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- Sixteen Farm Groups Oppose
- 2004 Budget Resolution
- Sixteen farm groups have voiced their concern and opposition to the fiscal year 2004 budget resolution adopted by the House Budget Committee. The groups sent a letter voicing their concerns to Dennis Hastert, Speaker of the United States House of Representatives and Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Leader of the House.
The letter reads, “As you are aware, farmers and ranchers did not participate in the economic growth and prosperity that characterized much of the last decade for many Americans. In addition, as a result of poor commodity prices, reduced market competition and opportunity, and natural disasters, agricultural producers continue to be caught in an economic crisis.
“In an attempt to achieve a balanced budget in the future while accommodating the majority of the President’s new tax cut and economic growth initiative, the Committee resolution requires substantial reductions in both mandatory and discretionary spending that supports a wide range of federal agriculture programs.”
The farm groups signing the letter included National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Federation, American Beekeepers Federation, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, Northeast States Association for Agricultural Stewardship and several others.
The Budget Committee’s approach would require $19.17 billion in mandatory and discretionary program cuts, according to the letter. “This represents in excess of a 25% reduction in the additional resources Congress provided to enhance the economic safety net, nutrition programs, resource conservation and rural development,” the groups wrote. “Compliance with the reconciliation instructions would require the House Agriculture Committee to reduce authorized Farm Bill spending by approximately 10 percent over the next 10 years.”
The groups said in their letter that it was disingenuous to suggest that a balanced budget coupled with substantial tax reductions achieved at the expense of farmers, ranchers, and their communities represent our national priorities for economic growth. They urged the rejection of the committee’s fiscal year 2004 federal budget proposal.
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