The World Trade Organization (WTO) Appellate Body will soon rule on Canada and Mexico’s case against the U.S. on the mandatory Country of Origin Label (COOL) requirement on muscle cuts of beef and pork.This is the fourth and final decision by the WTO, and in the three previous decisions it has ruled against the U.S. COOL law. If the U.S. loses this case, Canada and Mexico have indicated their inte... Read more »
Remarks as prepared: Good afternoon. I would like to welcome everyone to this hearing in which we will continue to examine aspects of pollinator health. As many of you are aware, the Agriculture Committee has had a long interest in examining and promoting pollinator health. In both the 2008 and 2014 farm bills, provisions were included to authorize pollinator research and extension programs, impro... Read more »
In the coming days, the World Trade Organization (WTO) is expected to release its fourth and final decision on the U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) rule and announce if the United States has been found compliant with trade standards. Should the U.S. lose this appeal, Congress will need to be ready to avoid retaliation from Canada and Mexico, our top two export markets. Here are 10 things you... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today is the final day for the public to comment on 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) has raised concerns that the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee greatly exceeded its scope and used potentially biased methodologies in developing recommendations for the Secretaries of United States Department of Agricultur... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) rejected the latest recommendation to establish a generic mandatory label option, an option typically referred to as a “Product of North America” label, should the U.S. lose its World Trade Organization (WTO) appeal regarding country of origin labeling (COOL) in the coming weeks. Earlier today, the Department ... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, the House Agriculture Committee approved H.R. 2088, the United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015, and H.R. 2051, the Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2015. Each bill reauthorizes a law set to expire on September 30, 2015, and ensures that the laws continue to operate in a manner that serves the public interest. H.R. 2088, introduced by Chairman K. Mic... Read more »
Remarks as prepared: Our next order of business is to consider a bill to reauthorize the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999. This bill, like the underlying act and each subsequent reauthorization has been the result of dialogue and consensus between livestock producers and meat packers. We fully understand that government mandates like price reporting can be onerous, and that not all indust... Read more »
Remarks as prepared: Our next order of business is to consider a bill to reauthorize the United States Grain Standards Act. As our grain standards program nears its 100th anniversary, we wish to recognize the importance this program has played in establishing value and price-discovery in the U.S. grain and oilseed marketplace. U.S. competitiveness in global markets, as well as stakeholders ranging... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - Today, U.S. Representative Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee’s Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee, held a public hearing to review the National Forest System and active forest management. The U. S. Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, manages the country’s 154 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which cover ... Read more »
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership today called for emergency assistance to be released to poultry and egg producers whose flocks suffered losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 infections. Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Members Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Rep. Co... Read more »
