U.S. Congressman Mike Pence : 6th District Of Indiana

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Agriculture

“American farmers face both unfair trade barriers in other countries and tough economic times in the United States. The Farm Security Act provides meaningful assistance to American farmers when they need it most.

“This new law will curb the need for ad hoc expenditures, increase funding for conservation programs, and enable additional agricultural research. I am confident that this Farm Bill will provide the necessary resources to keep farmers in Indiana and across America competitive in a global marketplace.”

--Congressman Mike Pence

I support efforts to reverse decades of supply control management and unleash U.S. farmers to plant in response to market demand, not government programs.

As the farm sector transitions toward market-driven production, I believe the government should help farmers adapt to the challenges of the global marketplace as well as work to maintain competitive markets here in the United States. This means providing farmers with a strong safety net and the means to manage economic downturns, such as crop insurance reform, tax-deferred accounts, and elimination of the death tax. It also means opening markets overseas for U.S. farm products, and eliminating agricultural export subsidies and tariffs worldwide.

Mad Cow Disease – Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE)

On December 23, 2003, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) confirmed that a single cow in Washington State tested positive for BSE. USDA Secretary Ann Veneman promptly announced a number of policies, further strengthening domestic protections against BSE. These include the immediate banning of all “downer” animals and high-risk material, such as the central nervous system, from the human food supply, and establishing more efficient meat removal techniques.

I applaud Secretary Veneman and the USDA for their role in minimizing the impact of this one instance of BSE, and for taking steps to ensure that this does not happen again. As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture, I will continue to monitor this issue and seek ways to aid the American farmer and protect the American consumer.

Farm Security Act

The Farm Security Act, signed into law by President Bush, not only ensures that aid reaches the right farmers, but that it reaches them in the right way. The bill provides Hoosier farmers with a strong safety net, increasing average U.S. farm income by $4.5 billion per year, according to an independent analysis by the Food and Agriculture Policy Research Institute.

Additionally, the Farm Bill eliminates the need for costly and unbudgeted ad hoc disaster assistance by planning for additional spending. This should bring an end to the massive emergency spending bills that have broken budget caps in previous years. American farmers live within their means, according to their budgetary plans. Congress should too.
I am a conservative – a strong proponent of limited government. However, as long as we have a world agricultural economy where foreign government subsidies are the norm, we must support our farmers to help them remain competitive.

I will continue to work on the House Agriculture Committee to move toward a more market-based approach to agriculture spending. By granting the President Trade Promotion Authority, we allowed him to break down barriers and begin to eliminate agricultural subsidies in other countries. We will not need subsidies if we can bring fairness to the international marketplace. Until that time, however, the Farm Security Act is the only option that stays within our budget, prepares us for future needs, and allows Hoosier farmers to compete and succeed in the global economy.

Ethanol

I am committed to exploring alternative energy sources in order to reduce dependence on foreign oil. Important among these sources is ethanol, which is currently the third-largest use of U.S. corn. Streamlining and expanding this sector of the farming industry will provide value-added markets for agriculture, creating domestic jobs and bolstering rural America. I believe the ethanol industry will play a large role in meeting our nation's future energy needs.