Washington, D.C. – Following U.S. Sec. of Agriculture Sonny Perdue’s announcement that the U.S. is indefinitely suspending all imports of fresh beef from Brazil, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) made the below remarks: “U.S. consumers enjoy the safest food supply in the world and, like Sec. Perdue, I am committed to keeping it that way. Halting imports of fresh beef from Brazil is an appropriate and necessary measure as Brazilian officials work to assess and correc...
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Washington, D.C.—Today, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to discuss investments in agricultural research as a continuation of the committee’s hearing series on preparing for the next farm bill. Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) and members of the committee heard from various university representatives on the opportunities and challenges institutions face in ensuring the U.S. remains a world leader in agricultural research and scientific advancement. Following the hearing, Chairma...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (MN-7) made the below remarks following an announcement that an agreement was reached between the U.S. sugar industry and the Department of Commerce to bring Mexican sugar into compliance with U.S. trade laws: “I am very pleased that the Department of Commerce was able to negotiate an agreement that works for U.S. sugar farmers by ending the illegal dumping of sugar,” said...
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Washington, D.C. – Ahead of the next farm bill, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) and Ranking Member Collin Peterson (MN-7) today announced the first of several committee activities across the country intended to stimulate conversation and gather input from farmers, ranchers and stakeholders. “The Next Farm Bill, Conversations in the Field,” a committee listening session, will take place in Gainesville, Florida on June 24, 2017. Upon announcement of the listening se...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry held a hearing to examine efforts to address small watershed infrastructure. Subcommittee Chairman Frank Lucas (OK-3) and members heard from two panels of witnesses who underscored the importance of technical and financial assistance to maintain these watershed structures. “For nearly 70 years, rural communities have benefited from federal investments in watershed projects – preventing damage and destructio...
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Washington, D.C. – Following today’s announcement that the U.S. and China have finalized an agreement allowing for American beef exports, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) and Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman David Rouzer (NC-07) made the below comments: “As one of the world's largest importers of beef, China has long-been an area of great opportunity for the U.S. beef industry. Well today that ‘great opportunity’ becomes one step closer to re...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Nutrition held a hearing to evaluate technology and modernization in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson and members of the committee heard from a variety of witnesses on the ways technology and modernization improve the customer experience, streamline delivery of services and ease administrative burden. This hearing is a continuation of the committee’s hearing series ...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing on the future of international food aid and agricultural development as a continuation of the committee’s series to examine all aspects of the next farm bill. Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) and members of the committee heard from stakeholders on the critical assistance that these programs provide in terms of both global food security and U.S. national security. Following the hearing, Chairman Conaway made the below rem...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) issued the following statement after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced its intention to delay the compliance dates for agricultural water requirements in the FDA Food Safety Modernization Act’s (FSMA) produce safety rule: “Producers need additional time to come into compliance with FSMA’s produce safety rules, and I commend the FDA for providing this needed flexibility. I’ve heard from m...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (TX-11) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman, Bob Goodlatte (VA-6) sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions calling for a review of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) decision to prosecute a California court case alleging violations under the Clean Water Act (CWA) – directly related to both the statutory exemptions for farming and Obama administration’s waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule. The letter reque...
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