November 30, 2001 – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding presidential Trade Promotion Authority: Last June when I removed my name as a cosponsor of the trade negotiating authority bill, I did so reluctantly because I knew of the President's strong commitment to United States farmers and ranchers and the fact that he has stated repeat... Read more »
November 15, 2001 -- "I am pleased the Senate Ag. Committee has taken further action today and hope that this action will move the process forward in producing a much needed farm bill this year. I am concerned, however, that the bill that passed the Committee appears to exceed the agreed upon budget allocation and thus cannot move forward as written. I am also concerned that the process in the Sen... Read more »
USDA Biosecurity Programs and Authorities Reviewed November 15, 2001 –Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) and members of the House Agriculture Committee convened today to review the biosecurity programs and authorities of the United States Department of Agriculture. (USDA). The September 11th attacks have reinforced the Committee's desire to ensure that the nation's food supply is protected from potenti... Read more »
Combest, Stenholm vow continued support for strong U.S. negotiating position at WTO November 14, 2001 – The Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture reacted positively to today's new launch of trade negotiations. Citing foreign tariffs on food and agricultural products that average a high of 62% against U.S. goods, Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) and Ranking... Read more »
Bipartisan Lincoln-Hutchinson Bill Offers Strong Safety Net, Planting Flexibility November 9, 2001 -- U.S. House of Representatives Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) and Ranking Democrat Charlie Stenholm (D-TX) today praised a bipartisan farm bill introduced today by U.S. Senators Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) and Tim Hutchinson (R-AR), along with Senators Jesse Helms (R-NC), Zell Mille... Read more »
House Ag Leaders Note Senate Progress November 6, 2001 – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) and Ranking Member Charlie Stenholm (D-Texas) said today they are hopeful that continued farm bill progress from the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee could produce a bi-partisan farm bill in time to reconcile with the broad-based House-passed "Farm Security Act.... Read more »
USDA and European Union join against farmers' support for House Farm Bill (October 12, 2001) – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) has called into question the message U.S. agriculture trade officials are sending in talks with the European Union. "Reaction to the House farm bill by the European Union's Commissioner raises a red flag and a huge, huge question mark – what ha... Read more »
House 291 to 120 approval sends strong message of timely change in farm policy (October 5, 2001). – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) said Friday's approval 291 to 120 of the "Farm Security Act of 2001" by the U.S. House of Representatives sends a strong message of timely change coming to bring predictability in farm policy. "Today, we are exactly at the point where I wa... Read more »
October 4, 2001. – Preserving the integrity of "The Farm Security Act" as a balanced farm bill with market-responsive commodity support and vastly increased opportunity for conserving practices on farmlands, the U.S. House of Representatives voted Thursday afternoon 200 to 226, rejecting an amendment to remove 40 percent of farmers" safety net funding. "Farmers and ranchers forge the first link in... Read more »
(October 3, 2001) – Wednesday morning, House Agriculture Committee members stood by their commitment made to farmers to bring predictability back to the federal government's farm support programs by bringing a new farm bill to national attention and a vote this week by the U.S. House of Representatives. By mid-afternoon Wednesday, debate had progressed through several proposed amendments without s... Read more »
