U.S. Cotton Joins Other Farm Organizations in Urging Senate Action on Emergency Assistance for Agriculture

The National Cotton Council joined other farm organizations in urging the Senate to complete work on 2001 emergency assistance legislation for U.S. agriculture, which is facing a severe economic crisis.

August 2, 2001
Contact: Marjory Walker
(901) 274-9030

MEMPHIS – The National Cotton Council today joined other farm organizations in urging the Senate to complete work on 2001 emergency assistance legislation for U.S. agriculture, which is facing a severe economic crisis.

In a letter to Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Chairman of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, the NCC and other organizations stressed the importance of the Senate taking final action on the assistance package, reconciling its work with the House bill and sending a package to the President prior to the August recess.

The letter stated, "Not only do economic conditions faced by farmers make timely passage important, the nature of the budget resolution raises the possibility that these earmarked funds will not be available unless emergency legislation is enacted right away."

The letter warned that the budget resolution requires that $5.5 billion of these funds be spent prior to the end of the 2001 fiscal year. Members of the affected agricultural organizations are concerned that this process is moving precariously close to the budget deadline.

The National Cotton Council of America’s (NCC) mission is to ensure the ability of all U.S. cotton industry segments to compete effectively and profitably in the raw cotton, oilseed and manufactured product markets at home and abroad.