Remarks as prepared delivery: Good morning, and thank you Chair Plaskett for calling this hearing today. Today’s hearing marks an important step, as this is our first hearing to review the horticulture title of the 2018 Farm Bill. As we prepare for the next farm bill, it is important to hear from both USDA and stakeholders to learn what’s working, and what is not. The horticulture title is broad –... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Chairman Scott, and thank you to our panelists for testifying. Recently, The New York Times wrote a series of stories and produced several videos denigrating rural Americans for providing the country with the safest, most abundant, and most affordable food supply in the history of the world. Let’s set the record straight. U.S. agriculture accounts for l... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And thank you, Under Secretary Torres Small for being here today. I would like to begin by remembering Jim Hagedorn. Jim was passionate about his work on the Ag Committee and serving the people of southern Minnesota. Our districts are very similar, so I was fortunate to work with him on issues critical to our constituents, like promoting e... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Before I begin, I’d like to take a brief moment to echo Chairman Scott and send my thoughts and prayers to the family and staff of our late friend and colleague, Rep. Jim Hagedorn. Jim was a tireless advocate on behalf of our nation's farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters and his love for this Committee and rural America will not soon be forgotten. I conside... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. And thank you to our witness today. I welcome Inspector Fong to the Subcommittee and look forward to the discussion. First and foremost, while I appreciate the work of OIG on this review, I remain uncertain as to why we would not bring the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (OASCR, pronounced OS-CAR), even if it involve... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Chairwoman Bustos, and thank you to Undersecretary Bonnie for being with us today, and congratulations on your confirmation to head up the Farm Production and Conservation – or FPAC (eff-pack) – mission area. Just over the course of the past 5 years, FPAC has been called upon to deliver multiple rounds of disaster assistance, implement the 2018 Farm Bil... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to all the witnesses for being here today. I’m looking forward to hearing from these knowledgeable, solutions-focused leaders. Unfortunately, there are others who are less knowledgeable and less solutions-focused sharing their views in other venues. Earlier this week, the NYT had an opinion piece entitled “Meet the People Get... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding today’s hearing, and thank you, Secretary Vilsack, for traveling to Washington, D.C. to join us. This Committee is well overdue for a general audience with you, so I want to mention in advance that I appreciate your willingness to appear before us to respond to each Members’ questions and concerns. Mr. Secretary, I was hopeful w... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Electric vehicles are impressive feats of technology and engineering and the substantial industry investment in EVs is testament to the hope they can meet the varied needs of drivers across America, including in rural communities. In recent years, the electrification of our transportation systems and the elimination of liquid fuels has been advertised as a critica... Read more »
Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. And thank you to each of our witnesses for your participation today. I must first again reiterate how important it is for this Committee—and frankly most of the Committees in Congress—to bring forward the Administration for conversations like these. Whether it be the Agriculture Committee or not, this Administration is AWOL. We are failing at our obligation as policyma... Read more »
