Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research, held a hearing to highlight the importance of agricultural research as part of the committee's hearing series on the next farm bill. Members heard from witnesses who stressed the important role research plays in ensuring that American agricul... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning and welcome to today’s Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research subcommittee hearing. This hearing continues our series where each of the six subcommittees is looking at all aspects of the next farm bill. The focus of today’s hearing is on agricultural research. As we kick off the discussion, try to imagine where the United States as a whole—and Ameri... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson issued statements remembering the legacy of former Congressman Eligio "Kika" de la Garza, a long-time Texas representative who chaired the House Agriculture Committee from 1981-1994. "Kika de la Garza was a true public servant in every sense of the word," Chairman Conaway said. "From servi... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - President Trump announced today his intent to nominate Chris Giancarlo to serve as chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway issued the following statement. "I congratulate Acting Chairman Chris Giancarlo on his nomination to lead the CFTC. I believe the President picked the right person for this job. For... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13), Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research, held a hearing to evaluate the effectiveness of the 2014 Farm Bill programs aimed at benefiting specialty crop production. Members heard from a panel of witnesses who highlighted the various programs available for specialty crops ranging from... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good afternoon and welcome to today’s Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research subcommittee hearing. Today’s hearing continues our series where each of the six subcommittees look at all aspects of the next farm bill. As we begin this work, the Committee will consider the needs of stakeholders who depend on farm bill programs. Today, we are focusing on issues impor... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit held a hearing to review the rural development and energy programs in the 2014 Farm Bill. Members of the committee heard from a broad panel of witnesses who utilize rural development and renewable energy loan and grant programs, and who support rural development initiatives. “One of ... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning everyone. Welcome to the Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit subcommittee’s first hearing of the new Congress. Today’s hearing is part of an ongoing series where each subcommittee is holding at least two hearings to discuss the Farm Bill programs and issues under its respective jurisdiction. Before I begin, I’d like to thank Ranking Member Scott f... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Committee on Agriculture sent its Budget Views and Estimates Letter for Fiscal Year 2018 to the House Budget Committee. In the letter, Committee members urged Budget Committee Chairman Diane Black to consider the estimated $104 billion in savings from the current farm bill, more than four times what had previously been pledged, and the fact that these savings ar... Read more »
The underlying message in the letter is straightforward: America’s farmers and ranchers are in economic trouble right now. Net farm income is down 50 percent from where it stood just four years ago. The Agriculture Committee pledged to save $23 billion in the 2014 Farm Bill but we wound up saving four times that amount. There are holes in the farm safety net that need mending in the next Farm Bill... Read more »
