"Farmers deserve to have Congress and the President deliver the outstanding items promised with passage of freedom to farm in 1996. We need to aggressively open new markets around the world, strengthen existing trade agreements, break down non-tariff trade barriers, continue the progress made on capital gains and estate tax reform, and make health insurance 100 percent tax deductible for the self-employed.
"The debate on the Senate floor is about farm policy that puts the government bureaucracy in charge and farm policy that looks forward and puts decisions in the hands of farmers. This resolution sends a strong signal to the White House and policymakers in Washington. An overwhelming majority of the U.S. Senate agrees. Let's move forward with these priorities. It will help keep American agriculture prosperous in the 21st century."
The non-binding Grassley amendment puts the U.S. Senate on record in favor of the following initiatives to help address growing farm economy concerns in the Midwest:
Grassley serves as a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and serves as Chairman of the International Trade Subcommittee.