"McMorris Rodgers: Farm Bill is veto-proof; Washington congresswoman was part of committee that struck balance between House, Senate versions"

I would like to hear some thoughts on the Farm Bill. There are quite a few Palousitics readers who are actively involved with agriculture. As you know, the new Farm Bill has been met with a firestorm of criticism from many on the right.

In any case, Rep. McMorris Rodgers is to be commended for serving the needs of her constituents.

From Saturday's Moscow-Pullman Daily News:

McMorris RogersU.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers is confident Congress will override a veto of the Farm Bill if President George W. Bush stays true to his word and axes the current form of the legislation.

The Senate voted 81-15 to approve the five-year, $307 billion farm bill Thursday, while the House voted 318-106 in favor of the legislation Wednesday. McMorris Rodgers, a Republican from Washington, said the bill's strong support gives it a veto-proof majority.

"If the president should veto the bill, the House and the Senate can override with two-thirds of the vote," she said.

Bush has said the measure is too expensive and gives too much money to wealthy farmers.

McMorris Rodgers said the bill does have its deficiencies - as any large bill would - but it does provide much-needed support for Palouse-area wheat farmers should the commodities market take a downturn.

"At the top of the list is the safety net it provides for Washington wheat growers," McMorris Rodgers said. "It provides them some certainty."

McMorris Rodgers said wheat farmers are benefiting from recent high prices, but average prices for wheat have been between $3.50 and $4 over the past 10 years. Farmers would no longer be able to support themselves if prices returned to those levels, considering rising fuel and fertilizer costs.

"There's no guarantees (these prices are) sustainable, and during times when prices are down it's important they have a safety net," McMorris Rodgers said.

The bill also includes other provisions to help wheat growers and other specialty crop farmers expand their markets, McMorris Rodgers said. That's welcome news to Washington wheat farmers who export roughly 80 percent of their crops.

The bill also has provisions for research money that could make its way to local universities.

"We will do our best to get some of it to Washington State University," she said.

McMorris Rogers was appointed to a Congressional committee in April with the sole purpose of ironing out differences between separate and differing versions of the Farm Bill passed by the House and Senate. That position allowed her to ensure the interests of Washington and the Palouse were represented.

"I was thrilled to be on the congressional committee and work to protect the interested of Washington growers," she said.

U.S. Rep. Bill Sali of Idaho also voted in favor of bill. In a news release, Sali praised the bill for its support of specialty crops that are important to Idaho agriculture, funding for pest and disease programs, and for its support of alternative fuels.

"While far from perfect, this bill happens to be very good for Idaho agriculture," Sali stated. "It is important that we create a sensible farm policy, so that we will never have a day when we speak of America's reliance on foreign food, the way we speak of America's reliance on foreign oil. A safe, abundant and diverse food supply is essential to our state and our country, and this measure will help ensure that Idahoans and all Americans enjoy high quality food and fiber in coming years."

Cathy Cares

Alex McGregor has a nice letter in this week's Gazette concenring Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and the Farm Bill:

The bountiful crops raised east of the Cascades are the results of hard work by dedicated farm families, outstanding people who’ve persevered through many lean years in a high risk, often low return enterprise. It was only a couple of years ago when a bushel of grain was worth less than a gallon of fuel—for the first time since the Great Depression. It is vital that these dedicated families have some “safety net” protection against wild swings in worldwide demand and production costs if they’re to endure in their essential trade.

As a new farm bill finally nears completion, we’ve been fortunate to have Eastern Washington Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers serving on the Conference Committee that has been reconciling differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Cathy has played a vital role in ensuring Northwest farmers are here for the long haul and that our food supply stays strong.

Kudos to Cathy for understanding our needs here in Eastern Washington and for working hard to make sure the new farm bill reflects them. We’re lucky she’s been on the Conference Committee, but we’re even luckier she cares.

Alex McGregor, Colfax

Cathy really does care, and not just about farmers. This press release was issued yesterday:

McMorris Rodgers Announces New Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus

(Washington, D.C.) Today, Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and other members of the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus held their first briefing. Today’s briefing marks the first official event of the bipartisan caucus since its launch last week.

McMorris Rodgers co-chairs the caucus. She and her husband Brian have a one-year-old son, Cole, who has Down syndrome.

“The news of Cole’s Down syndrome was at first difficult to get our arms around and we were eager to learn all we could,” McMorris Rodgers said. “I’m often asked how being a mother has changed my life and changed my priorities, and I can assure you that it’s all been for the better. I have a new passion and a new energy for everything that I do. We have every intention of doing everything possible to ensure Cole has every opportunity to reach his full potential. I believe the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus will be a vehicle to help bring this information to the forefront so all families of children and adults with Down syndrome can lead happy lives.”

There are more than 350,000 people with Down syndrome in the U.S., but past and current funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is disproportionately low when it comes to finding treatments and increasing understanding of secondary disorders that often afflict people with Down syndrome, like Alzheimer’s disease and atherosclerosis.

Today, the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus held its first briefing on what research is being done at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The NIH updated us on its 10-year research plan which calls for increased research on the medical, cognitive, and behavioral conditions that occur in people with Down syndrome.