Committee Hears from National Producer Organizations Farm Policy Review Continues with 13th Hearing in Six Months (July 12, 2000) Today, in a continuation of a comprehensive review of federal farm policy, Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) convened the House Committee on Agriculture to hear the perspectives of leaders from national farm organizations. "I have stated at the beginning of each of the fiel... Read more »
EPA's Runoff Rules Get Downstream Criticism TMDL rule changes impact producers' irrigation choices (July 11, 2000) House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) and Ranking Minority Member Charlie Stenholm (D-Texas) sharply criticized the Environmental Protection Agency's plans to finalize rule changes on producers' management of irrigation and rainfall water runoff from their field... Read more »
Barrett Introduces Legislation to Reauthorize the United States Grain Standards Act (July 6, 2000) Today, the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource Conservation, and Credit Chairman Bill Barrett (R-NE) and Ranking Member David Minge (D-MN) announced that they recently introduced legislation (H.R. 4788) providing for reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act. Am... Read more »
House Votes to De-fund Controversial EPA Water Proposal State Water Agencies Join Call to Withdraw TMDL Rules as Chairman, Ranking Member Urge OMB Director to Pull Regulations (June 30, 2000) Last night, by a vote of 306-110, the House passed military construction appropriations legislation, which included language prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from using its funds to imple... Read more »
Committee Reviews International Price Differentials in Agricultural Inputs (June 29, 2000) Today, Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) convened the House Committee on Agriculture to review factors affecting the pricing of domestic and foreign agricultural inputs, using the specific examples of pesticides and biotech seeds. "Throughout the last several months, Congressman Stenholm and I have been taking t... Read more »
Pressure on EPA to Withdraw TMDL Rules Continues at Committee Hearing Two days before the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) proposed Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) rules take effect, the House Committee on Agriculture, led by Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX), today renewed its united call on for the EPA to withdraw its controversial regulations. "We have heard from farmers, ranchers, forestlan... Read more »
Committee Passes Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 Today, the House Committee on Agriculture, led by Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX), passed by voice vote, legislation (H.R. 4541) sponsored by Rep. Tom Ewing (R-IL), which reauthorizes the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and modernizes laws for futures, futures options, and other derivatives including swaps. "While there are vast competing int... Read more »
Subcommittee Passes Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000 Today, House Agriculture Subcommittee on Risk Management, Research and Specialty Crops led by Chairman Tom Ewing (R-IL) passed by voice vote his legislation (H.R. 4541) which reauthorizes the Commodity Exchange Act (CEA) and modernizes laws for futures, futures options, and swaps. "This bill substantively addresses the most important ... Read more »
Committee Questions Secretary Glickman on use of USDA Export and Market Promotion Programs Today, Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) convened the House Committee on Agriculture to receive testimony from Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman regarding various USDA export and market promotion programs and the extent to which they are used to assist U.S. farmers and ranchers. The hearing also provided a v... Read more »
New Crop Insurance Coverage Begins with Fall-Seeded Crops Signing "Agricultural Risk Protection Act" into law improves coverage, protects revenue With legislation signed into law on Tuesday, farmers and ranchers will be able to access vastly improved federal insurance on crops planted as early as the coming fall season. "The Agricultural Risk Protection Act" (H.R. 2559) provides producers the abil... Read more »
