WASHINGTON, D.C.--Sixth District Congressman Frank Lucas supported House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Smith's (R-OR) successful move today to strike a provision from the Disaster Recovery Act which capped the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) at 14 million acres. This action took place during floor consideration of H.R. 1469.

"I was 100 percent in support of Chairman Smith's efforts to remove the 14 million acre CRP enrollment cap," Lucas said. "Not only would this hurt American farmers, but this provision was also in violation of House rules. The Rules of the House expressly prohibit legislating on an appropriations bill.

"It was very important that we took this action to ensure the effectiveness of the program," Lucas continued. "CRP is the predominant agriculture program in existence to conserve highly erodible and other environmentally sensitive lands. It has been very effective in the past, and can work just as well in the future if we will let it.

"Capping the total number of enrolled acres at 14 million would be tough on farmers in the Sixth District and across the nation, and bad for our environment," Lucas said.

"I am truly pleased that the House saw it fit to drop this egregious provision. I and most AG state legislators believe this program must include at least the 19 million acres that the U.S. Agriculture Department had indicated that it would offer contracts on during this year's sign-up."