Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you for being here this morning as the Committee continues its review of U.S. international food aid programs. The purpose of today’s hearing is to obtain the perspective of those producing and processing the food used in our food aid programs as well as those tasked with distributing that aid to those in need around the world. Today’s hearing is the third i... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Agriculture Committee continued its review of U.S. international food aid programs by hearing from a variety of interested stakeholders—private voluntary organizations, commodity organizations, and agricultural processors—regarding their perspectives on how the programs are functioning. These witnesses represent those who produce and process the food used for th... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - The House Agriculture Committee completed its two-day hearing series to review the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) organization and program administration. Over the past two days, members of the committee heard from 25 undersecretaries, administrators, and other department officials on topics relating to USDA’s seven mission areas, including an accounting for each area’s... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: This hearing will come to order. Since this Committee formally organized on January 21 of this year, the Committee has met 44 times. In keeping with my commitment to hold a top-to-bottom review of a full range of issues and policies within our jurisdiction, we have held 3 executive briefings on trade and conducted 33 hearings. And, stemming from what we have learn... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) and committee members began Part I of a two-day hearing series to review the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) organization and program administration. USDA officials from the Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services (FFAS), Natural Resources and Environment (NRE), and Research, Education and Economics (REE) serve... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway and members of the Agriculture Committee met with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman in an Executive Briefing to discuss the status of negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and other trade-related issues and their impact on the agricultural sector. Members of the committee focused ... Read more »
By Chairman K. Michael Conaway When I became Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in January of this year, I had one primary goal: to ensure that America’s farmers and ranchers have the policies in place that they need to feed, fuel, and clothe the nation while ensuring stability and consistency for farmers, ranchers, consumers, markets, and rural communities. After all, agriculture is the ... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Agriculture Committee held a public hearing to conduct general oversight of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack testified, taking questions from committee members on various programs and projects the department manages and executes. Members referenced reports by USDA Inspector General Phyllis Fong (OIG) and the U.S. Government Accounta... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: I want to welcome the Secretary today and thank him for being here. He and his staff have worked hard to fulfill many of the Committee’s oversight requests this first seven months. We appreciate your cooperation and your staff working with my staff. It is Congress’ responsibility implicit in the U.S. Constitution and explicit in the House Rules to conduct oversigh... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Agriculture Committee continued its review of U.S. international food aid programs by holding a hearing on oversight and accountability of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the agencies responsible for administering U.S. international food assistance programs. The Committee heard from both the U.S. G... Read more »
