Senate Colloquy on Commodity Credit Corporation Funding — Congressional Record, September 17, 2020
Summary
This is the Congressional Record, Senate, September 17, 2020, covering pages S5684 and S5685, with interleaved columns. Senator Thune is thanked by Mr. Roberts for remarks on keeping the Hot Springs VA facility in South Dakota open. In a colloquy on the Commodity Credit Corporation, Mr. Roberts says the CARES Act included $14 billion for the corporation plus $9.5 billion in emergency support for farmers and ranchers. Mr. Hoeven and Mrs. Fischer join him in urging that the corporation be replenished in the continuing resolution before the end of the fiscal year, warning that farm programs such as ARC and PLC depend on it. Mrs. Fischer says agriculture produced around $21.3 billion in cash receipts in Nebraska in 2018. The views are those of the speakers.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Senate Colloquy on Commodity Credit Corporation Funding — Congressional Record, September 17, 2020.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-09-17-crec-2020-09-17-pt1-pgs5684-5296625b77/
, SHA-256 815ccd52891511189476484311b32426f48a2c658d39b5e514c6d71e6da4687d.Full text
S5684 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2020
after the Secretary signed an order fi- Agriculture is the lifeblood of my I yield the floor.
nalizing the decision to close the ma- home State of South Dakota, and mak- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
jority of the facility. ing sure our ag producers have what ator from Kansas.
The battle wasn’t over. In 2014, I had they need to keep feeding our Nation— Mr. ROBERTS. Madam President, I
succeeded in attaching a measure to an and the world—is one of my top prior- want to thank Senator THUNE for his
appropriations legislation prohibiting ities here in Washington. very pertinent and cogent remarks.
the closure of the Hot Springs facility During debate on the CARES Act— This is an important time to make a
until a national VA realignment strat- our largest coronavirus relief bill to decision that affects all farmers and
egy was proposed. In each year, with date—I fought to make sure that we in- ranchers and growers all across our
appreciation to the Appropriations cluded relief for farmers and ranchers. country during a time in which we are
Committee, I have managed to renew The final bill included $14 billion for going through some very difficult
this measure. And after a new VA Sec- the Commodity Credit Corporation, times—weather and everything else
retary—Secretary Robert Wilkie—took plus an additional $9.5 billion in emer- that you can imagine.
the helm, I repeatedly urged him to gency support to allow the Department I see Senator ERNST over there, who
come to Hot Springs and to check out of Agriculture to provide income and will be following me, I am assuming.
our facility for himself. Early this price support for farmers and ranchers. I want to thank Senator HOEVEN for
year, the Secretary announced that he USDA has been putting these re- reserving this time, as other members
would visit the facility in March. sources to work to provide assistance of the Agricultural Committee come
I then organized a letter with the to producers in South Dakota and and speak on an issue that we
rest of the South Dakota delegation across the country who were affected shouldn’t really be having an issue.
strongly urging the Secretary to make by the pandemic, and they have been a As I said, I rise to engage in a col-
time to sit down with Hot Springs vet- lifeline to many farmers. But more loquy on the importance of providing
erans and other stakeholders and listen needs to be done to support our Na- certainty and predictability. Those
to their concerns about the planned tion’s agriculture industry. And part of were the watch words we used when we
closure. To our great gratitude, the doing that is funding the Commodity passed the farm bill. To our Nation’s
Secretary agreed. Credit Corporation in the continuing farmers, ranchers, and growers, by re-
Early in Secretary Wilkie’s visit to resolution—the appropriations measure plenishing the Commodity Credit Cor-
Hot Springs on March 2, I requested that hopefully Congress will be consid- poration, there should not be an issue.
that he revisit the order to close the ering soon. First, I would like to thank Senator
facility signed over 3 years ago. A bit The Commodity Credit Corporation HOEVEN, who has just arrived on the
to our surprise and much to our relief, ensures that USDA has the resources it floor, for his leadership and speaking
the Secretary agreed, reassuring us needs to provide assistance through to this issue, and other Senators for
that the Hot Springs VA would remain farm programs, including the programs their commitment to agriculture in
open for our veterans. included in the bipartisan 2018 farm
That meeting with veterans was piv- their respective States and across the
bill—commodity programs like the Ag- country. No matter what they grow or
otal. I worked hard in Congress—along riculture Risk Coverage, we call it the
with other Members of the South Da- where they live, farmers, ranchers, and
ARC Program; the Price Loss Cov- growers have done their part to ensure
kota delegation—to keep the Hot erage, what we call the PLC Program;
Springs facility open. But the cam- the U.S. food, fiber, and fuel supply
and Marketing Assistance Loans; dairy continues without disruption during
paign would never have succeeded programs like the Dairy Margin pro-
without the passion of Hot Springs vet- these unprecedented times.
grams; disaster programs, like the I think everybody is familiar with
erans and the Hot Springs community, Livestock Forage Disaster Program;
which rallied in support of the facility the situation. Every 5 years, Congress
and the Livestock Indemnity Program. passes legislation that sets the na-
and have proposed innovative ideas for These programs are a critical part of
the campus’s future. And meeting with tional agriculture, nutrition, conserva-
farmers and ranchers’ safety net, and
these veterans and other stakeholders tion, and forestry policy—commonly
we need to ensure that they are fully
and hearing their thoughts and stories referred to as the farm bill. That is our
funded.
played a major role in Secretary Later this morning, my colleague commitment, and we did that. These
Wilkie’s decision. Senator HOEVEN from North Dakota are for the folks on the frontlines, in
Now, 2020 has been a tough year. But will be hosting a colloquy to draw at- the fields, caring for livestock, man-
even in tough times, good things can tention to the need to get USDA the aging the lands day in and day out, de-
happen. And last week’s announcement resources it requires to help our agri- spite all the weather problems we are
that the VA has begun the formal proc- culture producers weather this crisis. I having today.
ess of rescinding its order to close the appreciate Senator HOEVEN’s work to As chairman of this committee—the
Hot Springs facility, expected to take highlight this issue, and I hope my Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and
30 to 60 days, has given a lot of us rea- Democratic colleagues will hear agri- Forestry Committee—we were success-
son for gratitude. I am thankful to Sec- culture producers’ concerns. ful in passing the 2018 farm bill in a bi-
retary Wilkie for taking a real look at I see my colleague, the chairman of partisan manner. Everybody says: Oh,
South Dakota veterans’ concerns and the Agriculture Committee—the com- we have to work together to get back
reversing the VA’s decision to close the mittee on which I serve—is here as well to where we were bipartisan. We were.
facility. And I look forward to cele- to talk about these issues and to point Eighty-seven Members in this Chamber
brating with South Dakota veterans to the need to ensure that we are doing voted in favor of this legislation.
the next time I am in Hot Springs—or, everything we can to support our Na- That vote demonstrated that the 2018
as a lot of us know it, the ‘‘Veterans tion’s farmers and ranchers during this farm bill did provide much certainty
Town.’’ time of incredible challenge. and predictability to all farmers and
AGRICULTURE I look forward to working with the ranchers across all regions and all
Mr. President, while most sectors of chairman of the Ag Committee and our crops. However, it is no secret that
our economy were thriving before the other colleagues from our agriculture times continue to remain tough in
coronavirus pandemic hit, farmers and States—many of whom will be here mo- farm country. Farmers and ranchers
ranchers were struggling. Low prices, mentarily to talk about this issue—to continue to experience low commodity
extended trade disputes, and natural help our ranchers and farmers face prices, a global pandemic, natural dis-
asters, and the effects of retaliatory
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
disasters had meant a lot of tough few down the challenges that are in front
years for agriculture producers even of them. tariffs. That is a terrible combination.
before the arrival of the coronavirus. I urge my Democratic colleagues to The 2018 farm bill does provide essen-
Yesterday, I held virtual meetings work with Republicans to make sure tial programs to producers that allow
with South Dakota farmers and ranch- that USDA has the resources it needs them to mitigate some of the risks—
ers and heard firsthand about the chal- to support our agricultural producers— some of the risks—that are outside
lenges they are facing because of the the men and women who feed not only their control. Many of these programs
pandemic. this country but the entire world. are implemented through the authority
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:44 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.005 S17SEPT1
September 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5685
and the annual funding Congress pro- ranchers. We are here in a very posi- Mrs. FISCHER. I want to thank my
vides to Commodity Credit Corpora- tive, encouraging way, and it is to colleague from North Dakota.
tion, or the CCC. make the point that we need to get as- It is so appropriate, Madam Presi-
I want to stress to my colleagues sistance to our farmers and ranchers. dent, that you are in the chair right
that now is not the time for partisan We have some of that available. We now presiding because you are a cattle
gamesmanship. If Congress does not re- have about $14 billion that we secured farmer from the great State of Mis-
plenish the CCC, it could significantly in the CARES Act that is ready to go sissippi, and we have many, many dis-
harm or even halt these important pro- out. It is ready to go. cussions on the importance of livestock
grams. I can’t imagine doing that. We have done a ton of work with the and on the importance of agriculture
Farmers, ranchers, and others in farm USDA. We want to thank the Ag Sec- to our States.
country are counting on us to do our retary, Sonny Perdue. Georgia is an- Nebraska is an ag State. In 2018, Ne-
job. In fact, we have heard loud and other ag State. His whole team worked braska generated around $21.3 billion in
clear from over 40 different organiza- hard on this. We worked hard with agricultural cash receipts. Agriculture
tions representing farmers, ranchers, him. and ag processing accounts for 9.4 per-
and other rural stakeholders across the That $14 billion needs to get out to cent of the State’s GDP. The agri-
country that the CCC must be reim- our farmers and ranchers and across culture production complex accounts
bursed before the end of the fiscal year. the country. It really touches just for approximately one-quarter of our
I want to say this and make this em- about every State. GDP workforce. By these measures, ag-
phatically clear: Failure to do so would Then we need to replenish the Com- riculture plays a greater role in my
result in delays of the 2018 farm bill modity Credit Corporation, the CCC. I State of Nebraska than it does in the
programs. We are talking about other chair Ag Appropriations. I work with economy of any other State in the
programs because of COVID–19 and the that every year. There is about $30 bil- United States. When agriculture suf-
pandemic and all of that. But even dur- lion, year in and year out, that goes in fers, Nebraska suffers.
ing a global pandemic, U.S. farmers it. This is not a new thing. This is Over the last several years, our farm-
and ranchers continue to hold up their something we do every year. We need ers and ranchers have done their fair
end of the bargain by producing their to get that done now in the CR so we share of suffering. As my colleague
crops for the world’s safest, most af- can continue to provide that help and mentioned, USDA’s most recent farm
fordable food supply. The least we can support for our farmers and our ranch- income projections forecast that cash
do is to ensure that the 2018 farm bill— ers. This is what funds the key farm receipts will be at their lowest level in
the piece of legislation that received 87 programs. more than a decade. As a rancher, I
The countercyclical safety net. Very know it is difficult to plan for the fu-
votes in this body right here in the
key programs—ARC, AGRIS coverage, ture when you are facing so many fac-
Senate—continues to be fully imple-
and PLC, price loss coverage—are fund-
mented, on time, and without delay. tors that are outside of your control,
ed by the CCC. That is just fundable—
I hope that we can reach a bipartisan whether it is low commodity prices or
that is the heart and soul of the bipar-
agreement. This business of at least retaliatory tariffs or natural disasters
tisan farm program we passed, as our
holding up the CCC funds—I under- that we have gone through and also a
Ag chairman just described. It is bipar-
stand what people have with regard to global pandemic.
tisan, strongly supported in our com-
their own top things that they want to Nebraska’s farmers and ranchers
mittee, and strongly supported on the
get accomplished, but holding up the have maintained their patience in
floor of this body, as well as in the
CCC is not an answer. these tough times, but they deserve to
House. As I say, this funding is the
I look forward to working with my know without any kind of doubt that
heart and soul of the farm program. It
Senate colleagues in a bipartisan way amidst all of this unpredictability they
also funds conservation programs and
to ensure that we provide farmers and are experiencing, we here in Congress
other things. That safety net that our
ranchers with certainty and predict- are going to hold up our end of the bar-
farmers and ranchers rely on every
ability from the 2018 farm bill. gain.
year is what is funded through the
I thank the distinguished Senator, For decades, the Commodity Credit
CCC. That is why we are here today.
Mr. HOEVEN, for asking for this time. As our Ag chairman said, we have Corporation has been routinely replen-
I yield the floor. over 40 farm groups from across the ished to fund the programs that the
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- country that sent a letter to leadership Senator from North Dakota spoke
ator from North Dakota. and said: Absolutely, not only move about—those programs that are so im-
Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I forward with this aid we are talking portant to the farm safety net. Pro-
want to thank our Ag chairman. I want about, the $14 billion we have gotten ducers count on programs like the agri-
to thank him for being here today. I through CARES—and I think we are culture risk coverage, price loss cov-
want to thank him for his many, many close to getting there again, thanks to erage, marketing assistance loans, the
years of service in this body. And most the USDA. I think you will see that important conservation programs, and
of all, what I want to thank him for very soon. But absolutely take that so many more.
today is his leadership on farm issues, step to replenish the CCC so that we For PLC alone, U.S. farmers are ex-
on ag issues, on working on behalf of can continue to provide that counter- pected to receive $4.7 billion in Octo-
our farmers and ranchers, and in work- cyclical safety net, that farm program ber. Out of that total, Nebraska farm-
ing in a very bipartisan way. That is our farmers and our ranchers depend ers are anticipating $180 million in pro-
what he is here doing. on. gram payments. Without that imme-
You heard from our whip, the Sen- Remember, this isn’t just about our diate CCC reimbursement, these pay-
ator from South Dakota, an ag State. farmers and ranchers. This isn’t just ments and these programs are going to
You heard from our Ag chairman, the about good farm policy. In this coun- be significantly delayed. That will
Senator from Kansas, an ag State. You try, we have the lowest cost, highest jeopardize the nearly 46,000 farms and
are going to hear from other members quality food supply in the world that ranches in my State of Nebraska.
of our Ag Committee. You are going to benefits every single American every We have seen more than 40 agri-
hear from the Senator from Iowa, an ag single day because of our farmers and culture and commodity groups who
State. You are going to hear from Sen- ranchers. That is how important this have stepped forward and written con-
ator BOOZMAN from Arkansas, an ag is. gressional leadership this week with a
State; from Senator FISCHER, Ne- very, very clear message: Blocking the
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
Let me turn next to my colleagues. I
braska, obviously a big farm and ranch am going to turn to the Senator from inclusion of that CCC reimbursement
State; the Presiding Officer, I know, Nebraska. She is a cattle rancher. Who in a CR will hurt farmers and ranchers,
would be right here speaking with us if better to hear from next than Senator no question.
he weren’t presiding—again, an ag FISCHER from Nebraska, a cattle ranch- We need to come together. We need
State. er herself? to come together and fund the pro-
What this is all about today is mak- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- grams that we, Republicans and Demo-
ing sure that we support farmers and ator from Nebraska. crats alike, have voted on in countless
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:44 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.006 S17SEPT1
S5686 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE September 17, 2020
farm bills. Our farmers and ranchers Folks, since 1987, Congress has re- Credit Corporation to continue financ-
rely on them, and they rely on them plenished the CCC back to $30 billion ing these programs. Failure to include
now more than ever. Congress must every year. This is not the year to stop. such a provision would pose a serious
keep its commitment to these hard- Iowa farmers in particular have been risk to America’s farmers and ranchers
working men and women. suffering through COVID–19; plus we in these already challenging times. It
I urge my colleagues in the House had a derecho and a drought. The last would cause harmful delays in program
and here in the Senate not to allow thing we need is to take away some- funding and benefits at a time when
politics to stand in the way of uphold- thing they have come to depend on. many producers across the country
ing our commitment to those hard- Madam President, 2020 has been hard simply cannot afford to wait months to
working men and women who get up on everyone, and there is no time to recover for these losses.
every morning and work tirelessly day play games with our farmers’ futures. I This issue is not just about sup-
in and day out to put food on our ta- hope our friends on the other side of porting American agriculture; it is
bles. Our producers aren’t thinking of the aisle join us in supporting the re- about Congress living up to its prom-
just themselves; they are planning for plenishment of the CCC in the upcom- ises. More than 1.7 million producers
future generations that will proudly ing funding bill. signed contracts for the Agriculture
carry on their life’s work and continue I yield back to Senator HOEVEN, the Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage
feeding our world. Let’s make sure we great Senator from North Dakota. Programs. Millions of private land-
continue to fund these programs so Again, my thanks to the Senator and owners have signed conservation con-
that we can ensure that they can do all of our farm State participants tracts to take their land out of produc-
that. today for joining in the colloquy. tion. These are contracts, and the
My thanks to my fellow ag State col- Mr. HOEVEN. I would like to thank terms of those contracts must be met.
leagues who know the importance of the Senator from Iowa. Again, she di- I remind my colleagues that this is
agriculture, not just to the States we rectly brings that experience from the not a situation to be taken lightly. In
represent but to this country as a farm, growing up in agriculture. recent years, America’s farmers and
whole. Thank you to the Senator from Somebody else who is here represents ranchers have experienced unfair for-
North Dakota for organizing us to Mississippi, so you can see we are going eign tariffs, depressed prices, cata-
come to the floor so that we as a group from North Dakota to Mississippi to strophic flooding and other natural dis-
can stress that importance. Iowa to Nebraska. This is the whole asters, market disruptions, and now
Mr. HOEVEN. Madam President, I country we are talking about. COVID–19.
would like to thank the good Senator The Senator also is somebody who I applaud my fellow Republican col-
from Nebraska and turn to the Senator has a long background in agriculture. I leagues on the Appropriations Com-
from Iowa, who has also been an abso- would like to turn to the good Senator mittee and the Senate Agriculture
lute champion on behalf of agriculture. from Mississippi. Committee for raising awareness on
Thanks so much for being here. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. this issue. It is our job to feed this
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. SCOTT of Florida). The Senator from
HOEVEN). The Senator from Iowa. country. We need to be allowed to do
Mississippi. that.
Ms. ERNST. Thank you, Senator
Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Mr. President, as Thank you.
HOEVEN and Senator FISCHER, as well.
a former commissioner of agriculture The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
We have so many of our great ag State
in Mississippi, this is so vital and so ator from North Dakota.
friends here on the floor today to join
important. In Mississippi, agriculture Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, again, I
in this colloquy.
I did grow up on a small family farm is the No. 1 industry. One in every four thank Senator HYDE-SMITH of the
in Southwest Iowa and grew up around jobs is related to agriculture. So this is State of Mississippi. Not only is she a
hogs. We have row crops, of course, very vital for my State. strong advocate for our farmers and
coming out of Iowa—soybeans and With the end of the fiscal year fast ranchers, but as I say, all of these peo-
corn, which are very, very important. approaching, we must act to ensure im- ple you are hearing from this morning
This is an important discussion portant agriculture and conservation have backgrounds in agriculture. They
today because our farmers need cer- programs administered by the Depart- have been out there, and they know
tainty—I hear it time and again from ment of Agriculture do not come to a what they are talking about, as does
Iowa’s ag community—whether it is screeching halt on October 1. the next Senator, somebody who him-
trade, biofuels, or the supports that are The 2018 farm bill, which was sup- self has raised cattle—the Senator
coming from USDA. ported by 87 Members of the Senate, from the good State of Arkansas.
Just yesterday, I heard the message authorized important safety-net pro- This documents again that ag touch-
loud and clear as I was on a phone call grams to protect producers against es every region of the country and that
with our farmers from the Iowa Farm sharp price and revenue declines; pro- the people you are hearing from have
Bureau. They said we need to make vide short-term loans and interim fi- strong ag backgrounds. So, when they
sure the CCC is fully funded. This isn’t nancing to help producers meet cash talk about this issue, they know how
just because of COVID–19 aid pay- flow needs; assist dairy producers af- important it is, and they know that
ments. That is something different. fected by low milk prices and high feed this help is very much needed at this
Those have been helpful to most of our costs; compensate landowners for tak- time.
farmers. This is because our farm bill ing fragile land out of production and I turn to the good Senator from Ar-
programs depend on the CCC being implementing conservation improve- kansas, Mr. BOOZMAN.
funded. The important supports out ments to help the environment; and as- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
there for dairy, for conservation, for sist producers when natural disasters ator from Arkansas.
young and beginning farmers—you destroy feed for livestock, cause above- Mr. BOOZMAN. I thank Senator
name it; it is the CCC. average livestock mortality, and dam- HOEVEN and Senator ROBERTS for orga-
Just a couple of weeks ago, USDA age commercial orchards and fruit nizing this and getting us down here to
Secretary Perdue was in Iowa, and we trees. talk about a topic that is so, so very
toured one of the many conservation Current law requires many of these important.
sites across the State and saw first- program payments to be made annu- I am not going to say anything new.
hand the good work that is being done ally after October 1, which highlights I am going to be saying that we need to
with our farmers through USDA’s con- the importance of this matter on this include reimbursement to the USDA’s
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
servation programs. They are working day. Commodity Credit Corporation in the
to improve their operations while also As Congress discusses measures to upcoming continuing resolution. The
cleaning Iowa’s water, air, and keeping keep the government open and Federal CCC is the funding mechanism for the
our soil healthy. Without these con- programs operating beyond the current bulk of our Nation’s agriculture and
servation programs funded through the fiscal year, it is essential for any con- conservation programs that are au-
CCC, this work simply would not be tinuing resolution to include a provi- thorized with broad bipartisan support
happening. sion allowing the USDA Commodity in the farm bill.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:44 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.008 S17SEPT1
September 17, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S5687
In order for these programs to work partisan vote in this body with about strokes, care for a broken bone or a
as intended, the CCC must be reim- 87 votes. That is what we are talking bout with the flu that lands an older
bursed by Congress on an annual basis. about with regard to funding the CR. It person in the emergency room, and ac-
For decades, the CCC has been reim- is vitally important that we do it. I cess to skilled nursing care. Once you
bursed by Congress without fanfare, thank these members of the Ag Com- reach insolvency, you are sending this
and I am hopeful this year will be a mittee for making that point so clearly country’s seniors out into no man’s
continuation. Earlier this year, the and so well. land.
Senate voted unanimously to allow the We will wrap up, actually, pretty Whether Medicare is going to con-
USDA to use $14 billion from the CCC close to on time, which is fairly re- tinue to function the way it does today
to prevent, prepare for, and respond to markable as seven Senators have just is a big unknown. If Donald Trump is
the coronavirus. This provision was in- gone through this colloquy process, in a position to be in charge, these
cluded in the CARES Act. and I thank them all. Trump budgets are going to be the end
As our farmers and ranchers face the Remember what we are talking about of the Medicare guarantee. Ever since I
most challenging year in recent his- here—the food supply that benefits was the director of the Oregon Gray
tory, we have an obligation to advance every single American every single Panthers, we had always looked at that
this provision so the important farm day. Medicare guarantee as sacred. It meant
and conservation program payments Thank you. that there would be defined, secure,
are made on time and in full to our The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- high-quality health benefits for Amer-
farmers and ranchers. ator from Oregon. ica’s seniors and that they would be
Earlier this week, over 40 agricul- MEDICARE available under any type of Medicare
tural organizations representing farm- Mr. WYDEN. Mr. President, the elec- that older people received.
ers and ranchers across the country tion is only weeks away. Voting has al- Based on some of these Trump budget
sent a letter to the Appropriations ready begun in some places. I know proposals, older Americans are going to
Committee, urging this provision be in- that folks at home in Oregon, where have to figure out some other way to
cluded in the continuing resolution. some of our communities are literally pay for their healthcare and their pre-
Preventing a CCC reimbursement reduced to ashes, are already thinking scription drugs. That includes the mil-
would only exacerbate the tremendous about how they are going to vote. They lions and millions of seniors who have
hardship and challenges facing our will have a lot on their minds when very modest incomes—many who are
farmers and ranchers. So I am here they fill out their ballots, obviously, just scraping by on Social Security.
with so many other members of the and I hope all Americans will fill out What we know based on the policies of
Senate Ag Committee and Members their ballots early as a raging pan- Trump’s favoritism for the insurance
who represent rural States to urge the demic and catastrophic fires in Oregon lobby, they could be at the mercy of in-
Senate to help farmers and ranchers and across the West have taken a huge surance companies and be stuck with
and prevent the uncertainty that toll on our communities. huge premiums and bills they couldn’t
would come from not including this im- What I want to do this morning—and afford to pay.
portant provision. I am going to use public records to The reason I wanted to put this into
I yield the floor. sound an alarm—is talk about another the RECORD today and sound this alarm
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- issue that isn’t getting nearly the at- is that this is not some far-off crisis
ator from North Dakota. tention it deserves—not even close. A that Americans and particularly sen-
Mr. HOEVEN. Mr. President, I thank Medicare crisis is headed our way and iors can ignore and can afford to ig-
Senator BOOZMAN for his strong leader- fast. Whoever wins the next Presi- nore. If you are on Medicare now or if
ship on ag. He said it very well and dential election will be in charge dur- you plan on getting on Medicare any-
very clearly and very simply. ing the biggest crisis Medicare has ever time soon, these are direct threats to
We have heard from more than 40 ag faced. your healthcare. Whoever is sitting be-
groups from across the country, includ- Based on these public records, I want hind the desk in the Oval Office on
ing from the Presiding Officer’s State. to warn the public—particularly sen- January 21 is going to be in charge
The last I checked, he has tremendous iors—about something I believe they when this crisis hits.
agriculture in his State of Florida, already know: You cannot trust Donald Everybody ought to understand that
whether it be with the cattle raised in Trump to protect Medicare, so you the special interests that want to see
Central Florida or those wonderful or- have to protect Medicare from Donald Medicare crumble will have an advan-
anges that we all enjoy all year round. Trump. tage this time around. This isn’t like
It is just one more example of how ag- Donald Trump has proposed extreme repealing the Affordable Care Act or
riculture touches everybody’s life budget cuts to Medicare for 3 straight slashing Medicaid, where Trump can’t
every day in the most important ways. years. In 2018, he proposed cutting $500 act without Congress. If he has his
Our farmers and ranchers feed the billion, and in 2019, more than $800 bil- way, he won’t need Congress to help
country. They feed the world. What lion. In 2020, Donald Trump proposed him undermine Medicare; he would be
could be more important? Look at the cutting $450 billion from Medicare. The able to just sit back in front of the tel-
challenges they have faced. They have Democrats blocked him from making evision, forget about his obligation to
come into this cycle with very low those cuts, but in another Presidential protect that sacred Medicare guar-
commodity prices when they have had term, he could undermine Medicare on antee, and let Medicare just drift into
years of low commodity prices. We his own. Here is how the situation a crisis on its own. Any attempt to fix
have tough trade agreements in which comes to be. it then would have to happen on his
countries like China and others have Our economy melted down earlier terms, and, for seniors, good luck with
targeted us on trade. Then you put this year because the President that.
COVID on top of that. In the midst of downplayed the coronavirus. Millions The Trump administration has spent
that, they have continued to provide were out of work, and businesses shut- years doing the bidding of healthcare’s
the food supply that feeds every Amer- tered—whole sectors of our economy special interests. In my view, there is
ican every single day. What could be mothballed. The economy collapsed. no question they would seize on this
more important? As we have said, that Again, I base this on public records. It Medicare crisis as another way to let
food supply is the highest quality, low- has been devastating to Medicare’s fi- those special interests make a buck,
est cost food supply in the history of nances. According to the nonpartisan and there would be no way for Ameri-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
the world. Do you know what else? It is experts in charge of Medicare’s books, cans to know what kind of financial in-
safe, and they have never missed a the Medicare trust fund is going to be terests Trump and his cronies would
beat. insolvent within 4 years. have in undermining this program that
What we are talking about today, These funds are essential to Medicare tens of millions of American seniors
make no mistake, is of making sure as we know it. They pay for basic serv- rely on every day.
that we fund the heart and soul of the ices that millions of seniors need each Now, if you were the President and
farm program. The bill passed on a bi- day—treatment for heart attacks and you were to ask him ‘‘Well, what about
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:44 Sep 18, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G17SE6.010 S17SEPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2020-09-17_crec-2020-09-17-pt1-pgs5684.pdf
- Size
- 221,948 bytes
- SHA-256
- 815ccd52891511189476484311b32426f48a2c658d39b5e514c6d71e6da4687d
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov