HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Thursday, March 5, 1998
1998 Ron Paul 23:1
Mr. PAUL.
Mr. Speaker, I am today introducing
the Rice Farmers Fairness Act H.R. 3339. This legislation would condition the continuation
of farm subsidies on the maintenance
of rice production. The 1996 Freedom to Farm
Act allows for the continuation of subsidies to
landowners who discontinue tenant rice farming
on their land. In essence, this means that
the subsidy will continue to flow in spite of an
end to production.
1998 Ron Paul 23:2
Theoretically, the idea of the plan is to
“wean” landowners off of subsidies over a
transition period. In fact, what this program allows
are “something for nothing” subsidies,
which is the worst kind of subsidy. Moreover,
as a result of this provision there is a very real
threat to the agricultural infrastructure. With
landowners receiving subsidies in spite of lack
of production, the entire warehousing, processing
and “value-added” industries are put at
risk.
1998 Ron Paul 23:3
As grain elevators, processors and others
see a reduction in demand for their services
because of the diminution of production permitted
by this legislation they have a disincentive
to continue to provide said services, services
which must remain in place in order for
those who remain in production to be able to
bring to market the rice which they continue to
produce. Thus, by way of the decimation of
the infrastructure, this subsidy to non-producers
comes at the expense of those who continue
to produce rice. Therefore, the provisions
of the Freedom to Farm Act which provide this
subsidy actually amount to another form of
federal welfare, taking from producers and giving
to non-producers.
1998 Ron Paul 23:4
My legislation is very simple and direct in
dealing with this problem. It says that those
who had tenant rice farmers producing rice
when they began to receive this subsidy must
continue to maintain rice in their crop rotation
if they wish to retain the subsidy. In this way,
we can remove the perverse incentive which
the Federal Government has provided to landowners
to exit the rice business and thereby
put the entire rice infrastructure at risk.
1998 Ron Paul 23:5
America’s rice farmers are among the most
efficient, effective producers of rice in the
world despite the many hurdles erected by
Washington. Our rice producers can compete
with anyone absent such hurdles and this bill
will help remove one. In order to enhance our
competitive position, we should also end our
embargoes of other nations which would like
access to rice produced in America. Further
we should eliminate the burdensome taxes
regulations on America’s farmers to insure increased
market access and a healthy farming
community in the these United States.
Notes:
1998 Ron Paul Chapter 23
The text of this chapter was inserted in the section of CongressionalRecord entitled “Extensions of Remarks” and was not spoken on the House floor.
1998 Ron Paul 23:5
Ungrammatical Further we should eliminate the burdensome taxes regulations
on America’s farmers to insure increased market access and a
healthy farming community in the these United States. perhaps should be
Further we should eliminate the burdensome taxes levied
on America’s farmers to insure increased market access and a
healthy farming community in the these United States. or even
Further we should eliminate the burdensome taxregulations
on America’s farmers to insure increased market access and a
healthy farming community in the these United States.
