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2005 Ron Paul Chapter 93
Not linked on Ron Paul’s Congressional website.
Congressional Record [.PDF]
Introducing The Rice Farmers Fairness Act
6 September 2005
HON. RON PAUL
OF TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Tuesday, September 6, 2005
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Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, I am today introducing the Rice Farmers Fairness Act. This
legislation conditions the continuation of farm
subsidies in the state of Texas upon the maintenance
of rice production. Federal law allows
for the continuation of subsidies to landowners
who discontinue tenant rice farming on their
land. In essence, this means that the subsidy
continues to flow in spite of an end to production.
2005 Ron Paul 93:2
This is a “something for nothing” subsidy of the worst kind! 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.
2005 Ron Paul 93:3
As grain elevators, processors and others see a reduction in demand for their services
because of the diminution of production permitted
by Federal law, 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 Federal law which provide this subsidy
actually amount to another form of Federal
welfare, taking from producers and giving
to non-producers. These destructive government
policies have particularly pernicious effect
in Texas, where rice farming, and the related
industries, are a major sector of the
economy in many towns along the Texas
coast.
2005 Ron Paul 93:4
My legislation is very simple and direct in dealing with this problem. It says that those
who have tenant rice farmers producing rice in
Texas must agree to continue to maintain rice
in their crop rotation if they wish to receive
subsidies. 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.
2005 Ron Paul 93:5
America’s rice farmers are the most efficient, effective producers of rice in the world,
despite the many hurdles erected by Washington.
The Rice Farmer Fairness Act helps
removes one of these hurdles and this makes
America’s rice farmers even more efficient. In
order to enhance our competitive position, we
should also end our embargoes of other nations.
Congress should eliminate the burdensome
taxes and regulations imposed on America’s
farmers. I hope my colleagues will join
me in removing these federally imposed burdens
on rice farmers by supporting free trade,
low taxes and regulations, and cosponsoring
my Rice Farmer Fairness Act.
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