Paul introduces Rice Farmer Fairness Act PDF Print E-mail
Paul introduces Rice Farmer Fairness Act Prohibits land-owners from getting rice subsidies after they evict rice farmer
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, March 6, 1998 Read the text of the legislation.

WASHINGTON, DC - Saying it was time to free rice farmers and the taxpayers from bad regulations, taxes and policies US Representative Ron Paul on Thursday introduced the Rice Farmer Fairness Act, HR3339.

"Rice farmers and American taxpayers should not bear the cost of subsidizing land-owners who once grew rice and stopped. It's time we pulled those insane subsidies. Such programs hurt the rice farmer and the taxpayer, and have a devastating impact on the rice farming infrastructure" said Paul.

The legislation will insure that those who had tenant rice farmers producing rice when they began to receive this subsidy must continue to maintain rice in their crop rotation if they wish to continue receiving the subsidy.

"This common sense measure will remove the perverse incentive which the federal government has provided to landowners to exit the rice business, and thereby put the entire rice infrastructure at risk," said Paul.

The congressman said he has heard from many rice farmers who say practices such as this are hurting the industry, but the big corporate land owners are intent on getting the subsidies without raising the rice.

"I'm pleased to introduce this legislation on behalf of small rice farmers in the 14th District. As I travel through the rice-belt region of the district, family farmers telling me that they are not represented by the big-interest organizations which seek to continue to heavily subsidize unproductive land owners at the expense of the taxpayer. The farmer needs to be free to farm, whether they are growing rice, cotton or raising livestock. This legislation takes the first step in freeing the farmer from the bad policies of Washington agri-crats."

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