在愛荷華州參議員,同時也是美國農委會主席哈金的護航下,美國參議院14日通過一項預算高達2860億美元的農業法案,此議案的目的在改善農業收入保障,以及針對未來能源、保育、營養和農村發展等議題進行投資。
直至目前為止,布希政府仍對此法案抱持反對的態度,代理農業部長康尼爾14日表示,農民與牧場經營者需要面對許多難以預料的事情,理應受到保護,而他自己本身也是聯邦政府對農業採行保護政策的忠實信奉者。然而,參議院所通過的新法案非但無法加強對農民的保護,反而提高稅率來創造150億美元的稅收,壯大政府的規模。
共同起草此法案的喬治亞州參議員、參議院農委會高階共和黨員錢布利斯則稱此法案的通過為「美國農業的真正勝利」。
錢布利斯表示:「此法規將可加強美國食品安全,保護農民和農場的生計,維持良好的環境管理,以及提高美國的能源安全。」
該法案中的營養條款取得最多的補助金額,總計超過50億美元。錢布利斯議員指出,營養預算金額的增加是一項相當重要的成就,並藉由商品的簡化以及農作物保險計劃,創造額外的資源。
The U.S. Senate Friday approved a $286 billion farm bill shepherded through by Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa, who chairs the Agriculture Committee. The measure improves farm income protection and makes investments for the future in energy, conservation, nutrition and rural development initiatives.
Still, the Bush administration maintains its opposition to the bill. Acting Secretary of Agriculture Chuck Conner said Friday, "Farmers and ranchers face enormous uncertainties and deserve a safety net, and I am a firm believer in federal support of agriculture. Yet, the farm bill just passed by the Senate fails to strengthen the safety net and increases taxes to generate $15 billion in revenue used to grow the size and scope of government."
Senator Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Ranking Republican Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee who coauthored the measure, called passage of the bill "a real victory for American agriculture."
"The legislation will strengthen the nation's food security, protect the livelihood of our farmers and ranchers, preserve our efforts to remain good stewards of the environment, and enhance our nation's energy security efforts." said Chambliss.
The nutrition title received the largest funding increase, totaling over $5 billion. Chambliss says the increase was "no small accomplishment" and additional resources were made available by reductions in the commodity and crop insurance programs.
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