Committee Reviews Implementation of Agricultural Risk Protection Act Chairman Combest focuses attention on tools to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse Today, the House Committee on Agriculture, convened by Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX), heard from Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman and representatives from the crop insurance industry regarding implementation of P.L. 106-224, the Agricultural Risk ... Read more »
USDA Delay Frustrates Producers with Price Support Marketing Loans USDA now agrees with Combest idea: lien searches outmoded for some Marketing Loans After five weeks of effort by House Ag Committee Chairman Larry Combest, producers will gain flexibility from the use of marketing certificates as a result of USDA's adoption of Combest's recommendation to waive the time-consuming commodity lien sear... Read more »
Goodlatte Criticizes USDA for Misappropriation of Funds Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry, led by Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) roundly condemned the abuse of authority and misuse of taxpayer dollars in the questionable administration of the USDA's Urban Resources Partnership (URP) Program. In 1994, the Office of the Under Secreta... Read more »
U.S. Farmers Break Trade Barrier of China's Great Wall: Combest, Stenholm praise Senate vote favoring permanent trade climate U.S. House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) and Ranking Minority Member Charlie Stenholm (D-TX) praised the market-opening gains for American farmers that are signaled by today's U.S. Senate approval of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with China. (PNTR).... Read more »
Combest, Stenholm Urge President's Use of Newest Trade Tool Carousel Retaliation adds teeth to trade agreements Urging the president to build on bi-partisan congressional support for maintaining an aggressive U.S. trade strategy, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) and Ranking Minority Member Charlie Stenholm (D-TX) have formally requested that the president provide a briefin... Read more »
Committee Reviews Legislation to Amend Animal Welfare Act H.R. 1275 would prohibit interstate shipment of gamefowl Today, the House Committee on Agriculture, led by Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX), reviewed legislation (H.R. 1275) which would amend the Animal Welfare Act to prohibit the interstate movement of live birds with the intent of having the birds participate in fighting ventures. "H.R. 1275... Read more »
Committee's "Dogged" Pursuit of New Law: Detector Dog finds home at House Agriculture Committee Some recently-passed legislation found its way home — literally — when a dog selected for inspection of imported agricultural goods arrived on the House Agriculture Committee's doorstep Monday morning. When forging groundbreaking reform legislation on crop insurance this session, House Agriculture Commi... Read more »
Ag Chairman Confirms Financial Commitment to Producers Payments arrive in producers' hands beginning September 1 House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) confirmed today that financial help approved by Congress is ready to go to producers as scheduled during September. Anticipating producer needs from multiple years of low market values for crops, Congress directed that producers ... Read more »
Ag Subcommittee Reviews Fraud and Bribery at Hunts Point Terminal Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture, led by Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA), held an oversight hearing to review illegal activity occurring at the Hunts Point Terminal Market in New York. "Bribery and fraud in the USDA inspection program represent a dangerous threat to America's system for grading p... Read more »
Comprehensive Farm Policy Review Continues with Producer Groups Today, in its fifteenth hearing reviewing all aspects of federal farm policy, the House Committee on Agriculture, convened by Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) heard from representatives of producer groups that face many issues distinct to their industries. "Agricultural producers of all types face unique and severe operating risks. Findi... Read more »
