Remarks as prepared for delivery: I want to welcome our witnesses to today’s hearing and thank them for taking the time to share their experience as members of the National Commission on Hunger. This hearing, like those before, builds upon the Committee’s top-to-bottom review of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. Throughout this process, we have had an eye towards strengthenin... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture and the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a joint hearing to explore the intersection of food aid shipping and military sealift capacity, particularly that provided by the Maritime Security Program (MSP). Offici... Read more »
Remarks as prepared: I want to thank each of you for joining us this morning as we continue our review of international food aid programs. To date, we have heard from USDA and USAID officials charged with implementing these vital programs; we have heard from those tasked with program oversight and accountability about what is working and what could be improved; we have heard from those producing a... Read more »
Today our nation recognizes the more than 25 million veterans who have worn the uniform and upheld their oath to defend America with honor and integrity. On November 11, 1918, the Allied Powers and Germany signed an armistice that ended World War I. To commemorate the war’s end, President Woodrow Wilson declared that November 11should be remembered as Armistice Day – a holiday to honor the brave ... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Agriculture Committee held its first in a new series of hearings to examine the relationship between agriculture and national security. In the opening hearing, members and witnesses examined the threats and vulnerabilities to agricultural security as well as the economic significance associated with such threats. Members of the Agriculture Committee recognize th... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning, and welcome to today’s hearing. Many of you may be wondering why the Committee on Agriculture would be holding a hearing on national security. A former Chairman of this committee, the Honorable Kika de la Garza, would often tell a story when he asked: “How long can a nuclear submarine stay under water?” The simple answer, until it runs out of food. W... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, members of the House Agriculture Committee released a video to celebrate FFA members attending the 88th annual National FFA Convention in Louisville, KY, and recognize them for their dedication to the agriculture industry. Every year more than 60,000 FFA members and guests gather at the National FFA Convention to attend meetings, compete in contests, and demonstrate their... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway and Ranking Member Collin Peterson issued the following statements after announcing an agreement to avoid the cuts to crop insurance which are included in the Bipartisan Budget Agreement of 2015 scheduled for a vote later today. Chairman Conaway said, “I want to thank my colleagues who have made it very clear over the last ... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Agriculture Committee held a public hearing to examine big data and its role in agriculture. While advances in agricultural technology present opportunities like improved productivity, efficiency, and effectiveness, they also present challenges in collecting, managing, and utilizing big data. Members and witnesses discussed these dynamics and the future of agric... Read more »
Remarks as prepared for delivery: Information technology is profoundly impacting every aspect of our lives. In so many ways, this is a good thing. But, as anyone who’s had their identity stolen can tell you, it is not without its downsides. The same, of course, is true in the case of production agriculture. As we have learned in previous hearings, foreign countries do a lot to give their producers... Read more »
