By
Bob Stallman
American Farm Bureau Federation
One word comes
to mind when analyzing Farm Bureau's accomplishments during the 108th
Congress. That word is ``patience." And, as William Shakespeare
wrote, ``Though patience be a tired mare… she will plod."
Patience was vital over the last two years, as this session of Congress
was seldom easy and, at times, even less expeditious. But, like Shakespeare's
mare, Farm Bureau plodded onward, focused on our mission and public
policy goals. In the end, with your steadfast support, we scored a
number of clear and resounding victories to enhance America's farm
and ranch businesses and improve the quality of life in rural America.
A big
win
It pays to be patient. One of Farm Bureau's biggest victories of the
entire two-year term occurred just as the 108th Congress was beginning
to wind down. By passing the American Jobs Creation Act, Congress
launched a comprehensive package of initiatives that will create and
protect American jobs, support our working families, and energize
rural America and agriculture.
Included in that bill was a key package of incentives to encourage
increased production of renewable, homegrown fuels, such as ethanol.
Biodiesel production, in particular, won as lawmakers approved a groundbreaking
tax incentive for this growing segment of value-added agriculture.
The Jobs Creation Act victory also put a stop to escalating sanctions
being levied by the European Union against U.S. farm products. Otherwise,
the cost to our industry would have approached $150 million in lost
sales over a 12-month period. The legislation also established a fair
tobacco quota compensation plan, which gives growers a fresh start
and their rural communities a new reason for optimism.
Economic
health
Of course, it is so vital to the economic health of rural America
and Farm Bureau members across our nation that we were largely successful
during these last two years in defending not only the principles,
but also the funding, of our federal farm program. We are optimistic
about working with the 109th Congress to ensure that our next farm
program works as well to smooth the occasional economic valley our
farm families face.
We all know that farms and ranches are capital-intensive businesses
that require huge investments in buildings, equipment and land to
produce food, fiber and fuel. Our win on the Jobs and Growth Reconciliation
Act of 2003 was another pocketbook issue I am proud to have placed
in the ``win" column during the 108th Congress. That bill reduced
the top capital gains tax rate from 20 percent to 15 percent, and
the 10 percent rate to 5 percent, through 2007. This, in particular,
was a patient, plodding victory. The cuts expire in 2009, but we will
work during the 109th to make those cuts permanent.
Another 2003 victory worth mentioning was the Healthy Forests Restoration
Act. Although it took three long years for this bill to make it out
of both houses of Congress and onto the president's desk, we were
patient. Today, that law supports our rural communities on the frontlines
and at risk whenever devastating wildfires occur.
During this Congress, we also worked successfully to maintain a viable
``critical use exemption" for farmers and growers who use methyl
bromide to protect their crops.
A true
workhorse
While not direct congressional matters, I must throw in two other
quality, patient wins that occurred during the 108th Congress. After
a long battle, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it would
streamline the process for pesticide approvals. Your 30,000 letters
supporting that move was a pure example of grassroots action at its
best. We also led a successful effort to encourage the EPA to withdraw
a Clinton administration water regulation and asked the agency to
use better data in developing Clean Water Act regulations.
Patience does pay off. In reality, however, when relating the 108th
Congress to Shakespeare's plodding mare of patience, it must be conceded
that, in fact, this Congress has truly been a productive and powerful
workhorse for America's farm and ranch families. We look forward to
patiently working with the 109th Congress to pull your plow down the
row of future prosperity.
Bob Stallman is
president of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
