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Helping farmers realize higher prices and raise net farm
incomes. Under President Clinton's leadership, net farm income is
projected to increase by as much as $15 billion this year -- totaling
$55 billion. Measured across all crops and livestock, farmers are
receiving prices 20 percent higher than a year ago. Agricultural
exports have risen dramatically to record levels--$18 billion higher
than when President Clinton took office, with a record trade surplus
of $30 billion. Total farm cash receipts could reach a record $200
billion in 1996 -- an increase of $29 billion since President Clinton
took office. |
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Responding quickly to farmers' needs in times of natural
disaster. The Clinton Administration has assisted farmers in
distressing times by providing emergency loans, by facilitating
emergency forage from the Conservation Reserve Program, by expanding
crop insurance and non-insured assistance coverages, and by supplying
emergency livestock feed. |
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Making government more responsive to farmers' needs.
Recently, the Clinton Administration helped cattle producers through
hard times by purchasing 45 million pounds of beef for distribution in
school lunch and other food assistance programs. These efforts have
raised cattle prices 15 percent since April. |
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Creating a smaller government that works better and costs
less. The Clinton Administration has reduced the federal workforce by
more than 230,000 positions -- to its lowest level since John F.
Kennedy was president. USDA has undergone its most massive
restructuring in history. USDA streamlining has already saved the
taxpayers over $900 million and reduced the workforce by 10,000
positions. The USDA has consolidated 43 individual agencies into 29
and has created service-oriented "one-stop shop" field offices for
America's farmers. |
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Making farm programs simpler and more flexible. President
Clinton fought for and won provisions in the farm bill that increase
planting flexibility. Under President Clinton's leadership, the USDA
has made it easier for farmers to participate in federal farm programs
and achieved a record level farm program enrollment this year -- 99
percent. In 1996, 334 million acres are planted to principal crops --
an increase of 15 million over last year. |
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Implementing common-sense regulatory reform. The Clinton
Administration has eliminated 16,000 pages of obsolete government
regulations and is revising another 31,000 pages. The USDA has revised
compliance rules and wetlands reform, promoting incentive-based -- not
punishment-based -- regulation, and providing farmers with more
flexibility. |
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Reforming federal food safety inspection rules for
seafood, meat, and poultry to ensure that the food Americans feed
their families is safe. The President has directed food inspectors to
implement scientific methods to increase food safety. |
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Signing into law historic pesticide reform legislation
that ensures the safety of our families' food. The Food Quality
Protection Act enhances confidence of American consumers, while acting
in the best interests of our farmers and the
environment. |
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Completing a comprehensive government-wide plan and budget
for biomedical and behavioral research on AIDS. |
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Expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for 15
million hard-working families so no parents who work full-time will
have to raise their children in poverty. |
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Designating 30 rural enterprise communities and 3 rural
empowerment zones. By fostering the involvement of community leaders
and by providing tax incentives, the Clinton Administration is working
to improve education and increase employment for rural
Americans. |
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Creating the National Home Ownership Partnership to help
rural families own their own homes. The Clinton Administration has
increased home ownership opportunities for more than 234,000 people
and expanded rural rental housing for nearly 30,000. Nationally, the
home ownership rate is at a 15-year high of 65.4 percent. In rural
America it is even higher -- 72.7 percent. |
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Designating 30 rural enterprise communities and 3 rural
empowerment zones. By fostering the involvement of community leaders
and by providing tax incentives, the Clinton Administration is working
to improve education and increase employment for rural
Americans. |
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Launching the Water 2000 initiative. The Clinton
Administration is addressing rural America's pressing water needs by
investing more than $400 million in loans and grants to communities to
implement safe and dependable drinking water systems. |
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Winning passage of a Farm Bill that reflects the strong
commitment to the environment that the Clinton Administration and
American farmers share. This law includes an unprecedented $2.2
billion for conservation, helping farmers and ranchers preserve soil,
water, and other critical resources they depend on for their
livelihood. |