Posted on 02/08/2002 10:26:33 AM PST by Native American Female Vet
Remarks By The President To The Cattle Industry Annual Convention And Trade Show (2/2) U.S.Newswire, 2/8/2002 14:04
To: National Desk
Contact: White House Press Office, 202-456-2580 WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 /U.S. Newswire/ -- The following is a transcript of remarks by the President to the Cattle Industry Annual Convention and Trade Show (2 of 2):
I appreciate the fact that the Senate passed a bill to extend the unemployment benefits for those who have lost their work, and the House has already done so. It makes a lot of sense for the government to respond in that kind of way. But the people in America who have lost their jobs, they don't want an unemployment check for the long-run, they want a paycheck. And the best think Congress needs to do is ask this question: How do we create more jobs? How do we invigorate the private sector to create more jobs so people can find work? (Applause.)
I know some of them over there -- up there decided that the stimulus package is dead, the leadership in the Senate said, no, we can't get anything done.
I respectfully disagree. It seems like to me that we ought to focus on what's best for the country, work together and get a package which provides stimulus for job creation. We want to take care of the people who lost their work. We also want to invigorate the job-creating mechanisms of the United States of America so that people have jobs so they can put food on the table. We can't let politics dominate Washington, D.C. We need to set aside our parties and focus on what's right for the country. (Applause.) And part of making sure we've got a healthy economic outlook is to have a healthy agricultural sector. (Applause.)
Our farm economy, our ranchers and farmers provide an incredible part of the nation's economic vitality. I mean, if you're not vital, the nation's economy will suffer. A lot of Americans have got to understand this, that food and fiber accounted for nearly $1.3 trillion of gross domestic product in the year 2000; $1.3 trillion of our economy came from farmers and ranchers and all the people associated with helping people raise crop and raise beef. And so we've got to make sure that our farm economy is strong.
The farm economy employs nearly 24 million people. That's a lot. And, therefore, when we work on the farm bill in Washington, we must understand that we've got to have a good bill that not only enhances our nation's security by making sure we've got ample food, but that we, by having good farm policy, good agriculture policy, we can help create jobs all across America.
And so I want to talk to you quickly about the farm bill. One bill passed the House, one bill looks like it's getting ready to pass the Senate. It will go to what they call conference. And we're going to work hard to get a good farm bill out. I'm really looking forward to working with Larry Combest and the conferees in the House, as well as looking forward to working with the conferees in the Senate to get a bill that meets these principles.
First, I want farm policy that is generous in our appropriations and affordable. Now, we've agreed that our farm bill should coast $73.5 billion over the next decade. My administration will honor that agreement. I know the folks on this stage will honor that agreement. It looks like that's pretty well settled in, and that's good for the farm sector. But we've got to spend the money without -- I guess you could call it politically gimmickry.
You see, what we don't want to have happen is they take the bulk of that money and spend it early, so that in the out years, the farm economy suffers. What we want is to make sure that when the bill is passed, that the $73 billion is spent evenly, or relatively evenly over the decade. In other words, to put it bluntly, what we don't want to do is over-promise to farmers, and under-preform. What we don't want to do is use the taxpayer's money to try to cobble together a loose coalition to get votes early on which will ultimately hurt the agricultural sector of the United States of America. (Applause.)
A good farm bill must provide a safety net for farmers, without encouraging over production, and thereby depressing prices. By setting loan rates too high, we could easily worsen a problem that loan rates were supposed to correct. I favor farm policies that strengthen the farm economy over the long-run, policies that promote independence. But what I don't want to do is to provide incentives into the marketplace that will hurt farmers. And so we've got to have good loan policy. And I look forward to working with the members on the stage to provide that.
I want a farm bill that supports trade. Oh, I know there's a lot of controversy around America on trade. Let me tell you how I look at it. Our ranchers and farmers are the best in the world at what they do. (Applause.)
We can grow crops better, we can grow things better, and we can raise beef better. (Applause.)
And if that's the case, it seems logical to me that we want a more -- want more opportunity to sell that which we're best at all around the world. We want people in China eating U.S. beef. (Applause.)
No, I know there's some skepticism. People are always saying, every President comes along and he talks about agriculture, and then when it comes time to negotiating international trade agreements, they seem to forgot. Well, so far, our administration hasn't forgotten. I told the people who are interested in this subject when I was campaigning, we were going to make sure agriculture remained at a cornerstone of U.S. economic policy, not only at home, but internationally.
I sent a team over there, with Ann and Zoellick to talk to the Chinese. And I -- just look at the record. There's huge amounts of opportunity for American farmers and ranchers in that vast market.
There's been some discussions about world trade, and look at the record: the United States stood strong when it came to protecting the agriculture interests. We want to open up markets, and at the same time, we want to make sure others open up their markets for us, and to make sure that we open up markets in places like Europe for America's healthy beef. (Applause.)
You can help by making sure the Senate hears that message, that the Senate passes a trade promotion bill which gives me the authority to work hard to open up markets all around the world for those who work hard. I need that authority. It's good for America to have that authority. It's also going to be good for the world, because America's great producers will help feed the hungry.
I also want to make sure the good farm bill establishes farm savings accounts to help farmers and ranchers manage risks that you run. I understand how risky agriculture can be. It wouldn't be so risky if we could control the weather. That's one of the things we haven't figured out how to do yet. It wouldn't be so risky if we could make it rain all the time; there would be hay to feed the cows. Somehow, that doesn't happen all the time. I know. I sat through the -- as governor, I watched the rains go away in the great state of Texas for many of the months in my last years as the governor.
You know, I'm a guy who runs out to my land or thinks about my land. And the first thing I ask old Kenneth who lives on it is, ''Did it rain?'' ''Where's the water?'' But I understand the risks.
And there's a risk of price, and the cycles make it difficult. But I think the federal government can help mitigate the cycles by giving farmers and ranchers the opportunities to establish what we call farm savings accounts or ranch savings accounts. We'll give you a chance to insure against risk. It makes a lot of sense.
I know that Senator Grassley has been a big promoter of farm savings accounts, and we look forward to getting this additional tool to you all to be able to help you help yourselves. A good bill finally will offer incentives for good conservation practices.
Let me tell you exactly what I think about the land and how best to manage it. Every day is Earth Day for people who rely upon the land to make a living. (Applause.) The best conservation practices happen because somebody realizes that it's in their benefit, their own economic interests, to practice good conservation in order to raise cows, for example.
I was traveling the ranch one time with Vladimir Putin and Mrs. Putin, and we're driving around, showing it off. I'm a windshield rancher. (Laughter.)
And they were asking, well, can you -- I was explaining like I like to cut down -- trim the new-growth cedar, because the new-growth cedar sucks out a lot of water from the from some of the beautiful hardwoods we have. Many of you know exactly what I'm talking about. It enhances the beauty and the value of the land if you can get rid of the new-growth cedar. It enables our beautiful native pecans or live oaks to flourish, and that's good for the country.
And they said, well, you're allowed to cut down your own trees? And I said, yes, if you're wise about it. Obviously there are some county restrictions and, of course, I pay attention to all that. But, yes, we -- (laughter) -- we trust people to -- we trust people to manage their own land. We trust people with their own land.
And they say, well, that's different in some place in Europe, you can't do that. And I said, well, here's what we think in America. We think that the collective wisdom of those who own their land is a benefit to the nation; that when individuals make proper choices because they own their own property, that all those decisions in a collective way makes better environmental policy, better land use policy than if it was dictated from a central source of people, many of whom have probably never been on the land. (Applause.)
And so this farm bill has got to recognize the principle I just outlined, and help ranchers and farmers.
I strongly favor expanding EQIP program. I think it makes a lot of sense. Good conservation policy in a farm bill will enable ranchers and farmers to make better decisions. It's an important part of the farm bill, and I hope the Senate hears that. And I know the folks on this podium agree, on the stage agree with the principle inherent, and not only in that aspect of a good farm policy, but the other four I described. I just want to assure you all that these just aren't opinions of mine, these are commitments of mine, commitments to good agriculture policy. (Applause.)
And so we're, as a nation, are dealing with some tough times. But I've never been more confident or optimistic. I think it's because I know the true strength of the country, and the true strength of the country is our citizens. We're a land of strong, hard-working, compassionate people.
I'm asked all the time, what can I do to help in the war against terror? Well, you've probably figured it out by now that I don't see many shades of gray in the war on terror. (Applause.) Either you're with us, or you're against us. And it's a struggle between good and it's a struggle between evil.
And if you're interested in fighting evil, do some good. (Applause.) And by that, I mean, show some compassion to a neighbor in need. You know, when people walk across the street to help a shut-in, they're doing some good. When people take time to mentor a child, that's doing some good. We've got children whose parents are in prison, they wonder, gosh, I wonder if America is meant for me? There's a hopelessness that can creep in their lives. What America needs to do in order to fight evil is to have mentors all across the country who are willing to put their arm around a child and say, I love you a lot.
America counts for you as much as it counts for me. No, if we want to fight good -- fight evil with good, we can do so in many ways, all across America.
My call to America is to help somebody in need. Many of you in this audience have probably either been or are on your school boards. It's a job tougher than being President, I understand that. But by helping your public schools, or helping any school, it's helping fight evil with good. By being active citizens in your church or your synagogue, or for those Muslims, in your mosque, and adhering to the admission to love a neighbor just like you'd like to be loved yourself, that's how we can stand up. It is the momentum of millions of acts of kindness that take place all across America. That's how we stand up to evil.
And if any country can do it, it is this country --(applause) -- because this is a nation that is loving and strong, compassionate, God-fearing; a nation that will not relent when it comes to our most precious value, and that value is freedom. Thanks for having me, and may God bless America. (Applause.)
END 10:23 A.M. EST
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