Although the news from our nation's capital this week has been largely about the president's likelihood of impeachment or resignation, the Congress has been working very actively to deal not only with the Starr report, but also with other important problems that are confronting American citizens.

Many of our nation's farmers for example, are facing the worst disaster in agriculture that they can remember. The economic crisis in Asia has resulted in lost markets. Severe weather conditions in some states have caused crops to fail.

Other areas have been hit, and hit hard with crop diseases. The combined effect of these misfortunes has been catastrophic for many agriculture producers.

And neither the president nor his Secretary of Agriculture has proposed any workable program to assist these beleaguered farmers and ranchers.

This week Republicans in Congress took action that will go a long way toward bringing relief where it is needed. The House Ways and Means Committee reported out a bill that will reduce taxes and provide other benefits to farm families. It includes a permanent extension of income averaging. It enables operating losses to be carried back for five years. It prevents taxation of market transition payments until they're actually received. It allows 100 percent deductibility of health insurance by those who are self-employed beginning next year. And it accelerates exemptions from estate and gift taxes.

The Republican leadership in Congress, also endorsed this week, a disaster assistance proposal to be included in the agriculture appropriations bill that will provide almost $4 billion in direct payments and benefits to farmers and ranchers.

This initiative includes livestock feed assistance, increased market transition payments, disaster payments for crop yield and quality losses. And extra assistance for those who have incurred crop loses over several years, such as in the upper plains and the South.

In July, the Republicans in Congress lead the way in the passage of legislation that allows farmers to receive next year's market transition payments this October, which will give them early access to $5.5 billion.

The Speaker of the House also announced that he will call up for passage next week, a bill to authorize fast track negotiation of a trade agreement, to open new markets and break down barriers to trade.

Market access is very important to agriculture and to our nation's economy in general. Ninety-five percent of the world's population lives outside the United States. Without good trade agreements, that give us free access to the world market place, we cannot prosper in agriculture or any other business that depends so much on exports.

The president has failed to provide leadership in his own party on legislation that would provide fast track negotiating authority. He and his Secretary of Agriculture should do more to improve our trade relationships in this hemisphere and beyond. The export- enhancement program, for example, could be utilized more effectively to increase our exports.

Congress is giving the administration the tools and the money to address the serious crisis we face in agriculture. It is time for the president to stop criticizing Congress, and start cooperating with us, to solve these problems.

This is United States Senator Thad Cochran of Mississippi. Thanks for listening.