House Proceeding 10-23-07 on Oct 23rd, 2007 :: 1:42:37 to 1:48:06
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Previous speech:

1:32:44 to 1:42:37( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Bob Etheridge

1:42:28 to 1:42:37( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: for whatever time he may consume. mr. mcintyre: thank you, mr. etheridge. i want to thank my colleague, bob etheridge, for requesting this time tonight. indeed we all stand together knowing thatth

1:42:37 to 1:42:50( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: the severe droughtev which is gripping the southeastern united states hrnas already destroyed millions of acres of valuable crops, mr. speaker, not only in our home state of north carolina

1:42:37 to 1:48:06( Edit History Discussion )
Speech By: Mike McIntyre

1:42:50 to 1:43:04( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: but throughout the southeastern u.s. unfortunately the situation is only going to get worse. today north carolina experienced yet another day of dry weather. months upon months of high temperatures,

1:43:04 to 1:43:14( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: scorching sun back since early this summer. and little to no rain since then have brought about dead and dying crops. soybeans, corn, hay, cotton, and nursery crops in particular. during

1:43:14 to 1:43:24( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: my travels around southeastern north carolina both this summer and fall, i met with many farmers about this issue. back in august during our recess i met with farmers then who feared the

1:43:24 to 1:43:40( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: worst. now here we are months later and unfortunately their nightmares are coming true. if we had not experienced significant rainfall by the labor day weekend, we were going to have even

1:43:40 to 1:43:57( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: worse problems, indeed we have. where lush green fields of corn once stood, ragged brown stalks beat down by the sun now dot our rural landscape. constant reminders of how devastating this

1:43:57 to 1:44:08( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: drought is proving to be. this drought during august i me t with and talked with farmers from several counties. i asked north carolina governor mike easley to declare a disaster declarationsa as severe

1:44:08 to 1:44:20( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: drought conditions existed in most areas. i know myno colleagues have done the same. i wrote the then-secretary of agriculture and the president to request their assistance. and sub sequently

1:44:20 to 1:44:31( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: upon the return to washington after the august recess, i then also asked the leadership of both parties here in the house to help us, to help those in need because indeed this is not

1:44:31 to 1:44:42( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: an issue about political parties. this is an issue of economic survival and ultimatively it's going to aff ect everybody. you know, mr. speaker, to my friend, congressman etheridge, and

1:44:42 to 1:44:53( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: those others joining us here tonight that you'll hear from shortly, this is something that affects everybody's pocketbook. we all depend on food and fiber for our very survival. and this is an

1:44:53 to 1:45:03( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: issue that is now going to affect all of us here in our neighborhoods back home, in our communities, indeed across our state of north carolina and throughout the southeast and ultimately across this

1:45:03 to 1:45:18( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: nation. according to usda system 85 of our state's 100 counties have reported excessive agricultural losses due to drought for at least one significant crop, major loss vs. been reported

1:45:18 to 1:45:29( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: already on corn, cotton, tobacco, soybeans, pastures, hay, and peanuts. and those numbers continue to rise, mr. speaker. as farmers harvest what's left of their crops. i also joined my friend,

1:45:29 to 1:45:37( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: congressman etheridge, in signing the letter to the president as well when we returned from our recess. now, for many families in our district farming is their soul source of income. any

1:45:37 to 1:45:49( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: significant loss of yields is financially devastating. as we all have been hearing from our farmers, they may not even be able to make it until next year. and many may be forced to sell

1:45:49 to 1:46:00( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: the land they have just to pay their bills. and even if north carolina were to see some significant rainfall, most crops are already too far gone for it to make a big difference at this

1:46:00 to 1:46:11( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: point. what these folks need now is disaster assistance to help them pay their bills to make sure they can remain on their farms and get ready tod plant la again in the spring. it's also

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Mike McIntyre: important for all of us as communities and as citizens to realize this is going to affect all of us beyond the farms into our very homes and now people are realizing that with preventive measures

1:46:23 to 1:46:35( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: they are having to do to avoid wasting water. it's imperative we support our farmers during this dire time so that we may ensure a safe and abundant food supply for which we as america are

1:46:35 to 1:46:47( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: known and which is important to all americanam citizens. we need help and we need it now. le t me just say that this drought reaches indeed beyond the farm to citizens throughout regions now across

1:46:47 to 1:46:59( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: thehe country. restrictions on watering lawns and washing cars anhave turned into calls to even reduce shower times and for public schools and someplaces now have started to switch to paper

1:46:59 to 1:47:11( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: plates. our governor has called on even greater restrictions in north carolina and there are great concerns that we not only need rain to help the farmers but this drought has affected

1:47:11 to 1:47:21( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: every citizen in our supply of water for all needs in industry, home, schools, and throughout all sectors of society. we must all begin to think about long-term strategies to conserve water

1:47:21 to 1:47:34( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: and protect the vital water supplies of countless communities throughout not only north carolina but indeed the rest of the southeastern u.s. with meteorologists now calling li for continued

1:47:34 to 1:47:43( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: warm dry weather, the urgency of addressing this worsening drought continues to rise. and the need for financial assistance is greater than ever. the time is now to act. i thank my colleague

1:47:43 to 1:48:06( Edit History Discussion )

Mike McIntyre: for helping us bring attention to this tonight in this time we have. and i know several colleagues from not only throughout north or carolina but across the south are going to be speaking

1:48:06 to 1:48:12( Edit History Discussion )

Bob Etheridge: tonight on the floor. we must act, we must stand in one voice. we must stand across party lines. and we must get the assistance that is needed now. thank you. i yield back the balance of my