| Washington, DC – Today, the House passed the “Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007;” legislation to set the agricultural policies of the United States. Congressman Bill Shuster released the following statement after the vote:
“In the past, consideration of the farm bill was framed by bipartisan cooperation. Today, the process was stained by partisan politics.
The Agriculture Committee was successful in working together to forge an agreement between a diverse set of interests to craft a beneficial farm bill for northeast farmers. That agreement was hijacked by Democrat leadership to appease the agendas of radical environmentalists and social activists. It was sabotaged by the imposition of a $7.5 billion tax increase to pay for urban programs that have nothing to do with agriculture.
Robbing Peter to pay Paul is no way to set policy for the United States. I hope that cooler heads will prevail when the Senate takes up its version of this legislation and returns it to its original intent – to help farmers. If not, by passing this bill, Democrat leadership has made sure this necessary legislation will not be signed into law.”
The farm bill included a last-minute $7.5 billion tax on foreign companies with subsidiaries in the United States. The tax hike was put in at the last minute and was denied debate and review under regular order.
· Foreign companies with subsidiaries in the United States in-source jobs into our country;
· Subsidiaries employ 5.1 million Americans nation-wide;
· In Pennsylvania alone, subsidiaries employ 225,600 people – 5 percent of Pennsylvania’s private-sector workforce;
· Our state ranks 6th in the number of employees supported by U.S. subsidiaries, providing an attractive location for international employers.
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