Remarks as prepared for delivery: Chairmen Vela and Costa, thank you for holding this important hearing regarding implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill provisions and disaster assistance and thank you to Undersecretary Northey for attending and providing an update on the status of these important policies. As those of us representing rural America know firsthand, times are tough in farm country. Ov... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Madam Chair, thank you for holding today’s hearing to review the National Organic Program. Consumer demand for agricultural goods produced under the organic seal continues to show double-digit growth, providing market incentives for U.S. farmers across a broad range of products. According to USDA, organic sales account for over 4% of total U.S. food sales. U.S. fa... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning everyone. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding today’s hearing to consider the state of the livestock and poultry economies. We are meeting today against the backdrop of incredibly difficult times in the agricultural industry. Our producers find themselves in a precarious spot after facing several years of extreme weather, volatile feed costs, uncerta... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. Chairman, thank you for scheduling this hearing. It is an important topic, and one that has been top of mind for our members for a long time. As the Ranking Member noted in his opening statement, broadband access is not about convenience, it’s about being able to participate in modern life and the economy, which is rapidly moving onto the Internet. For those w... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Chairman Scott, for holding this important hearing on a subject that resonates with all Americans: Rural Broadband. And thank you to our distinguished witnesses that are here today to discuss how affordable, reliable, and high-speed broadband can bring our communities into the 21st century. More than 24 million Americans who live in rural communities do... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. Chairman, I know that you remember the hearing that we conducted in 2012 on this same topic. It was a good and informative hearing and I expect that today’s hearing will build on that work. I was looking though the transcript of that hearing in the preparation for today, and I’d like to share some words of wisdom submitted by Chairman Steven Maijoor, who was t... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. Chairman, thank you for convening this hearing. You and I share a deep concern over the potential absence of international harmonization work between the CFTC and their global counterparts. The main focus of today’s hearing is on the impact of Brexit in US derivatives markets. But, we cannot talk about that without discussing the European Commission’s potentia... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning. Thank you to Chair Spanberger for holding today’s subcommittee hearing on soil health. This is a critically important issue to American agriculture and strong farming communities. Congress has long recognized the importance of promoting soil health across the country, starting with the establishment of the Soil Conservation Service as a permanent par... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate you convening this hearing to discuss one of the most egregious and unnecessary loopholes in current food stamp policy. Broad-based categorical eligibility is a sham. We will hear comments and questions that refer to administrative efficiencies. We will hear hyperbolic examples of how any changes to this policy decimate school ... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. Chairman thank you for convening this hearing to talk about what is – unfortunately – a very timely topic. We all know that farming and ranching come with a unique set of challenges and an inordinate amount of risk. It takes a very special person to be willing to borrow six or seven figures from the bank every year – more than many of us will borrow in a lifet... Read more »
