DA:August 4, 1999
Sen. Chuck Grassley issued the following statement regarding action by the U.S. Senate today toapprove emergency relief for farmers.
"We're in the worst price situation in 25 years. So our job today was to pass a short-term relief package and get money in farmers' pockets. Today's action will send aclear signal to bankers, renters, and family farmers that there is going to be additionalhelp coming at a critical time when farmers need to make decisions on theirmarketing and operating plans.
"I worked to develop a bi-partisan plan with Sen. Conrad of North Dakota. Ourpackage reflected compromise on both sides, and it would have delivered moneydirectly to farmers through transition payments. While our $8.5 billion bipartisanamendment did not win a majority, we still got a very good $7.5 billion package forIowa farmers. Of that, $5.54 billion will be used to double transition payments thisyear. The amendment that passed also delivers an additional $500 million in directpayments for soybeans, and it contains a $400 million provision for a buy-down tomake crop insurance premiums more affordable for farmers. It also included $92million to make sure farmers receive the help promised last year for disaster relief. Unfortunately, the amendment that was approved contains less support for porkproducers than we sought in the bipartisan plan."