From the time I was young, I was taught that a farmer's livelihood depends on two things: the weather and the markets. While the government can't control the weather, federal Farm Bills and disaster relief provide an invaluable safety net, bringing a level of stability to commodity markets that helps farmers stay in business, make plans for the future, and continue to feed America and the world.

The conditions created by the weather and the markets over the last year demonstrate why that safety net is so critical to the health of the agricultural sector. Weather-related disaster losses, declining commodity prices, and skyrocketing energy costs have all played havoc with farmers' ability to make ends meet. The 2005 harvest was one of the most expensive in our nation's history, but as costs to producers continue to soar, farmers have little opportunity to recoup their increasing expenditures.

Since last year, I have been working with my colleagues from rural America to highlight the need for emergency agriculture disaster assistance. In March, an agriculture disaster assistance amendment was offered during debate on the supplemental appropriations bill, but failed in committee. While this was a setback in the House, better news recently came from the Senate when a similar amendment was unanimously approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

Building upon the momentum of the Senate action, the House Agriculture Committee's Ranking Democrat brought together a bipartisan coalition to reintroduce an emergency agriculture disaster assistance bill in the House of Representatives. The Emergency Disaster Assistance Act of 2006, which I have cosponsored, is designed to provide disaster relief to farmers who have experienced weather-related crop losses, loss of livestock, and damage to livestock feed supplies. The bill will also assist farmers who were overwhelmed by energy prices that spiked following last year's hurricanes.

I am optimistic that this bipartisan approach will ensure that the issue of farm disaster relief remains on the table. Combined with the developments in the Senate, I believe that the prospects for the approval of disaster relief legislation have greatly improved. Taking care of rural America is the only way to ensure the prosperity of the whole nation, and I will continue to work to reinforce the farm safety net and help our farmers during difficult times.

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