For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 2, 2002
President to Sign Farm Bill
Statement by the President
I congratulate Chairman Combest and the other House and Senate
conferees for a job well done in completing the Farm Security and Rural
Development Act of 2002.
I am pleased that the compromise agreement on the farm bill
resulted in better balanced commodity loan rates; spending that is no
longer front-loaded; and the strongest conservation provisions of any
farm bill ever passed by Congress. The final provisions of the farm
bill are also consistent with America's international trade
obligations, which will strengthen our ability to open foreign markets
for American farm products. While this compromise agreement did not
satisfy all of my objectives, I am pleased that this farm bill provides
a generous and reliable safety net for our Nation's farmers and
ranchers and is consistent with the principles I outlined.
I thank the conferees for their hard work and urge Congress to send
the farm bill to my desk promptly for signature to help ensure the
immediate and long-term vitality of our farm economy.
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