Press Releases

Washington, D.C. — Friday, House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) released the following statement after United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue announced $19 billion in relief funding for American farmers and ranchers:

"Tonight's announcement of $19 billion in relief for U.S. farmers and ranchers is an important down payment. Secretary Perdue was spot-on when he indicated that significant additional support will be absolutely necessary to see our farmers and ranchers through the coronavirus crisis. Had Democrats not objected to the Republican proposal to provide $50 billion for agriculture relief in the CARES Act, we would have been better positioned to meet the very real needs in rural America. Unfortunately, Democrats played games with farmers and ranchers during those negotiations, in the same way they are now with small businesses and their employees by blocking funding for the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). I urge Democrats to put partisan politics aside and fund the PPP and the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC), and I applaud the President for continuing to stand beside small businesses, their employees and the farmers and ranchers of this great country."