Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning. I see a lot of new faces today as we tackle a cutting-edge topic for the committee: digital assets. For those of you who have not joined us before, welcome. We are happy to have you as we discuss an emerging policy area that is of deep interest to our members, to the emerging cryptocurrency industry, and…we hope…to Americans of all stripes. Digital a... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery for general debate on H.R.2 on the House floor: Mr. Chairman/Madam Chairwoman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018—more commonly known as the Farm Bill. I do so proudly because I still believe that rural America and our farm and ranch families are the backbone of this country. Our farmers and ranchers ensure that Amer... Read more »
Washington, D.C. – Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway offered the below remarks before the House Rules Committee regarding the 2018 Farm Bill, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act (H.R.2): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member McGovern, and members of the committee. I appreciate the opportunity to come before you today concerning the farm bill. H.R. 2—the Agriculture & N... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: All of you know the economic condition of rural America right now. We have seen a 52-percent drop in net farm income over the past 5 years. Chapter 12 bankruptcies are up 33 percent over the past 2 years alone. And not long ago, two key universities informed us that two-thirds of the representative farms they use to model the economic conditions of agriculture are... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: We have one heck of a task before us this year, and that is getting a farm bill done—and done on time. Given the state of the ag economy, it can’t come soon enough for producers. With a 52 percent drop in net farm income over the past 5 years, and USDA predicting another drop in farm income to the lowest level in 12 years, the American farmer and rancher is at ser... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: I would like to thank our star witness, the Honorable Sonny Perdue, for being with us today. It is customary for the Secretary of Agriculture to help the committee kick off a new year. This hearing is an opportunity for the secretary to offer his assessment of the rural economy and to visit with members of the committee about the full range of issues impacting rur... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning. I would like to thank Chairman Giancarlo for being here today to highlight his plans for the CFTC. I first want to congratulate him on his nomination and confirmation. I count Chris as a friend; I have enjoyed his counsel and the opportunity to work with him the past three years. He is going to make a fine Chairman of the CFTC and I have all the con... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning. Thank you all for being here today as we consider five straightforward bills. H.R. 2936, the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2017, gives the Forest Service more authority and much needed flexibility to improve and expedite forest management activities in federal forests. The past two fire seasons were among the most expensive on record, and this yea... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: I want to start by welcoming all of our witnesses. Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedules to share your thoughts with us today. As we have noted time and again, America’s farmers and ranchers are the most efficient, productive and competitive producers in the world. Their ability to meet the rapidly-growing and ever-changing demands both at home and ... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning and thank y’all for being here today. There is perhaps no current public policy proposal that commands more bipartisan public support than the idea of rebuilding America’s public works. We’ve all heard the news reports about the impact aging infrastructure has on our ability to trade, travel and communicate. But perhaps nowhere is the need to renew ou... Read more »
