Earlier today, the Senate passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act. This legislation proposes a certification program at USDA to mitigate technical entry barriers to farmer and forest landowner participation in carbon credit markets. Following its passage, Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson, issued the following statement: “This bill is a big-gove... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Chairwoman Bustos, thank you for holding this hearing to evaluate the importance of the farm safety net. After the experiences of the last several years in the Southeast, this hearing is vital now more than ever as we enter hurricane season and the threat it poses to farmers as well as countless other risks our producers across the country face. Not only has the p... Read more »
Today, Congressman Glenn 'GT' Thompson, Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee, outlined his guiding principles for disaster programs in a General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee hearing entitled, "A Hearing to Review the Efficacy of the Farm Safety Net." "When I was selected to be the Republican Leader on the Agriculture Committee, I made it clear that my number on... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning, and thank you, Chairman Scott, for holding this hearing today. Before I begin, a point of personal privilege if I may. While I certainly appreciate today’s hearing and topic, I again want to make clear that I hope this Committee can turn its attention to the needs of production agriculture, including hearing the testimony of Secretary Vilsack. The ne... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for the record: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to start by thanking you for calling this markup and allowing the Committee to proceed with our business through regular order. I think it is so important for our members to be able to work on bipartisan legislation and protecting this critical program is an opportunity for us to come together and fulfill our responsibilities. I k... Read more »
Remark as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and hello to my colleagues and welcome to our witnesses. It is nice to be here for the first meeting of our Subcommittee this Congress. Like many of you, I represent an extremely rural district. We are among the top ag-producing districts in the nation and are responsible for nearly half of Minnesota’s agricultural sales. My district plays ... Read more »
The Republican leaders of the agriculture committees in Congress are highlighting a new study that confirms Democrats' proposed changes to taxes on inherited property will have a devastating impact on the next generation of family farmers and ranchers. Representative Glenn 'GT' Thompson, Ranking Member, House Committee on Agriculture, and Senator John Boozman, Ranking Member, Senate Committee on A... Read more »
Today, the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of the Army announced the intent to establish a new definition of "Waters of the United States," or WOTUS. Following the announcement, Republican Leader of the House Agriculture Committee, Glenn 'GT' Thompson, issued the following statement: "President Trump’s Navigable Waters Protection Rule provided long-overdue certainty and clarity for ... Read more »
Washington, DC—Recently, the House Agriculture Committee introduced the Broadband for Rural America Act, a blueprint for a better-connected America. The bill has garnered widespread support from Members of Congress as well as industry leaders. Zippy Duvall, President of American Farm Bureau Federation “We must continue to expand access to broadband in rural America until we have fully bridged the... Read more »
Yesterday, the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Food Safety Inspection Service (FSIS) announced its intention to require swine processing facilities operating under the New Swine Inspection System to reduce production line speeds in accordance with a recent court ruling that struck down a regulatory provision allowing those facilities to operate at faster speeds. Following the announcement,... Read more »
