I believe that the family farmer is our country's insurance policy against having to depend on giant corporations for everything we eat and wear.  And our country's agriculture program is the premium we pay for that insurance policy.

This is particularly important to Georgia, because agriculture is the lynchpin of Georgia's rural economy, and people all over the country rely on our family farmers and ranchers for a safe and abundant supply of food and fiber.

I've hosted dozens of town hall meetings across the 12th District to learn first hand about the issues facing famers in Georgia.  I use that experience to work for agricultural policy that meets the needs of Georgia farmers and their customers.

In Congress, I've supported Georgia family farmers and ranchers by:

• Helping to write a Farm Bill that reforms traditional farm programs while preserving a safety net that helps farm families make it through tough times.

• Voting for emergency disaster aid programs which provide help to those ravaged by natural disasters.

• Voting to repeal the Death Tax.

• Adding provisions to the Farm Bill which close the "Enron loophole" that allows speculators to run up the cost of natural gas, stop the closure of local USDA offices, support the inclusion of Georgia fruits and vegetables in commodity programs for the first time ever, and providing research and development for organic and sustainable farming.