Good morning and thank you to our witnesses for making the time to be with us today. I am eager to learn more about your contributions to this sector of our agriculture industry. As I’ve said before, I hope our committee will move to holding hearings that explore the issues facing production agriculture, provide opportunities for oversight of the 2018 Farm Bill, and receive updates from officials ... Read more »
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, and I will start with two notes of gratitude. The first is to you. When Congress focuses in a bipartisan way on issues, good things happen. This panel, these witnesses, this is going to be a good thing. Thank you. And then I also just want to note my gratitude to other members of this Subcommittee. I mean, when I think about the number of conversations—earnest co... Read more »
Remark as prepared delivery: Chairman Scott, thank you for your leadership on this issue and for working with me in a bipartisan fashion to ensure that the authorizing committee has a say when it comes to disaster assistance for our producers. This extension of the Wildfire Hurricane Indemnity Program disaster program for 2020 and 2021 losses is crucial. With fires raging out West, drought grippin... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning, everyone. Chair Spanberger, thank you for convening today’s hearing. From furniture to baseball bats, and paper to lumber, our forests provide countless products and essential feedstocks for many American industries. Collectively, forest-related businesses support over one million direct jobs and 2.9 million indirect jobs nationwide, generating appro... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: First, I want to thank you for listening to the concerns of our Members by bringing forward the updated amendment that reflects the changes that Representative Bustos planned to offer today. The new amendment removes the language that sets aside funding for specific states and by doing that we are putting all rural communities that are in desperate need of reliabl... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Chair Hayes. And many thanks to our panel of witnesses before us today. I appreciate this hearing; I think we can all agree there are merits to the issue, and even though we may diverge on solutions, it is important we hear one another out and understand there is actually no one way to mitigate every penalty and disincentive associated with our safety n... Read more »
Washington, DC — Today, Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee, Glenn 'GT' Thompson, issued the following statement on the one year anniversary of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) entry into force: "I have long said USMCA is a win for farmers, ranchers, manufacturers, and American workers. Since its entry into force one year ago, we have seen expanded access, increas... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning, and thank you Chair Plaskett for calling this hearing today. I am excited for our Subcommittee to come together for the first official hearing for this Congress. Chair Plaskett – I look forward to developing a fruitful relationship with you as we serve this Subcommittee and the very important role that its jurisdiction – especially biotechnology, res... Read more »
Today, Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), announced Randy Moore, Regional Forester of the Pacific Northwest Region, will serve as the 20th Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Following the announcement, Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee, Glenn 'GT' Thompson, issued the following statement: "The Forest Service will be in very qualified hands with R... Read more »
Washington, DC – Top Republican leaders in the House of Representatives today joined House Agriculture Committee Member David Rouzer (R-NC) in outlining their concerns regarding the Biden Administration’s intention to undo the Trump administration’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule. The Biden Administration’s recent announcement signaled its intent to revise the definition of the “waters of the Un... Read more »
