Release No. 0157.98

Remarks                          


            RADIO ADDRESS OF SECRETARY DAN GLICKMAN
                         APRIL 6, 1998

     Every American has a stake in the success of our nation's farmers and
ranchers. That's the reason we have a Department of Agriculture and strong
farm programs in our country. Even though Congress represents a mostly urban
and suburban nation, time and again they have passed important farm
legislation -- recognizing that our farmers and ranchers give all of us the
world's most safe, abundant and affordable food.

     But these days, I am concerned about the fate of vital farm funding in
Congress. Last week, Congress went home for the spring recess without
passing what is a very good, bipartisan agriculture research bill. This
legislation would invest $1.7 billion in high-priority items: research which
is critical to increasing farm productivity and income; rural development
efforts to keep our farm communities strong; and crop insurance reform, so
producers have a sturdy, reliable program they can count on in the years
ahead.

     This bill also restores food stamp benefits for legal immigrant
families. We should help families who come to our country legally put food
on the table during hard times, and it's right to do that with these funds
which come from savings in how we run the food stamp program. Those savings
allow us to make these investments while staying the course toward a
balanced budget.

     This is a good bill. It unites farm and anti-hunger interests that
have always been a winning combination in terms of getting important farm
legislation through Congress. This bill has strong support from agriculture
legislators in both parties, and I have recommended that the President sign
it. 

     Unfortunately, since Congress has not yet passed this legislation,
these funds may be hijacked by a very costly highway funding bill which
would blow a $30-billion hole in our balanced budget agreement. And,
unfortunately for agriculture, if this highway bill passes before our
research bill, it will take our entire $1.7 billion in funding with it. We
can't let that happen. These are important agricultural priorities, and we
as a nation need to stand by them.

     It is my hope that when Congress returns from the April recess, they
will act first on the agriculture research bill, so these vital funds are
secure. A strong vote to protect these investments would make it clear that
America values its farmers, and the important work they do of feeding our
nation and the world.

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