Paul Founding Member of Rural Texas Caucus

FOR RELEASE: March 15, 2000

Washington, D.C. - On Tuesday, Members of Congress joined with Congressman Ron Paul as the founders of the Congressional Rural Caucus. The Caucus is a bipartisan group designed to promote legislation that will encourage economic development and help the agriculture industry in rural America.

"Rural America is usually overlooked when Congress discusses critical issues," said Paul. "I am excited to be a co-founder of a group that will stand up for our farmers and ranchers in rural America."

Paul's district includes 22 mostly-rural counties that stretch from the Hill Country to the Gulf Coast. Paul said that everyone in the agriculture community, from the ranchers in the Hill Country to the peanut farmers in south central Texas to the rice farmers along the coast, should be benefiting from the booming U.S. economy.

Paul said, "It's very clear what drives the economy in my district -- agriculture of all types. And in spite of a strong economy, many in the agriculture business are struggling to make ends meet because of policies that are not conducive to doing business. We need to level the playing field so those in the agriculture community can reap the benefits of a healthy economy."

One of Paul's primary goals for the Congressional Rural Caucus is to open up markets all over the world to American agricultural products.

"People in the agricultural industry are far ahead of Washington bureaucrats and lawmakers on this issue," Paul said. "The policy of isolationism through sanctions not only does little to meet the foreign policy goals of Washington, it also results in detrimental consequences to U.S. agriculture. It is time for politicians in Washington to 'catch up' to the American people by adopting a foreign policy that encourages trade with all people throughout the world. Only then will the agriculture community prosper. We must take a bold path toward open trade and peaceful engagement as we move into this new century."