BIPARTISAN GROUP OF FARM STATE LEGISLATORS EXPRESS CONCERN OVER PROPOSED ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATION REGULATIONS A group of 36 Republican and Democratic Members of the House of Representatives today sent letters to Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Carol Browner expressing their strong belief that the proposed policies in the USDA/EPA Unifie... Read more »
AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE REVIEWS EFFECTS OF AGRIBUSINESS CONSOLIDATION Today, the House Agriculture Committee held its second hearing to review the state of the farm economy and focused on the impact of the ongoing structural consolidation of the agricultural community. "Even a casual observer can't help but be bewildered by the dizzying pace of mergers, acquisitions and restructuring going on in our... Read more »
The U.S. House Agriculture Committee slates a series of agricultural forums, February 16 and February 18, building consensus for action on crop insurance reform. Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) maintains that the committee will forge ahead with program improvements in crop insurance, despite the Clinton Administration's failure to include any funding for reforms in the coming y... Read more »
COMMITTEE PASSES BILLS TO PROVIDE CONGRESSIONAL OVERSIGHT FOR AGRICULTURAL SANCTIONS AND EXPAND PEAR EXPORTS In its first legislative business meeting of the 106th Congress, the House Committee on Agriculture unanimously passed the Selective Agricultural Embargoes Act (H.R. 17) and H.R. 609, loosening regulations over pear export. "Both bills passed today are aimed at keeping foreign markets open ... Read more »
COMMITTEE OPENS PUBLIC DISCUSSION ON LOW PRICES FACING THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee Larry Combest (R-TX) today brought industry groups, the Chief Economist from the Department of Agriculture, and members of the Committee together to review the causes of low prices facing the livestock industry and to begin working toward possible solutions for both the short a... Read more »
At a news conference today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX), expressed his disappointment and strong concern that the president included no funding for crop insurance reform in his budget, despite the promises he made in his State of the Union address. "Back to the time of the consideration of the current farm program, I have been saying that I thought the biggest gap was... Read more »
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) expressed concern regarding reports the president may fail to live up to crop insurance reform, promised during his State of the Union Address: "The president seems to be repeating an all-too familiar pattern of promises without performance. His budget proposal must not fail to include meaningful funding for meaningful change in crop ins... Read more »
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) issued the following statement regarding President Clinton's promise to support Congress in providing effective risk management for American farmers and ranchers: "I was pleased to hear that the president realizes that we need to provide our farmers with a better safety net as we move towards a market-based agricultural economy. While he di... Read more »
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding Friday's Clinton Administration announcement of limited payments to hog producers: "Weather and market forces have taken a disastrous toll on livestock producers with clear, personal consequences to their futures. The Administration's plan to shift dollars around sadly amounts to only a drop in th... Read more »
After months of uncertain fate in America's farm states, the House passed the omnibus appropriations act by a vote of 333-95 which contains almost $6 billion in farm disaster and market loss assistance and important tax relief to help alleviate the burden facing U.S. farmers and ranchers. "Many farmers and ranchers struggle each year to keep their heads above water and they are particularly hard h... Read more »
