not 1 cent of taxpayer money. We can go into any supermarket and walk down the produce aisle, and every product in that produce aisle does not get a taxpayer subsidy. The meat and poultry aisle, there is not one product that gets a direct subsidy from the taxpayer. We can go down the canned fruit and canned vegetable aisle, and not one product there gets a subsidy from the government. We are passing a program that is going to ensure that 20 percent of the agricultural commodities that are grown in this country are going to get 70 percent of $170 billion over the next 10 years, and that is wrong. I am concerned that policies in this bill are going to ensure that we are going to continue to see overproduction because of the way that we have structured our marketing loan programs and our counter-cyclical payments. Mr. Speaker, it is important for us to have a safety net, but we need to do so in a manner that does not distort the marketplace, and this bill does that at the expense of taxpayers. It is not only at the expense of taxpayers, this bill creates distortions against other farmers throughout this country. There has been a lot of talk about the peanut program which is crying out for reform. It does not cost taxpayers a dollar right now. But the reform that is embodied in this bill will result in taxpayers spending $4 billion over the next decade. That is not appropriate. What it also will ensure is that it will increase the supply of peanuts that are in the marketplace. When I represent a district that has an almond industry that is twice the size of the peanut industry, they are going to be facing increased competition with peanuts that being subsidized by the taxpayer, that are going to drive down the price of the pistachios, walnuts and almonds that receive no taxpayer support because of the taxpayers stepping in providing $4 billion to a competitive product in the snack food market. That is wrong. We also have another problem in the dairy program. We are embarking on a path with the dairy program that is going to result in taxpayers most likely putting out $2 billion. What are they going to get for that $2 billion, increased production, which is also going to require these same taxpayers to purchase more butter and powder so they are going to be out more money. What are other dairy farmers going to face? They are going to see lower prices because of this new taxpayer subsidy, which is going to result in farmers in California, dairy farmers, losing over $6 million in the next 3 years. Mr. Speaker, we had an opportunity to pass a policy that would move us into a new direction that could have invested in products and enhanced the productivity and competitiveness of our farmers, and we lost that opportunity. I encourage my colleagues to vote no on this bill.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize the accomplishments of Richard Darmanian, an exemplary citizen deeply admired by all who have worked with him, especially members in the Armenian community throughout California and the United States for his assiduous devotion as an educator and community leader. This month, Mr. Darmanian's peers recognized him for his fifty years of altruistic service to his community, wherein he served as director of the Armenian National Committee (ANC) of Central California from 1988 to 1996 and as an educator and administrator in the Fresno Unified School District since 1952. Mr. Darmanian is a respected leader whose efforts championed the vision of an established Armenian community in the San Joaquin Valley. Twenty-five years ago, he was instrumental in founding the Armenian Community School of Fresno, an institution that has helped to teach Armenian children their heritage and language. At a time when leadership is in high demand, Mr. Darmanian is a beacon to the young, enabling a new generation of leaders. His work has brought the Central Valley a deeper understanding and appreciation of the Armenian culture. Mr. Speaker, I ask that you and my distinguished colleagues join me in congratulating Mr. Richard Darmanian on being recognized by the Armenian National Committee of Central California. His commitment and dedication to the entire community deems him more than worthy of this acclamation. I wish him continued success, both personally and professionally.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to join my colleagues in remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. This terrible human tragedy must not be forgotten. Like the Holocaust, the Armenian Genocide stands as a tragic example of the human suffering that results from hatred and intolerance. The Ottoman Turkish Empire between 1915 and 1923 massacred one and a half million Armenian people. More than 500,000 Armenians were exiled from a homeland that their ancestors had occupied for more than 3,000 years. A race of people was nearly eliminated. It would be an even greater tragedy to forget that the Armenian Genocide ever happened. To not recognize the horror of such events almost assures their repetition in the future. Adolf Hitler, in preparing his genocide plans for the Jews, predicted that no one would remember the atrocities he was about to unleash. After all, he asked, `Who remembers the Armenians?' Our statement today are intended to preserve the memory of the Armenian loss, and to remind the world that the Turkish government--to this day--refuses to acknowledge the Armenian Genocide. The truth of this tragedy can never and should never be denied. And we must also be mindful of the current suffering of the Armenian, where the Armenian people are still immersed in tragedy and violence. The unrest between Armenia and Azerbaijan continues in Nagorno- Karabakh. Thousands of innocent people have already perished in this dispute, and many more have been displaced and are homeless. In the face of this difficult situation we have an opportunity for reconciliation. Now is the time for Armenia and its neighbors to come together and work toward building relationships that will assure lasting peace. Meanwhile, in America, the Armenian-American community continues to thrive and to provide assistance and solidarity to its countrymen and women abroad. The Armenian-American community is bound together by strong generational and family ties, an enduring work ethic and a proud sense of ethnic heritage. Today we recall the tragedy of their past, not to replace blame, but to answer a fundamental question, `Who remembers the Armenians?' Our commemoration of the Armenian Genocide speaks directly to that, and I answer, we do.

Mr. DOOLEY

Mr. DOOLEY. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. DOOLEY of California

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Mr. Speaker, I respect the sincerity and passion of the gentleman's opposition to this amendment, but I think at times the rhetoric has probably gone beyond the issues that are at hand here. This amendment, what we are talking about really relates solely to the sale of food and medicine from the United States to Cuba. Currently we allow for the sale of food and medicine to Cuba, but we require that it be paid for in cash, or the U.S. interest that is selling the food and medicine to Cuba would have to secure financing from a third party country. All this amendment does is says that a sale of U.S. food and medicine to Cuba can now be financed by a private institution in the United States. That is what this debate is all about. It is about how we can facilitate the sale of U.S. agricultural products that are important to provide the sustenance to a lot of families in Cuba. It is about how can we facilitate the sale of U.S. drugs to a lot of the families in Cuba by providing an element of private financing. I just want to clarify an issue that was brought up at times saying this will allow for the public financing of goods to Cuba. This bill does not do that. In fact, it retains the language that I wanted to read into the record, which is section 908(a). It says, ``In general, notwithstanding any other provision of law, no United States government assistance, including United States foreign assistance, United States export assistance, and any United States credit or guarantees shall be available for exports to Cuba or for commercial exports to Iran, Libya, North Korea, or Sudan.'' My colleagues need to fully understand that, again, what we are talking about here is simply a measure that will provide for the ability to provide for private financing of food and medicine. There was also some contention made, well, why do we need to be providing for the U.S. be able to provide food and medicines to Cuba? They can get those from other countries. But what is clear is if the United States wants to have the most influence into Cuba, is that we need to enhance and expand upon our interaction and our engagement. That is what this measure will do. I ask my colleagues to support this measure. It is a step forward in terms of providing greater economic opportunities in many sectors of our economy, and also is a step forward in ensuring that we will have a positive form of economic engagement which can make a difference in the quality of life of the residents and citizens of Cuba.

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Kind). (Mr. KIND asked and was given permission to revise and extend his remarks.)

Mr. DOOLEY of California. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume just to make a couple of observations. I find it remarkable that some of my Republican colleagues have so little confidence in our private financial institutions that they do not think and trust that they will do the due diligence in terms of making a determination on the ability of an entity within Cuba to make good on the loans that they might offer in order to finance a sale of U.S. products into Cuba. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from New York (Mr. Meeks).