{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}
FOR WHAT THEY PRODUCE GROWS WIDER AND WIDER. SO I'M SAYING
WE'VE GOT TO HAVE MORE COMPETITIVE MARKETS, I'M SAYING WE WANT
TO MAKE A COMMITMENT TO A SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE. I DIDN'T SAY
IN THIS RESOLUTION, ALTHOUGH I THINK IT'S TERRIBLY IMPORTANT, I
KNOW SENATOR CONRAD WOULD BE THE FIRST ONE TO TALK ABOUT THIS,
THAT WE NEED TO HAVE A FAIR TRADE POLICY. BUT, . PRESIDENT,
MORE THAN ANYTHING ELSE, I COME TO THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED
STATES WANTING TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PRESENCE OF CLOSE TO 3,000
{16:00:37} (MR. WELLSTONE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
FARMERS AND PEOPLE FROM RURAL AMERICA. THEY WERE HERE YESTERDAY
IN THE POWERING RAIN UNDER A TENT. -- POURING RAIN, UNDER A
TENT. PEOPLE CAME TO SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES. THEY CAME TO SPEAK
WITH SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES. THEY DID NOT COME BECAUSE
THEY HAVE SOME PARTY STRATEGY. THEY DIDN'T COME BECAUSE THEY
HAD A PARTICULAR PARTISAN ORIENTATION. THEY ARE THINKING ABOUT
THEIR OWN FAMILIES AND THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES. AND I WANT TO SAY
ON THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE BECAUSE I AM LUCKY TO
GET A CHANCE TO SPEAK ON THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE
{16:01:10} (MR. WELLSTONE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
AND THESE FARMERS CAN'T SPEAK ON THE FLOOR OF THE UNITED STATES
SENATE, THAT THERE IS AN ECONOMIC CONVULSION TAKING PLACE IN
AGRICULTURE TODAY. AND MANY WONDERFUL PEOPLE ARE BEING SPIT OUT
OF THE ECONOMY. AND TOO MANY LIVES ARE BEING SHATTERED. AND THE
HEALTH AND VITALITY OF OUR COMMUNITIES IN RURAL NORTH DAKOTA OR
MINNESOTA OR ANY OF THE OTHER HEARTLAND STATES IS NOT BASED
UPON THE NUMBER OF ACRES FARMED OR THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS THAT
{16:01:43} (MR. WELLSTONE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
SOMEONE OWNS BUT THE NUMBER OF FAMILY FARMERS THAT LIVE IN
THESE COMMUNITIES. SO MR. PRESIDENT, WHETHER WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT DAIRY FARMERS, OR WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT CO GROWERS
OR WHEAT GROWERS, WHETHER WE ARE TALKING ABOUT OUR LIVESTOCK
PRODUCERS, IT IS AN ABSOLUTELY INTOLERABLE SITUATION, AND IT IS
A SITUATION THAT WE CAN'T TURN OUR GAZE AWAY FROM. SO, FOR ME
TO SUMMARIZE, THERE MAY BE SOME OTHER COLLEAGUES THAT MIGHT
WANT TO SPEAK, THE FINDINGS TALK ABOUT THOUSANDS OF RURAL
{16:02:18} (MR. WELLSTONE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
CITIZENS AND FAMILIES COMING. THE RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY'S VOICE
WAS WONDERFUL. THE FINDINGS TALK ABOUT A BROAD COALITION OF
OVER 30 FARM, ENVIRONMENTAL AND LABOR -- I THANK THE AFLC I AM
O FOR BEING HERE. I THANK BERNIE YOU BRUMEER FROM THE MINNESOTA
AFL-CIO FOR BEING HERE, I THANK JERRY FROM AFSCME FOR BEING
HERE. IT MAKES THE POINT THAT THOUGH THE MAJORITY OF AMERICA IS
REAPING THE BENEFITS OF A STRONG ECONOMY, RURAL AMERICA IS
{16:02:52} (MR. WELLSTONE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
FACING REALLY THE TOUGHEST OF TIMES. THIS TALKSABOUT RECORD LOW
PRICES ON FARMS AND RANCHES AND THE WAY IT HAS RIPPLED
THROUGHOUT RURAL AMERICA CAUSING RURAL COMMUNITIES TO FACE ALL
KINDS OF CHALLENGES. A DEPRESSED FARM ECONOMY, THE ESCALATION
OF THE MERGERS AND AGO SIGNIFICANCES, THE LOSS OF BUSINESSES
AND JOBS ON MAIN STREET, THE EROSION OF HEALTH CARE AND
EDUCATION, THE DECLINE IN INFRASTRUCTURE, AND THE LOGS OF
INDEPENDENT FAMILY FARMERS. AND THIS RESOLUTION -- THIS IS --
{16:03:25} (MR. WELLSTONE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PURPOSE IS TO EXPRESS THE ACCEPTS OF THE CONGRESS REGARDING
THE RALLY FOR RURAL AMERICA AND THE RURAL CRISIS -- IS TO THANK
PEOPLE FOR BEING HERE AND TO TALK ABOUT AND TO MAKE IT CLEAR
THAT WE WILL IN FACT, AND I WILL WIN I SHALL WITH THE -- FINISH
WITH THE WORDING, THAT WE CONGRATULATE PEOPLE AND RESPOND WITH
A STRONG AND CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE PARTICIPANTS AND THAT WE ARE
COMMITTED TO DEALING WITH THIS CRISIS, THAT WE ARE COMMITTED TO
GIVING IT OUR FULL ATTENTION, IN PARTICULAR IN A MANNER THAT
{16:03:57} (MR. WELLSTONE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
WILL ALLEVIATE THE AGRICULTURAL PRICE CRISIS, THAT WILL ENSURE
COMPETITIVE MARKETS, THAT WILL LEAD TO AN INVESTMENT IN
EDUCATION AND HEALTH CARE, PROTECT OUR NATURAL RESOURCES AND
ENSURE A SAFE AND SECURE FOOD SUPPLY. IF IT IN FACT WE CONTINUE
TO LOSE OUR PRODUCERS, AND IF IN FACT WE GO THE TREND OF AN
INCREASINGLY CORPS PRACTICE ADVERTISED INDUSTRIALIZED
AGRICULTURE, IT WILL BE A TRANSITION OUR COUNTRY WILL DEEPLY
REGRET. DEEPLY REGRET. I THINK THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT FOR
{16:04:28} (MR. WELLSTONE) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
AMERICA. I TELL MU MY HEART AND SOUL GOES OUT TO THE PEOPLE
THAT WERE HERE. AND I HOPE THERE WILL BE GOOD SUPPT FOR THIS
SENSE OF THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO THIS VERY GOOD PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. I WOULD RESERVE THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
{16:04:49 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: WHO YIELDS TIME IN OPPOSITION?
{16:04:50 NSP} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT?
{16:04:56 NSP} (THE PRESIDING OFFICER) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THE PRESIDING OFFICER: THE SENATOR FROM NORTH DAKOTA.
{16:05:00 NSP} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MR. DORGAN: MR. PRESIDENT, LET ME BEGIN BY THANKING THE
EXCELLENT WORK OF THE SENATOR FROM KANSAS, SENATOR ROBERT,
SENATOR KERR KERREY FROM NEBRASKA, MY CONRAD, SENATOR CONRAD
FROM NORTH DAKOTA FOR BRIG THIS TO THE FLOOR OF THE SENATE. IT
IS MY INTENTION TO SUPPORT THIS. I THINK THE SENSE OF THE
SENATE RESOLUTION OFFERED BY THE SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA,
SENATOR WELLSTONE, CERTAINLY IS THOUGHTFUL AND WORTHY OF
SUPPORT AS WELL. I TOO WANT TO JOIN HIM IN SAYING TO MY
COLLEAGUE SENATOR LUGAR THAT I ALWAYS FELT HE IS A MAJOR
{16:05:31} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
CONTRIBUTOR TO MOST EVERY PUBLIC KBIT IN THIS SENATE,
ESPECIALLY ON FOREIGN POLICY AND A RANGE OF OTHER THINGS, BUT
IT IS TRUE THAT WE DISAGREE ON FARM POLICY FROM TIME TO TIME.
HE AND I HAVE RECENTLY HAD AN EXCHANGE OF LETTERS ABOUT THAT
DISAGREEMENT, BUT THAT DOES NOT IN ANY WAY DIMINISH MY RESPECT
FOR HIM AS A LEADER AND LEGISLATOR. MY FERVENT HOPE IS THAT
SOMETIME I COULD REACH OVER AND REFER OUT TO SENATOR LUGAR AND
CONVINCE HIM THAT WE NEED TO TOMORROW, ON THURSDAY, START A
SERIES OF HEARINGS AND CHANGE THE FARM BILL. BUT I DON'T EXPECT
{16:06:05} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
THAT WILL BE THE CASE AND HE WILL CERTAINLY EXPLAIN HIS
POSITION ON THESE ISSUES IN AN ARTICULATE WAY SOON. BUT LET ME
DESCRIBE SOME OF MY FEELINGS ABOUT WHERE WE ARE. LET ME START
WITH THIS. I SAY TO MY FRIEND FROM MINNESOTA, THIS MORNING FOR
BREAKFAST I HAD SOMETHING CALLED CRIME OF WHEAT. I DON'T KNOW
HOW MANY SER SYRINGES OF CREAM OF WHEAT ARE SERVED IN AMERICA
EVERY MORNING OR EVERY YEAR, BUT A LOT OF THEM. CREAM OF WHEAT,
IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE ORIGIN OF IT JUST FOR FUN, CREAM OF
WHEAT -- I NOTICE THE PRESIDING OFFICER IS HANGING ON MY EVERY
{16:06:38} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
WORD HERE -- CREAM OF WHEAT CAME FROM GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA
IN THE YEAR 1893. A LITTLE OLD MILL CALLED THE DIAMOND MILLS,
WASN'T DOING VERY WELL, THEY HAD A SCIENCE ACTIVITY WHO WAS
SORT OF MOVING AROUND AND TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HE COULD DO
WITH VARIOUS PARTS OF THE GRAIN. HE USE WHAT HAD ARE CALLED THE
MID-LINS OF WHEAT AND CONCOCTED WHAT A CALLED A WRECK FAST POE
RIDGE. SO A MAN NAMED TOM AMADON IN GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA
{16:07:13} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
IN 18893 CONCOCTED BREAK FAST PO E. POE RIDGE AND IT IS WHAT IS
CALLED CREAM OF WHEAT. IT IS WHAT I AT FOR BREAKFAST THIS
MORNING. CREAM OF WHEAT COMES FROM THE WHEAT FIELD OF NORTH
DAKOTA AND OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY. A FARMER BUYS A TRACTOR,
PLANTS THE SEED AND DOES ALL THE WORK TO PRODUCE THIS WHEAT,
THEN IT IS GROUND AND AMONG THAT GRINDING YOU GET SOME MD LINKS
AND THEN SOMEBODY PRODUCES BREAK FAST FOOD WITH THE MID-LINKS.
CREAM OF WHEAT DOESN'T COME FROM GRAND FORKS NORTH DAKOTA I
MUST SAY WITH DISAPPOINTMENT. IT IS NOW OWNED BY NABISCO
{16:07:45} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
COMPANY. IT IS PRODUCED IN MY COLLEAGUE'S HOME STATE OF
MINNESOTA. THE MIDDLINGS, THE CREAM OF WHEAT THE JOBS DO NOT
BELONG TO THE FOLKS THAT GAGS THE TRACTOR AND PLANTED THE GRAIN
AND HARVESTED THE SEED. NO, THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT WORKS IN
AGRICULTURE. OUR FARMERS GO OUT AND PLANT A CROPE, CORN, WHEAT,
BARLEY, AND THEN SOMEONE COMES ALONG AND BUYS IT AND TAKE A LO
AT THAT KERNEL AND SAY WE OUGHT TO PUFF THAT UP AND PUT IT IN A
BRIGHT COLORED BOX AND WE WILL TAKE THAT WHEAT AND WE WILL CALL
IT PUFFED WHEAT. AND GUESS WHAT THAT COSTS?
{16:08:19} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND BUY PUFFED WHEAT, PUFFED RICE. THEY
PUFF IT, THEY SHRED IT, THEY CRISP IT, THEY MA NICHE LATE IT IN
100 DIFFERENT WAYS AND SEND IT TO THE STORE SHELF WITH BRIGHT
COLORED BOXES AND THE FARMER GETS A PITTANCE FOR BECAUSE THE
FARMER IS TOLD GRAIN DOESN'T HAVE VALUE FOR ANYMORE AT THE
GROCERY STORE SHELF COSTS A FORTUNE. BECAUSE NOW IT HAS BEEN
PUFFED. SO THE PUFF IS APPARENTLY MORE VALUABLE THAN THE SEED
THAT'S PRODUCED OUT OF THE GROUND FROM THE TIRELESS WORK OF A
FAMILY FARMER. AND THAT DESCRIBES PART OF THE PROBLEM IN THIS
{16:08:54} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
SYSTEM OF OURS. WE HAD A COUPLE THOUSAND PEOPLE COME TO DOWN AS
THE SENATOR FROM MINNESOTA DESCRIBED. THEY WERE THE ONES THAT
COULD AFFORD TO COME. I AM SURE IT WAS A STRUGGLE FOR MANY OF
THEM. FOLKS FROM MY STATE, 4 HUNDRED-OF THEM GOT ON BUSES.
SEVEN BUSES -- 400 OF THEM GOT ON BUSES. SIX DAYS DRIVING TO
WASHINGTON AND BACK TO NORTH DAKOTA. THE FELLOW FROM JUST WEST
OF VALLEY CITY WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN AMONG THEM BECAUSE HE STOOD
{16:09:29} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
UP AT A MEETING I HAD SOME WHILE AGO AND HIS CHIN BEGAN TO
TREMBLE HE HAD TEARS IN HIS EYES ARCS BIG HUSKY GUY WITH A
BEARD SAID HIS GRAND DAD FARMED HIS FARM, HIS DAD FARMED HIS
FARM AND HE RMED IT FOR 23 YEARS AND THEN HIS CHIN BEGAN TO
TREMBLE AND HE SAID I CAN'T DO IT ANYMORE. I AM BEING FORCED
OFF THE FARM. YOU CAN SEE WITH HIM IT WASN'T ABOUT DOLLARS AND
CENT. IT WAS THE LOSS OF A DREAM. A BROKEN HEART AND BROKEN
DREAMS. I AM SURE HE DIDN'T COME OUT HERE BECAUSE HE IS NOT
FARMING ANYMORE AND COULDN'T AFFORD IT. HE IS PROBABLY
STRUGGLING AFTER 23 YEARS ON A FARM TRYING TO FIND SOMETHING
{16:10:01} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
ELSE TO DO. ANOTHER JOB TO TRY TO MAKE SAM INCOME. AND HE MADE
A POINT AS SO MANY FARMERS DO THAT HE WAS A GOOD FARMER, HE
SATISFIED. HE DIDN'T WASTE MONEY. DIDN'T GO TO TOWN ON WEEKEND
NIGHTS. DIDN'T BUY NEW CLOTHES. TOLD THE KIDS THEY COULDN'T
AFFORD A NEW PAIR OF JEENSZ FOR SCHOOL BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE
THE MONEY. HE SAID THIS ISN'T MY FAULT. COLLAPSED PRICES AREN'T
MY FAULT. BAD TRADE AGREEMENTS ARE NOT MY FAULT. MONOPOLIES
THAT PRESS THEIR BOOTS DOWN ON THE CHESTS OF FAMILY FARMERS
AR'T MY FAULT, AND HE IS RIGHT WITH THAT. HE DIDN'T CAUSE THESE
{16:10:37} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
PROBLEMS. NOW SOMEWHERE IN THE CREVICE BETWEEN MATHEMATICS AND
VIRTUE RESTS A BLINDNESS SOMEHOW THAT RE-VIEWSS TO RECOGNIZE
VALUE BE VALUES. -- --REFUSES TO RECOGNIZE VALUE AND VALUES. WE
THINK OF THIS ALL IN THE CONTEXT OF NUMBERS, NOT UNDERSTANDING
THAT FARMERS PRODUCE SOMETHING MORE THAN A CROP. YES, A FARMER
PRODUCES WHEAT IN THE FIELDS OF NORTH DAKOTA. THAT FAMILY
LIVING ON THE FARM ALSO PRODUCES A SOCIAL PRODUCT THAT MOST
{16:11:10} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
ECONOMISTS AND MOST OTHERS BELIEVE HAS NO VALUE WHATSOEVER IN
OUR COUNTRY. A SOCIAL PRODUCT CALLED COMMUNITY, CALLED FAMILY
VALUES, CALLED PART OF OUR CULTURE THAT ALL OF US UNDERSTAND,
AN ENVIRONMENT THAT'S GOOD, A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT'S FREE OF
CRIME, A LIFESTYLE IN WHICH NEIGHBORS HELP ONE ANOTHER. WHEN
EARNEST HAD A HEART ATTACK IN HARVEST TIME IN MY HOME TIME THE
NEIGHBORS TOOK THE CROP OFF THE FIELD. WHY?
BECAUSE THEY WERE COMPETITORS?
NO, THEY WERE NEIGHBORS. THAT'S HAS SOCIAL VALUE. THE
{16:11:44} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
ECONOMISTS SAY IT HAS NO VALUE. EUROPE'S SAY IT HAS VALUE. IN
TRADE NEGOTIATIONS BETWEEN THE EUROPE AND UNITED STATES SAY
THEY WANT SOMETHING CALLED MULTIFUNCTION NATIONAL CONSIDERED.
OUR TRADE PEOPLE SCRATCH THEIR HEADS AND SAY WHAT ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT MULTIFUNCTION NATIONAL. EUROPEANS SAY THERE IS AN
IMPORTANT ELEMENT OF FARMING HERE WHEN YOU JUST LOOK AT THE
NUMBERS, THE HARD NUMBERS. WHAT'S MISSING IS COMMUNITY, VALUES,
AND A CERTAIN CULTURE THAT WE WANT TO RETAIN AND SUSTAIN IN OUR
FUTURE. AND OUR TRADE NEGOTIATORS, THEY JUST CAN'T UNDERSTAND
THAT. THEY SAY WELL WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT. THIS IS ALL ABOUT
{16:12:19} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
DOLLARS AND CENTS. THIS IS ABOUT MARKETS. MY POINT IS, FAMILY
FARMS PRODUCE MORE THAN JUST GRAIN. THEY PRODUCE SOMETHING VERY
IMPORTANT FOR THIS COUNTRY. IT IS A SOCIAL PRODUCT THAT THIS
COUNTRY OUGHT TO WANT TO RETAIN AND KEEP. NOW, THERE ARE A
SERIES OF THINGS WE MUST DO TO RESPOND TO THE URGENT NEEDS OF
FAMILY FARMERS. WE MUST REPAIR A SAFETY NET THAT DOES NOT NOW
PROVIDE THE KIND OF ASSISTANCE FAMILY FARMERS NEED WHEN PRICES
{16:12:52} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
COLLAPSE. FAMILY FARMERS CAN'T MAKE IT ACROSS THE VALLEY WHEN
PRICES COLLAPSE WITHOUT SOME KIND OF SAFETY NET TO BRIDGE THAT
VALLEY. THAT'S NUMBER ONE. NUMBER TWO, WE MUST HAVE BETTER
TRADE AGREEMENTS. FAMILY FARMERS CAN'T COMPETE WITH ONE ARM
TIED BEHIND THEIR BACK. IT IS NOT FAIR. THE CANADIAN TRADE
AGREEMENT WASN'T FAIR TO OUR FAMILY FARMERS. IT SOLD OUT OUR
FAMILY FARMER'S INTERESTS. I REGRET SAYING THAT BUT I COULD
BRING DATA TO THE FLOOR JUST RELEASED YESTERDAY THAT
{16:13:24} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
DEMONSTRATES ONCE AGAIN IT WAS. GALT WAS UNFAIR. NAFTA WAS
UNFAIR. I WOULD BE HAPPY TO COMP SPEAK AT GREAT LENGTH ABOUT
THAT BUT I WON'T TODAY. A BETTER SAFETY NET, BETTER TRADE
POLICIES AND ACTION AGAINST MONOPOLIES. FARMERS OUGHT NOT TO
HAVE TO MARKET UPSTREAM WHEN THEY ARE SELLING FAT STEERS INTO
THE CIRCUMSTANCE WHERE JUST SEVERAL COMPANIES CONTROL 80% OF
THE STEER SLAUGHTER. AND THE SAME IS TRUE IN EVERY DIRECTION A
FARMER LOOKS. WANT TO PUT THE GRAIN ON A RAILROAD SOMEPLACE?
{16:13:55} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
GUESS WHAT, YOU HAVE TO PUT IT ON A RAILROAD THAT'S A MONOPOLY
IN MOST CASES AND THE RAILROAD SAYS THIS IS WHAT WE CHARGE AND
IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT TOUGH LUCK. TO GIVE YOU A SHORT EXAMPLE OF
WHAT IT MEANS IF YOU HAVE A CARLOAD OF WHEAT IN BISMARCK, NORTH
DAKOTA AND WANT TO SHIP IS IT TO MINNEAPOLIS, YOU WILL BE
CHARGED $2,300 TO SHIP IT FROM POINT-TO-POINT. SHIP THE SAME
FROM MINNEAPOLI TO CHICAGO ABOUT THE SAME DISTANCE YOU ARE
CHARGED $1,000. NOW WHY ARE NORTH DAKOTA FARMERS CHARGED MORE
THAN DOUBLE TO SHIP A CARLOAD OF WHEAT ABOUT THE SAME DISTANCE?
{16:14:28} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
BECAUSE THERE IS NO COMPETITION IN NORTH DAKOTA ON THAT LINE.
AND BETWEEN MINNEAPOLIS AND CHICAGO THERE IS. THAT IS CALLED
MONOPOLY PRICING AND IT IS UNFAIR TO OUR FAMILY FARMERS. SO THE
FOURTH THING WE NEED TO DO IS FIX CROP INSURANCE. THAT'S WHAT
THIS DOES. AND IT IS WHY I AM HERE SUPPORTING IT. I KNOW THAT
IS A LONG INTRODUCTION TO GET TO THIS SUPPORT AND I WILL BE
VERY BRIEF TO SAY I THINK THIS LEGISLATION HAS A LOT TO COMMEND
ITSELF TO THE UNITED STATES SENATE. THIS IS A GOOD PIECE OF
LEGISLATION. PERFECT, NO, BUT GOOD. HERE IS WHAT IT DOES. IT
{16:15:01} (MR. DORGAN) { NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT }
MAKES CROP INSURANCE MORE AFFORDABLE AT BUY YUP COVERAGE
{END: 2000/03/22 TIME: 16-15 , Wed. 106TH SENATE, SECOND SESSION}
{ NOT AN OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT OF THE SENATE PROCEEDINGS.}