Durbin Meets with Illinois Farmers Union to Discuss to 2007 Farm Bill and Other Priorities

DURBIN MEETS WITH ILLINOIS FARMERS UNION TO DISCUSS THE 2007 FARM BILL AND OTHER PRIORITIES

U.S. Senator Dick Durbin today met with the Illinois Farmers Union to discuss rural priorities including disaster assistance, high speed broadband and the 2007 Farm Bill.

"Farmers and ranchers around the United States have faced serious challenges from weather-related natural disasters," Durbin and the others wrote. "We, along with many of our colleagues in Congress, have been working for years to secure emergency assistance for agricultural producers who have experienced serious losses due to circumstances that are beyond their control."

Despite threats of a veto from the President, Durbin has worked to push a Supplemental Appropriations bill containing about $3.9 billion for loses sustained by farmers over the last three years. Durbin has taken a lead in agriculture disaster assistance since 2005 when he spearheaded the effort in Congress to provide critical relief for farmers whose crops suffered in one of the worst droughts in a century.

In today's meeting, Durbin also discussed legislation he intends to introduce to encourage the rapid deployment of high-quality, affordable broadband internet service, especially in rural areas. He recently hosted a Regional Broadband Summit in Central Illinois to help raise awareness of broadband as a regional economic development tool. Durbin noted that a national policy is needed to accelerate the deployment of broadband internet service to rural areas.

"Broadband is an essential component of our lives, at work and at home," said Durbin. "Yet, for too many people living in small communities today, broadband access is still not a reality. When I travel in downstate Illinois, people tell me that they cannot wait to have broadband service, but that there is no service available to them right now. Whether it is through telephone wire, cable, fiber, satellite, wireless or any other medium, we need every existing and future broadband service provider to step up to the national challenge."

The 2007 Farm Bill will likely contain a number of provisions important to Illinois farmers including improving protections for farmers in the event of natural disasters such as droughts and flooding, modifying the current commodity support programs, maintaining nutrition programs like Food Stamps and the Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) and increasing federal support for innovative renewable energy projects. Senator Durbin signed on to a letter requesting additional funds for the Farm Bill in the 2008 Budget Resolution. Last week, the Senate passed a budget resolution that includes a $15 billion reserve fund for a new Farm Bill.

"This is a critical time for American agriculture," said Durbin. "With new possibilities like broadband and biofuels, rural America is in its best position in years to create new jobs and opportunity, while strengthening America's national security in the process. It is important that we address these challenges and opportunities with a new farm bill that will improve the situation of farmers in Illinois and throughout the country."

Durbin also spoke today at a meeting of the Agribusiness Club of Washington, DC. In his speech, he stressed some additional policies that he hopes to see as part of the 2007 Farm Bill: a stronger safety net for farmers, increased investments in biofuels, a direct payment program tied to land use and a stronger food safety program.

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