Klobuchar Calls on Congress to Extend Current Farm Bill

07/27/2006

In light of reports that the Doha round of World Trade Organization (WTO) trade negotiations has collapsed, U.S. Senate candidate and County Attorney Amy Klobuchar issued the following statement:

“The breakdown of the WTO trade negotiations reinforces the need for Congress to extend the current Farm Bill until the World Trade Organization (WTO) Doha Round negotiations are complete. It would be irresponsible and unjust to allow the safety net set up in the current Farm Bill to lapse before knowing if the WTO talks will result in a level playing field for our farmers,” Klobuchar said.

Noting that Congressman Kennedy has not joined Congressman Peterson and Senator Coleman on a bipartisan bill in Congress that would extend the Farm Bill until a Doha agreement is reached. At last Saturday’s Farm Bill hearing in Marshall, representatives from groups like the Minnesota Farmers’ Union and the Minnesota Corn Growers Association expressed support for a farm bill extension.

“It’s time that the rest of Congress joined Congressman Peterson and Senator Coleman to extend the farm bill,” said Klobuchar, who has advocated for a number of updates to the Farm Bill including permanent disaster relief.