Opening Statements

Dusty Johnson, Republican Leader of the Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture For a copy of Mr. Johnson's remarks, click here. Jim Baird, Republican Leader of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research For a copy of Mr. Baird's remarks, click here. # # # Read more »

Thank you, Mr. Chairman for hosting this joint subcommittee hearing on agricultural biotechnology. I’m grateful this is a joint subcommittee, because obviously there are enormous implications on both the livestock and horticulture sides, and we’ll get more done working together. There is a moral and technological issue facing this committee and society – how do we feed a growing world while being ... Read more »

Good morning. Thank you Chairman Costa and Chair Plaskett for calling this hearing today. I appreciate our friends from the Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee joining us for this discussion, and I am very excited for our Subcommittees to have the opportunity to discuss this incredibly important topic. I want to also thank our witnesses for joining us today for this dialogue – I look fo... Read more »

Remarks as prepared for delivery: I appreciate the opportunity for Members to come together and advance thoughtful solutions at this markup. Among the bills, I am excited we will consider bipartisan legislation that my friend Ron Kind and I have been working on for months: H.R. 5608, the Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act. CWD has been a big problem for the deer populations in Pen... Read more »

Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good afternoon. On countless occasions, I’ve mentioned the importance of this Committee getting back to holding hearings to explore issues facing production agriculture and conducting oversight of the numerous programs administered by the Department of Agriculture—especially as we gear up for the next Farm Bill. So in that regard, I am thankful, Mr. Chairman, that... Read more »

Remarks as prepared for delivery: Welcome, Chief Moore, and thank you for being here today. Like so many others who live in the West or near forests, this is an extremely important and personal issue to me and those that I represent. I want to begin by recognizing our firefighters on the ground who risk their lives every day to confront these disasters head-on. To our firefighters, I say thank you... Read more »

Remarks as prepared for delivery: Mr. Chairman, thank you for holding today's hearing to review carbon markets. In July, I requested this hearing, along with legislative hearings on several proposed climate bills within our jurisdiction. Unfortunately, it seems many Members and stakeholders feel rushed to move legislation on carbon markets without Congress thoroughly vetting the issue. Honestly, I... Read more »

Remarks as prepared for delivery: I would be remiss, Mr. Chairman, if I did not express my continued disappointment in the reconciliation process, which continues to tarnish this Committee’s reputation of bipartisanship and decorum. I am also frustrated, and frankly surprised, we are here today to mark up a bill and a resolution that have nothing to do with the missing $28 billion you referenced l... Read more »

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 »