Press Releases

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Rep. Bob Smith (R-OR), Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, today announced that the Forage Improvement Act of 1997 (H.R. 2493), his legislation to improve the management of federal lands and provide greater stability and certainty for western family ranchers, could be considered by the full House of Representatives as early as Wednesday, October 29. The House Rules Committee will meet ... Read more »

Oregon Congressman Bob Smith, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and formerly undecided on extending fast track trade negotiating authority, today announced his enthusiastic support for fast track and extolled free trade's benefits for agriculture. Smith, who has made reducing international barriers to American farm products and increasing agriculture exports a top priority in the 105t... Read more »

Acting to help dairy farmers whose products are removed from the market through no fault of their own, the House of Representatives today passed H.R. 1789, a reauthorization of USDA's Dairy Indemnity Program, as well as two other agriculture measures. H.R. 1789, which passed the House by voice vote, reauthorizes the Dairy Indemnity Program (DIP) through FY2002, requires the Secretary of Agricultur... Read more »

Following the House Agriculture Committee's action to bring greater stability for western family ranchers and better, more scientific management of public lands, the House Committee on Resources today passed by an overwhelming bi-partisan margin Rep. Bob Smith's (R-OR) "Forage Improvement Act of 1997" (H.R. 2493), completing House committee action on the bill and enabling it to be considered on th... Read more »

Oregon Congressman Bob Smith, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, today lauded Chile's decision to import U.S. wheat that originates from ares surveyed and found free of karnal bunt fungus, action Smith first urged in an Agriculture Committee trade mission to Chile last January. Smith has made reducing trade barriers and increasing U.S. agricultural exports a priority of the Agricultur... Read more »

In separate letters, Oregon Congressman Bob Smith, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, today sharply questioned both Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman and Frank Claydon, Canada's Deputy Minister of Agriculture, over rising exports of Canadian wheat to the United States. On Tuesday, Agriculture Under Secretary August Schumacher revealed that Canadian wheat exports to the United States ... Read more »

Acting swiftly to bring greater stability for western family ranchers and better, more scientific management of public lands, the House Committee on Agriculture today passed Chairman Bob Smith's (R-OR) "Forage Improvement Act of 1997", sending the bill for further action in the House Resources Committee. The Committee also passed three other measures: H.R. 1779, introduced by Rep. Roy Blunt (R-MO)... Read more »

Oregon Congressman Bob Smith, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, today introduced nationwide forest health legislation to provide for better forest science, more agency accountability, and on-the-ground results that rehabilitate and protect America's precious forest resources. Smith, whose Committee on Agriculture has held six hearings into forest health, was joined in introducing the... Read more »

Oregon Congressman Bob Smith, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture and a leader in western livestock issues, today introduced comprehensive public lands grazing reform legislation to bring greater stability for western family ranchers and better, more scientific management of public lands. Smith introduced "The Forage Improvement Act of 1997" this week and unveiled it at a Livestock, Dai... Read more »