Remarks as prepared for delivery: It is with solemn regret I find myself before another partisan, unvetted, secretive process like the one conducted by this Committee in February. Mr. Chairman, I took you at your word when you committed to strengthen this Committee’s reputation and return to our storied history of bipartisanship. I believed we had changed course when, through your leadership, we w... Read more »
Good morning and thank you to our witnesses for making the time to be with us today. I am eager to learn more about your contributions to this sector of our agriculture industry. As I’ve said before, I hope our committee will move to holding hearings that explore the issues facing production agriculture, provide opportunities for oversight of the 2018 Farm Bill, and receive updates from officials ... Read more »
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and I will start with two notes of gratitude. The first is to you. When Congress focuses in a bipartisan way on issues, good things happen. This panel, these witnesses, this is going to be a good thing. Thank you. And then I also just want to note my gratitude to other members of this Subcommittee. I mean, when I think about the number of conversations—earnest co... Read more »
Remark as prepared delivery: Chairman Scott, thank you for your leadership on this issue and for working with me in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that the authorizing committee has a say when it comes to disaster assistance for our producers. This extension of the Wildfire Hurricane Indemnity Program disaster program for 2020 and 2021 losses is crucial. With fires raging out West, drought grippin... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning, everyone. Chair Spanberger, thank you for convening today’s hearing. From furniture to baseball bats, and paper to lumber, our forests provide countless products and essential feedstocks for many American industries. Collectively, forest-related businesses support over one million direct jobs and 2.9 million indirect jobs nationwide, generating appro... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: First, I want to thank you for listening to the concerns of our Members by bringing forward the updated amendment that reflects the changes that Representative Bustos planned to offer today. The new amendment removes the language that sets aside funding for specific states and by doing that we are putting all rural communities that are in desperate need of reliabl... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Chair Hayes. And many thanks to our panel of witnesses before us today. I appreciate this hearing; I think we can all agree there are merits to the issue, and even though we may diverge on solutions, it is important we hear one another out and understand there is actually no one way to mitigate every penalty and disincentive associated with our safety n... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning, and thank you Chair Plaskett for calling this hearing today. I am excited for our Subcommittee to come together for the first official hearing for this Congress. Chair Plaskett – I look forward to developing a fruitful relationship with you as we serve this Subcommittee and the very important role that its jurisdiction – especially biotechnology, res... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Chairwoman Bustos, thank you for holding this hearing to evaluate the importance of the farm safety net. After the experiences of the last several years in the Southeast, this hearing is vital now more than ever as we enter hurricane season and the threat it poses to farmers as well as countless other risks our producers across the country face. Not only has the p... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning, and thank you, Chairman Scott, for holding this hearing today. Before I begin, a point of personal privilege if I may. While I certainly appreciate today’s hearing and topic, I again want to make clear that I hope this Committee can turn its attention to the needs of production agriculture, including hearing the testimony of Secretary Vilsack. The ne... Read more »
