Agriculture
Since Daniel Boone led settlers through the Cumberland Gap, Kentucky has been a land of family farms and small, close-knit communities. Agriculture has always provided the economic and cultural backbone for our Commonwealth. I have worked hard in the Senate to expand and protect Kentucky agriculture and in the last few years, we have seen several important developments.
In Congress, 2008 proved to be an extremely exciting and busy year for Agricultural issues. As you may know, every five years Congress, the Administration, and interest groups conduct a comprehensive evaluation, revision, and renewal of legislation affecting agriculture and food in America. This legislation, known as the Farm Bill, is a multi-year bill involving issues such as federal farm support, food assistance, agriculture trade, conservation, and rural development.
I was pleased to see that after several months of stalled negotiations and a Presidential veto that the Senate was able to pass the Farm Bill on June 18, 2008. I was proud to support this piece of legislation and believe that it will help ensure the Commonwealth’s proud tradition of agriculture for many years to come.
Immigration and employment issues are also very important to Kentucky’s agriculture economy. I recognize the need for some foreign guest workers in our economy. I support making guest worker programs simpler and more accessible for both workers and employers. But I will consider legislation in this area very carefully, as I want to be sure that we do not reward illegal immigrants for breaking the law. To that end, I will work with my colleagues in Congress and President Bush to create a viable guest worker program that does not reward illegal immigration or take jobs away from hard working Americans.
As a member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, I look forward to once again working on energy issues relating to future agricultural policy. Major price shifts during recent natural disasters and volatile world production do not lend for stability of petroleum-based energy supplies. The development of Kentucky’s bio-fuels industry will decrease our dependence on foreign oil and increase emissions efficiency, all while expanding investment in important agriculture products.
As we consider the future of farming in Kentucky, there’s a lot that needs to be done. We need tax relief for farm families by eliminating the death tax and providing tax reform that is friendly to rural communities. Congress also needs to take a hard look at some of the federal regulations affecting Kentucky farmers, such as environmental run-off requirements, labor laws, and immigration problems.
Family farms and small towns across our Commonwealth have made us strong. It’s a legacy that we must continue to nurture. We need make sure that in the years to come the farming way of life always remains part of Kentucky’s character.
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