House Concurrent Resolution 8 - Introduced
PAG LIN
1 1 HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO.
1 2 BY MERTZ and DRAKE
1 3 (COMPANION TO LSB 2831SS BY JOHNSON)
1 4 A Concurrent Resolution relating to recommendations
1 5 proposed by the United States Department of
1 6 Agriculture for the federal farm bill of 2007.
1 7 WHEREAS, agricultural production serves as the
1 8 foundation of this nation's economy, provides abundant
1 9 supplies of nourishment to the people of the United
1 10 States and the world, and results in billions of
1 11 dollars of annual United States exports to world
1 12 markets; and
1 13 WHEREAS, the State of Iowa is one of the most
1 14 productive agricultural states in the nation, bringing
1 15 this abundance forth from the most fertile soils in
1 16 the world, and is one of the leading grain, fiber, and
1 17 livestock producers in the world; and
1 18 WHEREAS, the United States Congress has
1 19 traditionally supported agricultural production by
1 20 setting target prices and providing support payments
1 21 to ensure market security and stability, by providing
1 22 an adequate safety net to protect producers of
1 23 commodity crops from market recessions, and by
1 24 providing insurance against losses related to price
1 25 fluctuations; and
1 26 WHEREAS, the rich and fertile soils, woodlands, and
1 27 waters of the United States, including Iowa, have been
1 28 traditionally protected by Acts of Congress, and must
1 29 continue to be preserved for future generations of
1 30 Americans; and
2 1 WHEREAS, conservation policies are critical to the
2 2 ability of farmers and ranchers to meet public
2 3 expectations for water quality and environmental
2 4 enhancement within a framework that supports this
2 5 nation's farms and ranches; and
2 6 WHEREAS, American agricultural producers must
2 7 compete in both domestic and international markets,
2 8 and accordingly require proper government policies in
2 9 order to remain competitive vis=a=vis heavily
2 10 subsidized foreign producers; and
2 11 WHEREAS, the development of this nation's rural
2 12 communities is critical to the infrastructure of the
2 13 United States economy; and
2 14 WHEREAS, off=farm employment and income are
2 15 increasingly crucial to the livelihood of this
2 16 nation's farmers and ranchers, and;
2 17 WHEREAS, it is vital to improve this nation's rural
2 18 areas through funding for infrastructure and job
2 19 growth; and
2 20 WHEREAS, renewable fuel sources have emerged as the
2 21 primary and most promising solution to reducing this
2 22 nation's dependency on the petroleum resources of
2 23 other nations, as well as creating growth in the
2 24 agricultural economy of Iowa and the United States;
2 25 and
2 26 WHEREAS, young farmers are the next generation of
2 27 American agriculture and must therefore be supported
2 28 as the seeds of our future; and
2 29 WHEREAS, the United States Congress will begin
2 30 drafting the federal farm bill of 2007, which will
3 1 have substantial impact on farmers and ranchers
3 2 throughout the nation, including farmers in Iowa; NOW
3 3 THEREFORE,
3 4 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, THE
3 5 SENATE CONCURRING, That the General Assembly urges the
3 6 United States Congress to fortify the federal farm
3 7 bill of 2007 by ensuring the continued support of an
3 8 adequate, market=driven safety net for American
3 9 agricultural producers which is structured in a manner
3 10 that ensures the equitable distribution and
3 11 consistency of support between the different
3 12 agricultural commodities and production methods; and
3 13 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the federal farm bill
3 14 of 2007 support crops primarily produced in Iowa and
3 15 the other midwestern states, which are among those
3 16 with the greatest potential growth in production and
3 17 demand, with support provided in proportion to their
3 18 production and their value to the United States
3 19 economy; and
3 20 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the federal farm bill
3 21 of 2007 support the stewardship of agricultural land
3 22 by the expansion of land=retirement programs and other
3 23 programs which encourage practices that minimize the
3 24 environmental impacts of crop production; and
3 25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That Congress increase
3 26 conservation payments to farmers and ranchers who
3 27 practice conservation=oriented production; and
3 28 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the federal farm bill
3 29 of 2007 provide for increased market access to and
3 30 market development of American products; and
4 1 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the federal farm bill
4 2 of 2007 include provisions that spur accelerated rural
4 3 development through funding for infrastructure and job
4 4 growth in the rural areas of the United States,
4 5 including Iowa; and
4 6 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the federal farm bill
4 7 of 2007 provide rural development strategies to ensure
4 8 that rural communities contribute to the United States
4 9 economy; and
4 10 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the rural development
4 11 title of the federal farm bill of 2007 include funding
4 12 and technical assistance for rural utilities and the
4 13 expansion of utility services to rural communities;
4 14 and
4 15 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the federal farm bill
4 16 of 2007 stimulate the expansion of renewable fuel
4 17 production and development through broadening economic
4 18 support for both current technologies and resources,
4 19 and the development of new technologies and resources;
4 20 and
4 21 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the federal farm bill
4 22 of 2007 stimulate the use, manufacture, and transport
4 23 of renewable fuels including biodiesel and
4 24 ethanol=blended fuels by providing for payments
4 25 allocated directly to the producers of the respective
4 26 grains or biomass products, as well as to those
4 27 persons who convert grains or biomass products to
4 28 usable energy; and
4 29 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the federal farm bill
4 30 of 2007 continue or expand and fully fund the United
5 1 States Department of Agriculture's programs to assist
5 2 beginning farmers; and
5 3 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of
5 4 this Resolution be sent to the President of the United
5 5 States; the President of the United States Senate; the
5 6 Speaker of the United States House of Representatives;
5 7 the chairperson of the United States Senate Committee
5 8 on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry; the
5 9 chairperson of the United States House of
5 10 Representatives Committee on Agriculture; the
5 11 Secretary of the United States Department of
5 12 Agriculture; and the members of Iowa's congressional
5 13 delegation.
5 14 LSB 2831HH 82
5 15 da:rj/cf/24.1
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