October 4, 2001. – Preserving the integrity of "The Farm Security Act" as a balanced farm bill with market-responsive commodity support and vastly increased opportunity for conserving practices on farmlands, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday afternoon 200 to 226, rejecting an amendment to remove 40 percent of farmers" safety net funding. "Farmers and ranchers forge the first link in... Read more »
(October 3, 2001) – Wednesday morning, House Agriculture Committee members stood by their commitment made to farmers to bring predictability back to the federal government's farm support programs by bringing a new farm bill to national attention and a vote this week by the U.S. House of Representatives. By mid-afternoon Wednesday, debate had progressed through several proposed amendments without s... Read more »
USDA document "fully consistent with goals of Farm Security Act" (September 19, 2001) -- House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) released the following statement regarding USDA's guiding principles in agricultural policy, made public today: "In the USDA's book, "Food and Agricultural Policy: Taking Stock for the New Century," the Bush Administration has laid out a very compreh... Read more »
Joint statement from U.S. House Committee on Agriculture Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) with the Committee's Ranking Minority Member Charlie Stenholm (D-Texas): (August 1, 2001) "The Senate Majority Leader is diverting attention with a fast shell game to quickly switch blame for the Senate not finishing its work on farmer assistance on time. Close of business set for early August has been schedu... Read more »
U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) and Ranking Minority Member Charlie Stenholm (D-Texas) issued the following joint statement: (July 31, 2001) -- "For the sake of our farmers, the U.S. Senate must put politics aside and realize the critical importance of passing the 2001 crop assistance bill immediately, so that the process can continue and a bill can be sent to the... Read more »
Measure's predictable, market-responsive support includes significant boost for conservation With strong bi-partisan support in passage, the House Agriculture Committee on Friday completed the next farm bill designed to bring predictability back to the federal government's farm support programs while enlarging participation in soil and water conservation.By allowing producers the voluntary choice ... Read more »
Hidden Senate amendment siphons school resources, adds confusion July 18, 2001 – What amounted to an afterthought amendment added long after the passage of the Senate version of the Education Bill will require schools to divert attention and money to new regulations that are already covered by strict laws on the use of pesticides. Department Operations and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Bob Goodl... Read more »
Approval sets urgency for Senate to act within weeks (June 26, 2001) – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) led support for today's House passage of economic assistance for farmers squeezed by low prices and high input costs for 2001 crops. H.R. 2213, "The Crop Year 2001 Agricultural Economic Assistance Act," passed the U.S. House of Representatives without objection. Agric... Read more »
House Agriculture Committee Chairman pulls support for bill on Trade Promotion Authority (June 22, 2001) U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) expressed stern displeasure that the USDA is unilaterally eroding farmers' footing in world trade with today's notification to the World Trade Organization that late-season Market Loss Assistance payments made to American farmers... Read more »
Members adopt Stenholm-Boehner substitute amendment by 24 to 23 Committee vote (June 20, 2001) – House Agriculture Committee Members voted 24 to 23 on Wednesday to adopt a substitute $5.5 billion package of economic assistance for producers to be used in the 2001 Fiscal Year that expires September 30. Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) had presented the Committee with legislation that would have pro... Read more »
