Chairman Bob Goodlatte, Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman today held a press conference during which they discussed their expectations about the agricultural negotiations for the forthcoming Doha Round of trade negotiations scheduled for December in Hong Kong. “First and foremost, market access is critical. If the agricultural negotiations are going to... Read more »
In anticipation of the development of a National Animal Identification System (NAIS) in the United States, Chairman Bob Goodlatte today chaired a hearing to review the experience Canada and Australia had in implementing their private sector-based national animal ID systems. “Among the reasons I have been an advocate of a private sector-based approach to animal ID is the success of the Canadian and... Read more »
Chairman Bob Goodlatte and Livestock and Horticulture Subcommittee Chairman Robin Hayes today praised the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) decision to pursue a National Animal Identification System (NAIS) based on a public/private partnership. Their comments came following Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johanns’ press conference updating USDA’s work toward a trace-back system for U.S. livest... Read more »
Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture Chairman Robin Hayes (R-NC) chaired a field hearing today in Lodi, California to review the specialty crop industry. The hearing covered a variety of issues including trade, market access, conservation, research and pests and diseases affecting the fruit, nut, vegetable, wine and nursery industries. Witnesses included California Agriculture Se... Read more »
Chairman Bob Goodlatte issued the following statement after House passage today of the Dominican Republic – Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA). “I am very pleased that the U.S. House of Representatives joined with our colleagues in the Senate to pass CAFTA, a trade agreement that will level the trade playing field with our Central American neighbors and provide U.S. producers with great... Read more »
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte issued the following statement regarding today’s approval by the House of the Conference Report for the Energy Policy Act of 2005: “I am pleased that the House voted today to pass the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This bill outlines a comprehensive energy strategy to help the U.S. reduce its dependency on foreign oil by utilizing domestic, renewable ... Read more »
The House Committee on Agriculture today marked-up two reauthorization bills: the Mandatory Price Reporting Act and the Grains Standards Act set to expire later this year. Both reauthorizations were completed without amendment and had strong bi-partisan and industry support. H.R. 3408 reauthorizes the Livestock Mandatory Reporting (MPR) Act of 1999 and amends the swine reporting provision of that ... Read more »
Today Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture joined Representatives Henry Bonilla (R-TX) and Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) in introducing the Strengthening the Ownership of Private Property (STOPP) Act. This bipartisan legislation was introduced in response to the narrow 5-4 U.S. Supreme Court decision, Kelo v. City of New London, giving local governments broad eminent domain power to seize pri... Read more »
House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Bob Goodlatte chaired a hearing today to review agriculture’s role in a renewable fuels standard (RFS). The Chairman’s hearing was particularly timely as House and Senate conferees met to iron out differences in the energy bills passed in those chambers earlier this year. The House energy bill includes a five billion gallon RFS while the Senate has an eight ... Read more »
Congressman Gil Gutknecht, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Dairy, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Congresswoman Stephanie Herseth today introduced the Renewable Fuels Act of 2005, H.R. 3081, in the House. Chairman Bob Goodlatte, Ranking Minority Member Collin Peterson, Congressman Tom Osborne, and Congressman Jerry Moran joined in introducing the bipartisan legislati... Read more »
