Remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. Secretary, welcome to you, sir. We have visited many times before — including prior to your taking office — but allow me to officially declare this committee’s sincere congratulations on becoming our nation’s 31st secretary of agriculture. We are eager to work with you and are certain you will uphold the office with the utmost respect and concern for rural America’s interests. We also know you have a great heart and concern for America’s farmers and ranchers...
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Today we will consider H.R. 1177, the Removing Outdated Restrictions to Allow for Job Growth Act. In the early 1980s, the City of Old Town, Maine, purchased land from the federal government to be part of the Old Town Airport. The deed included a restriction limiting use of the land to a municipal airport or other public use. This bill allows the City of Old Town to petition the Secretary of Agriculture to release the deed restriction, and it directs the Secretary to provide the release. This leg...
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H.R. 2154 renames the Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, North Dakota, as the Edward T. Schafer Agricultural Research Center. Ed Schafer served as North Dakota’s Governor from 1992 to 2000, and as our nation’s Secretary of Agriculture from 2008 to 2009. Renaming the Red River Valley Agricultural Research Center in Fargo, North Dakota, to honor Secretary Schafer is a fitting tribute to his distinguished career in public service. Located in Secretary Schafer’s home state and a...
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Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning. I want to welcome you all to today’s hearing examining how the tax code impacts American agricultural producers. Much like it did in 1985 and 1986, tax reform is poised to again consume much of Washington’s attention. Before that happens, today’s hearing will offer Members a baseline understanding of how the current tax code affects farmers, ranchers, and foresters, and how changes to the code might affect them going forward. Both the ranking membe...
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Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good afternoon, and welcome to today’s subcommittee hearing. Over the past several weeks, the Agriculture Committee has held a series of hearings in preparation for crafting the next farm bill. Through this, the Committee has examined the overall farm economy, reviewed the safety and soundness of the Farm Credit System, and heard from a broad constituency on nearly all aspects of the farm bill. These hearings have shown that producers nationwide have been experi...
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Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning and welcome to today’s hearing. This hearing is a continuation of the series we have been holding over the past month in preparation for the next farm bill. Over the course of the next several months, we will be working to improve upon the 2014 Farm Bill and ensure the needs of not only American farmers and ranchers are being met, but that consumers will continue to benefit from sound and stable farm policy. Last week we heard from producers of corn...
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Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning, and welcome to today’s committee hearing to review the Farm Credit System. Today’s hearing is titled a Review of the Farm Credit System but the objective is twofold. First, we hope to educate ourselves and the public on the history and purpose of the Farm Credit System institutions that provide vital credit to rural America. Since its inception over 100 years ago, the Farm Credit System has never wavered in its mission of providing credit to our ru...
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Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning, and welcome to today’s Nutrition Subcommittee hearing on the future of SNAP. This hearing continues the Committee’s series to review current policy and set the stage for the next farm bill. Thank you to everyone for taking the time to be here, particularly our five witnesses for their participation and respective insights. The House Committee on Agriculture completed a comprehensive review of SNAP during the 114th Congress. Known as the Past, Prese...
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Remarks as prepared for delivery: This is the first hearing of the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management subcommittee in preparation for the next farm bill. Over the course of the next year, we will be examining the policies under our jurisdiction so we can improve upon the 2014 Farm Bill and make sure that the needs of not only American farmers and ranchers are being met, but so that consumers will continue to benefit from a stable farm policy. In agriculture it is often said that “the c...
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Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning and welcome to today’s hearing. This hearing continues our marathon series of hearings examining all aspects of the next farm bill. The focus of today’s hearing is on dairy policy. Dairy is a unique industry. It is present in all 50 states. Harvest occurs 7 days a week and 365 days a year. Milk is highly perishable. And, it’s processed into a range of products. These factors—combined with the fact that dairy markets are increasingly globally integra...
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