Press Releases

MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara Hinton (202) 225-0184 tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov Ranking Member Frank Lucas issued the following statement in response to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce passing the Food Safety Enhancement Act (H.R. 2749). “I have been watching the food safety legislative process in that Committee and have been in close contact with representatives of the agriculture and food pr... Read more »

MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara Hinton (202) 225-0184 tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov Ranking Member Frank Lucas issued the following statement today upon hearing of Acting Chairman Walt Lukken’s resignation from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). “I want to thank Chairman Lukken for the seven years he ably served on and led the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). His seven years on the ... Read more »

MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara Hinton (202) 225-0184 tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov The full Agriculture Committee concluded its first public hearing to review the Waxman-Markey climate change and energy legislation (H.R. 2454). Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, was a witness on the first panel. Below is an excerpt of some of his answers to questions that pertain to his support for the bill and the pote... Read more »

MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara Hinton (202) 225-0184 tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov The full Agriculture Committee concluded its first public hearing today to review the Waxman-Markey climate change and energy legislation (H.R. 2454). It was the first time the Agriculture Committee had the opportunity to hear from the Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, who was the only witness on the first panel. During t... Read more »

MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara Hinton (202) 225-0184 tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov Ranking Member Frank Lucas will deliver the following statement at today’s full Agriculture Committee hearing on the Waxman-Markey climate change and energy legislation (H.R. 2454). The hearing is scheduled for 2 pm today in 1300 Longworth House Office Building. “Mr. Chairman, I want to thank you for calling this hearing to r... Read more »

MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara Hinton (202) 225-0184 tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov The Heritage Foundation’s Center for Data Analysis released an economic study on Tuesday regarding the impact a cap-and-trade system would have on the agriculture community. The study maintains that cap-and-trade is “an energy tax in disguise” that will cause farm income to drop dramatically because of higher operating costs.... Read more »

MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara Hinton (202) 225-0184 tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov The Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack has made conflicting statements over the past two weeks about the role the U.S. Department of Agriculture should play with a national cap-and-trade system that would be created under the Waxman-Markey climate change and energy bill (H.R. 2454). On a May 27 visit to Kentucky, the Insti... Read more »

MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara Hinton (202) 225-0184 tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov The House Agriculture Committee will hold a public hearing on the Waxman-Markey climate change and energy bill (HR 2454). It is scheduled for Thursday, June 11 at 2 pm in 1300 Longworth House Office Building. "I am pleased that Chairman Peterson has scheduled a hearing on the Waxman-Markey bill. The most important thing we ca... Read more »

MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara Hinton (202) 225-0184 tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov An editorial about the Waxman-Markey bill (H.R. 2454) from Ranking Member Frank Lucas was published today in a special agriculture section of The Hill. In the editorial, Rep. Lucas emphasized the devastating economic impact this legislation will have on production agriculture and rural economies. “From higher energy costs to ... Read more »

MEDIA CONTACT: Tamara Hinton (202) 225-0184 tamara.hinton@mail.house.gov More agriculture groups are express ing opposition to the Waxman/Markey climate change and energy legislation (H.R. 2454). Since mid-May, 17 more groups have written letters to Members of Congress encouraging them to vote against the measure. To date, no large farm groups have endorsed it. The Waxman-Markey bill was passed by... Read more »