Members Of Congress Advocate For Farmers, Demand Passage Of Updated Farm Bill On The House Floor
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00:00 The gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Thompson, is recognized for 60 minutes as the designee of the majority leader.
00:00:07 Without objection, if you will have the microphone there, thank you.
00:00:23 Well, thank you again, Mr. Speaker.
00:00:27 You know, turmoil in the Middle East heightened over the weekend, and my prayers are with all involved.
00:00:33 I trust our nation's leadership can rise to the task at hand.
00:00:37 However, in another matter of food and national security, this evening
00:00:42 I'm taking the opportunity to discuss how farmers, ranchers, foresters, and consumers deserve certainty.
00:00:48 Agriculture remains the backbone of America,
00:00:52 but our nation's dedicated producers have been burdened with fractured supply chains,
00:00:57 considerable input costs, relentless inflation, natural disasters, volatile markets, and labor shortages.
00:01:04 Each is consistently worsened by ill-conceived, half-baked
00:01:09 executive action by unelected bureaucrats in Washington.
00:01:13 Our nation's farmers are bearing the brunt of it, and adding insult to injury,
00:01:18 we're now a net importer
00:01:22 facing the most significant decline in farm income in our history.
00:01:26 Farmers impact our everyday lives,
00:01:29 so how do we support those who provide so much to our families, to our nation, and to our world?
00:01:35 The answer is a five-year farm bill.
00:01:38 The Committee on Agriculture spent the last three years listening to concerns of America's producers and turning their words into
00:01:46 legislation.
00:01:48 We've received input, ideas, and suggestions from stakeholders and members alike through our public portals and listening sessions across the country.
00:01:56 Through this transparent and exhaustive process,
00:01:59 we have produced a bipartisan product that will provide effective tools to our producers by bolstering the safety net,
00:02:06 strengthening nutrition programs and access
00:02:08 opportunities, and revitalize rural America.
00:02:13 Since our last farm bill was passed in 2018, our producers have faced countless challenges.
00:02:18 The needs of farm country are self-evident.
00:02:21 We have developed a bill to meet them and a responsibility to fund them. For nearly a year,
00:02:27 I've tried to educate my colleagues and the
00:02:29 hand-holding has
00:02:33 yielded nothing.
00:02:35 With that, my colleagues and I are here tonight to showcase our works and
00:02:41 our work and show that the House Republicans have done their job.
00:02:44 Mr. Speaker, I yield three minutes to the gentleman from Ohio,
00:02:49 Mr. Miller.
00:02:52 I appreciate his service on the House Agriculture Committee. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's an honor to serve alongside you.
00:02:58 And thank you for yielding the time for this evening's special order.
00:03:01 I'd like to emphasize the importance of passing an updated a farm bill that supports our agricultural industry by strengthening the farm safety net,
00:03:08 bolsters rural economies, and meets the growing food security and affordability difficulties that are impacting American families.
00:03:15 Mr. Speaker,
00:03:17 agriculture and food related industries are responsible for almost 1.4 trillion dollars of the United States gross domestic product.
00:03:24 Yet, American farmers, specifically, farmers in my district face daunting challenges in providing a
00:03:30 stable and affordable food supply to our nation. In Ohio,
00:03:34 I've heard farmers and ranchers concerns about continued inflationary pressures,
00:03:38 regulatory hurdles, limited trade markets, animal health, and a broad range of other issues.
00:03:44 Through the House Agricultural Committee's busy schedule over the past 16 months,
00:03:49 I've seen the importance of policies that keep the farm safety net strong,
00:03:53 incentivize conservation,
00:03:56 encourage innovative research initiatives, support specialty crops, allow farmers to grow our energy resources, and much more.
00:04:03 Mr. Speaker, the United States Department of Agriculture recently reported that our nation has lost over
00:04:08 140,000 farms in the last five years.
00:04:11 This is unsustainable. The USDA's most recent farm income forecast reflects the urgent need to act. The report anticipates a
00:04:19 25% decrease in farm income from 2023 to 2024,
00:04:23 one of the largest year-to-year dollar reductions in net farm income on record.
00:04:29 Failure to pass an updated farm bill could exacerbate these already growing problems and have a devastating impact on our economy and food supply chains.
00:04:37 The United States food and agricultural sector has an economic output of over 8.6 trillion dollars and cannot afford to wait.
00:04:44 I hope that my colleagues will recognize the magnitude of these issues and help us to pass a sound farm bill quickly.
00:04:51 I thank the chairman and I thank you and I yield back.
00:04:55 I thank the gentleman and for his leadership and dedication to America's and I know Ohio's number one industry. Now
00:05:02 pleased to recognize the gentleman from the Kansas Big One,
00:05:05 the chairman of the subcommittee on livestock, dairy, and poultry.
00:05:10 Mr. Mann for three minutes.
00:05:13 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thanks for your leadership of our committee in this effort.
00:05:16 I rise to call on this Congress to pass a comprehensive five-year farm bill.
00:05:22 This is my 25th time to come to the House floor to address the importance of a five-year farm bill that is long enough to
00:05:28 provide certainty and short enough to respond to the market changes and strengthen the safety net.
00:05:32 America's farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers deserve it.
00:05:36 America's food and national security depend on it and this Congress must deliver it. In the almost five and a half years since the last
00:05:42 farm bill was signed into law, the world has drastically changed. Since 2018,
00:05:47 we've experienced a global pandemic, seen a war unfold between Russia and Ukraine, and now Israel and Hamas, and
00:05:53 witnessed President Biden's failed trade agenda cause market fluctuations that no one could have imagined. Top of that,
00:06:00 President Biden's spending spree and senseless war on American energy has driven inflation to historic levels. No matter how many times
00:06:07 administration officials and political pundits say that input costs and inflation rates are coming down, our
00:06:13 ag producers know that these levels are still sky-high in comparison to the last farm bill in 2018. As
00:06:19 Congress considers these conditions, we must also anticipate future market fluctuation as best we can.
00:06:24 That is why my priorities for the farm bill are to strengthen and protect crop insurance,
00:06:28 incentivize agriculture trade, and conduct rigorous oversight.
00:06:32 Last year's drought and market conditions caused producers in Kansas to abandon the highest number of acres of wheat since World War One, and
00:06:39 I witnessed a 35% decrease in annual wheat
00:06:43 harvested acre in my district. A good crop insurance program and strong safety net help ag producers in situations like these, and
00:06:50 help producers reliably stock our grocery store shelves,
00:06:53 maintain a robust food supply, and keep people fed.
00:06:56 It's one of our nation's best examples of a public-private partnership, and
00:07:00 Congress must use a scalpel and not a sledgehammer when ensuring its continued success for generations to come.
00:07:05 Ag trade promotion helps America's remain competitive and secure as well. Back in February, I introduced legislation that would allocate additional
00:07:13 resources to trade promotion programs in this farm bill. Between 1977 and 2019,
00:07:17 these trade programs added 13.7% of additional
00:07:22 export revenue to the value of U.S. ag products, and helped to create more than half a million American jobs.
00:07:28 It is no secret that perhaps more than any other profession,
00:07:31 ag producers face endless hurdles as they work tirelessly to raise our livestock,
00:07:34 grow our food, and put fuel in our cars. This next farm bill must not handicap them with additional overly restrictive regulation.
00:07:42 Instead,
00:07:43 Congress must get out of their way and support them with the tools they need to protect the future of American food and agriculture.
00:07:49 If you think about a safety net, the higher the risk, the higher the fall, and the stronger the safety net that you need to survive.
00:07:55 The livelihoods of American producers and consumers are on the line right now,
00:07:59 and that means our food security and NASA security are on the line as well.
00:08:03 American farmers, ranchers, and agriculture producers need certainty like never before, and
00:08:08 Congress must deliver for them with a five-year farm bill. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for having this special order hour tonight.
00:08:15 Well, I thank the gentleman. Now, please recognize the gentleman from Iowa, Mr. Feenstra, for three minutes.
00:08:23 Thank you, Chairman Thompson.
00:08:27 Mr. Speaker,
00:08:29 the farm bill continues to be a vital investment to our producers, our competition with China, and our American economy.
00:08:38 An important component of this farm bill is a crop insurance program.
00:08:41 Before coming to Congress, I sold crop insurance in my hometown of Hull, Iowa.
00:08:47 I confidently say that this program is a crucial piece to the safety net of the farming community.
00:08:54 When severe weather strikes, like we had in Iowa with the derecho several years ago, the economy can take a turn very quickly.
00:09:01 Crop insurance protects that farmer during the most
00:09:06 unpredictable times.
00:09:07 That's why we must pass the farm bill that includes this robust investment in federal crop insurance program.
00:09:14 I was proud to introduce legislation that would help deliver a discount to help the next generation of Iowa farmers
00:09:21 who utilize this important management tool.
00:09:24 With nearly 40% of American farmland expected to change hands in the next two decades,
00:09:30 this bill will make investments to the next generation and not allow our farmland to fall into the hands of our foreign adversaries.
00:09:38 My bill and the farm bill at large will help keep families rooted in rural communities,
00:09:44 continue Iowa's proud tradition of farm families, and keep China away from our farmland.
00:09:51 I represent the second largest agricultural producing district in the country that has over
00:09:57 60,000 active farm crop insurance policies.
00:10:01 I will continue to be a strong voice for
00:10:04 agriculture and ensure that we pass a strong farm bill for Iowa and the nation that enhances crop insurance and assists
00:10:12 the next generation.
00:10:14 Thank you Chairman Thompson for your leadership.
00:10:16 I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this farm bill passed this year to provide certainty for our farmers,
00:10:22 producers, and rural communities. Thank you and I yield back.
00:10:26 Well, I thank the gentleman for his
00:10:29 leadership in agriculture. Now, please recognize the gentleman from Minnesota One
00:10:34 who serves as chairman of the subcommittee on nutrition, foreign agriculture, and horticulture,
00:10:41 Representative Brad Fenstead.
00:10:43 Thank You Mr. Chairman and thank you Mr. Speaker.
00:10:46 As a proud fourth-generation farmer raising the fifth generation,
00:10:51 I know firsthand the importance of writing and passing a strong farm bill that is written by farmers for farmers.
00:10:58 It's written by rural America for rural America. Without farmers hard work and dedication,
00:11:04 we would not have the safe, affordable, nutritious food that stocks our shelves every day.
00:11:08 Food security is national security and through strong farm policy,
00:11:14 we will limit our dependence on foreign countries and maintain the most abundant and highest quality food supply in the world.
00:11:21 In recent years, the ag industry has faced
00:11:23 increased volatility as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, weather-related disasters, and international conflict.
00:11:30 Today, the producers I represent in southern Minnesota are dealing with sky-high
00:11:34 excuse me, sky-high input costs and increased regulatory burdens as well as a
00:11:41 27% decline in net farm income and a 30 billion dollar ag trade deficit,
00:11:46 creating a highly leveraged financial environment in farm country.
00:11:51 The farm bill provides our farmers with a roadmap of what the next five years of farm policy will look like and it is critical
00:11:58 that we act to protect our family farmers and ensure that they can pass their operations down to that next generation.
00:12:04 Our farmers are part of one of the most honorable professions and as only 2% of the American population,
00:12:10 we must provide farm country with the support it needs.
00:12:15 Chairman Thompson, as well as the House Agriculture Committee, has been working tirelessly
00:12:19 to write a farm bill that meets their needs and the needs of all Americans.
00:12:23 I'm committed to standing shoulder to shoulder with my colleagues in Congress and the ag community
00:12:28 to pass a farm bill that will shape the future of farm policy,
00:12:32 including protecting and strengthening crop insurance,
00:12:35 farmers number one risk management tool,
00:12:38 revitalizing rural America, improving voluntary
00:12:43 incentive-based conservation programs, and ensuring that taxpayers dollars are used responsibly.
00:12:49 Mr. Speaker,
00:12:51 Mr. Chairman, I thank you for your leadership and the direction that you're providing the ag committee and I look ready to go to work with you.
00:12:57 Thank you, Mr. Speaker and I'll yield back.
00:12:59 Well, I thank the gentleman and now pleased to recognize from the state of Tennessee,
00:13:04 the Tennessee 6th Congressional District, Representative John Rose.
00:13:08 Thank You Chairman Thompson and Mr. Speaker.
00:13:12 In America, we can almost always count on the grocery store's shelves being full.
00:13:17 Too often, many overlook just how blessed we are to live in a country with such an abundance of food.
00:13:24 Today, as Americans, we enjoy the most abundant,
00:13:28 affordable, and safe supply of food in the history of humankind.
00:13:33 That's because of the farmers, ranchers, producers, and suppliers who put in the hours and take the risks to
00:13:41 produce the food and fiber we count on.
00:13:44 It's also in part because of the farm safety net programs included in the Farm Bill
00:13:50 that ensure that we continue producing enough to feed
00:13:55 American citizens. As an eighth generation Tennessee farmer and former Tennessee Commissioner of Agriculture,
00:14:03 I can attest that programs in the Farm Bill, like the federal crop insurance program, are critical to
00:14:09 ensuring we maintain the abundant and affordable supply of food in the United States.
00:14:14 These farm safety net programs provide risk protection and income support for farmers who experience natural
00:14:21 disasters, adverse growing conditions, and
00:14:24 fluctuations in market prices.
00:14:27 We must remember in these times of rampant inflation and ever-rising
00:14:31 prices for farm inputs that our farmers are price takers.
00:14:36 They don't have the luxury of passing their rising input costs on in the form of higher prices.
00:14:42 The crop insurance program
00:14:45 specifically helps farmers pay their private insurance premiums, which are often too expensive for small family farmers.
00:14:52 In 2021, premium assistance covered 62% of premiums on average for those who qualified.
00:15:01 This assistance is available for most field crops, several specialty crops, and some livestock producers.
00:15:07 However, in their current form, these programs are far from perfect and far from meeting the growing need of our nation's producers.
00:15:15 Emergency assistance and routine support payments are often determined by arbitrary and outdated formulas.
00:15:23 It's why this proposed Farm Bill makes these programs more adaptive to inflation.
00:15:30 Rising input costs continue to burden our nation's farms big and small,
00:15:34 which is why the enhancements in this bill will improve the farm safety net for our farmers and agricultural producers.
00:15:42 I am committed to improving these commodity programs by increasing reference prices and creating a more robust
00:15:49 crop insurance program.
00:15:51 Congress has the ability to update our farm policy by crafting a
00:15:57 bipartisan Farm Bill that aligns the safety net with the needs of producers,
00:16:02 expands market access, and strengthens program operations to demand
00:16:06 transparency and accountability for the American taxpayer.
00:16:10 In a divided Congress, this would be a major win for the American people and the Tennesseans I represent.
00:16:19 Throughout the Farm Bill process,
00:16:21 I have remained committed, as have my colleagues, to delivering for them, and I thank the Chairman for his persistence and
00:16:28 dedication to ensure our farmers are not left behind.
00:16:31 Rest assured,
00:16:34 Republicans in the House Agriculture Committee will not quit working on passing this bill until the job is done.
00:16:41 You have our word. Because it's the very least our farmers who work day in and day out deserve.
00:16:49 Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back.
00:16:51 Well, I thank the gentleman from Tennessee and now pleased to
00:16:56 recognize a farmer from Washington State,
00:16:59 from Washington's
00:17:02 4th Congressional District, also serves as the chair of our Western Caucus,
00:17:07 which is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to rural issues and the shared
00:17:15 dedication towards those rural issues with the Agriculture Committee. Representative Dan Newhouse, please recognize for three minutes.
00:17:21 Thank you, Chairman Thompson.
00:17:23 Thanks for those kind remarks on the Congressional Western Caucus, and thanks for being such a strong member of the Western Caucus.
00:17:30 Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss the importance of a Farm Bill, the importance of a Farm Bill that
00:17:36 addresses the needs, the priorities, and the concerns of rural America. As
00:17:41 Chairman of the Congressional Western Caucus, and probably even more importantly as a third-generation
00:17:47 farmer myself, my son being now the fourth generation,
00:17:51 I know the difficulties farmers and ranchers face in day-to-day operations.
00:17:57 Agriculture is the lifeblood of our nation. The government's role should be to support the agricultural industry and
00:18:05 their efforts to feed and fuel our country, and the Farm Bill does just that.
00:18:11 Today, farmers and ranchers understand all too well the consequences of a heavy-handed federal bureaucracy.
00:18:19 Today, we are at a crossroads.
00:18:22 We are being pushed to the limits.
00:18:25 Agricultural operations, both large and small, have been impacted by excessive regulations and tax burdens
00:18:34 that have proved challenging for everyday life.
00:18:36 That's why at this critical moment, we cannot turn our backs on the men and women who've made American agriculture successful.
00:18:46 Western Caucus members have been consistent about their priorities for a successful Farm Bill.
00:18:52 These include supporting production agriculture in every way possible,
00:18:58 improving voluntary conservation programs to ensure that those closest to the land
00:19:04 can manage it the way that they know the best,
00:19:07 enhancing forest health and management, and
00:19:10 strengthening America's rural communities through investment and development.
00:19:15 Throughout this entire process, I've been impressed with the Agriculture Committee's attention to produce the best Farm Bill possible.
00:19:25 I've been especially encouraged by Chairman Thompson's due diligence to go out and gather community perspectives,
00:19:32 evaluate current programs, and advocate for policies to be included in the legislation
00:19:38 with rural America first and foremost in mind.
00:19:41 He's been to my state several times. I think he's been to almost every single state in the Union.
00:19:47 Under Chairman Thompson's leadership, the committee has strived to produce a comprehensive and effective Farm Bill
00:19:54 that accomplishes many of the priorities that the Western Caucus members advocate for.
00:19:59 This legislation will send a message to America's farmers and ranchers that we will still have their backs,
00:20:07 and I will continue to support them just as they support our nation. Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back.
00:20:14 I thank the gentleman from Washington State. Thanks for his hospitality, too.
00:20:18 Being able to tour your farming operation and a lot of others while I was there.
00:20:24 Now, please recognize just a great champion advocate from Iowa for America's number one industry, which is agriculture.
00:20:33 And he represents Iowa's third congressional district, Representative Zacknum. Please recognize him for three minutes.
00:20:39 Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Chairman Thompson, as well as our colleagues on the Ag Committee.
00:20:45 As a sixth generation Iowan and part of a century family farm, collectively we know the hands, hearts, and hard work
00:20:52 of Iowa farmers feed and fuel the world. Now, every Iowan is impacted by this upcoming Farm Bill
00:20:59 and the agricultural policy that's included, whether it's as part of the supply chain, in the grocery store checkout line,
00:21:05 or at a dinner table, as I, with my six kids, know very well based on our grocery bills.
00:21:10 Unfortunately, input costs are up, surging 35% in recent years, and inflation is driving those profits down.
00:21:19 Now, we know this. Farmers are not price makers, they are price takers, and too often, as the Chairman has highlighted,
00:21:27 they end up bearing the brunt of those cost increases.
00:21:29 It was reported earlier this year that Iowa pork producers alone are experiencing their worst loss in 25 years amid a difficult economy.
00:21:39 Producers are facing enough difficulties without worrying about D.C. being the one that hurts their business.
00:21:45 They deserve far better than to be saddled with the consequences of politicians here in D.C. who might not be doing their job.
00:21:52 And so that is why it's important that we must pass a bipartisan Farm Bill as soon as possible.
00:21:57 And I'm grateful for our Chairman taking the reins on this.
00:22:00 As farmers deserve to have the certainty they need to continue running their operations after a busy harvest season,
00:22:06 it is critical that this Farm Bill include key provisions, including strengthening the farm safety net
00:22:13 for the more than 85,000 family farms in my home state of Iowa and so many more around the country.
00:22:19 We must support also the next generation of farmers, both access to capital as well as beginning their own farm operation.
00:22:26 Increase rural economic development with access to credit for grants, loans, and improved infrastructure,
00:22:31 including improvement for rural broadband.
00:22:34 Bolstering innovation in security and agriculture by expanding cybersecurity resources,
00:22:39 where ag is one of the top three sectors under attack today, and importantly,
00:22:43 preventing places like China from purchasing farmland right here in America.
00:22:49 Ultimately, we must help the farmers, the best stewards of our land, conserve their farmland as our national resource.
00:22:56 And unleashing America's energy independence begins with a fight for biofuels in places like Iowa.
00:23:02 So Mr. Chairman, I'll continue to fight for Iowa's farmers and producers as we move forward.
00:23:06 I look forward to working with you and this team.
00:23:08 It's time for Congress to come together, pass a farm bill for the betterment of our farmers,
00:23:13 producers, communities, and families like yours and mine.
00:23:17 Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I yield my time.
00:23:19 Representative Nunn, thank you so much for your leadership.
00:23:22 Now please recognize a gentleman from Georgia 8.
00:23:25 He is the subcommittee chair on the Agriculture Committee for General Farm Commodities, Risk Management, and Credit.
00:23:32 He's also vice chair of the full Agriculture Committee and a most recently appointed member of the Rules Committee.
00:23:38 I appreciate him joining us. I know Rules is busy tonight.
00:23:43 So please recognize Representative Austin Scott for three minutes.
00:23:46 Well, thank you, Chairman G.T. Thompson. You're doing a wonderful job.
00:23:51 Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my unwavering support for our nation's farmers
00:23:55 and to emphasize the importance of the farm bill.
00:23:58 Let me be clear. If you're a person who eats, and I suspect everyone is, then you should care about the farm bill.
00:24:06 The farm bill sets a foundation of support for America's farmers and ranchers
00:24:10 who produce the food and the fiber that we depend on on a daily basis.
00:24:14 Right now, farmers are struggling with rising input costs that make it more difficult for them to produce the food that we need.
00:24:20 The House Agriculture Committee must make major improvements to Title I in the farm bill
00:24:24 and address the impact that high input prices are having on America's farm families.
00:24:30 The farm safety net in Title I has decreased due to the increases in production costs,
00:24:35 and current reference prices for most commodities do not reflect the increased costs of farming today.
00:24:42 The current statutory reference prices were established in the 2014 farm bill using 2012 cost of production data.
00:24:52 I want to say that again. We're using the 2012 data to determine the point at which support under price loss coverage kicks in
00:25:00 if the market prices fall below the reference price during a time when producers are seeing record high input costs.
00:25:07 This has created a no-win situation for our farmers, and it is vital to our country that they are able to do their jobs.
00:25:14 No part of the farm safety net should guarantee a profit. The farmers know this.
00:25:19 It's something our producers agree on. But if reference prices don't move,
00:25:23 then our producers are effectively left with no stop-loss assistance in the event of a commodity collapse.
00:25:30 Supporting our farmers through increased reference prices in the farm bill means that we support those who grow the crops to sustain our food supply.
00:25:37 Without reference price increases in this next farm bill, there's not enough assistance from Congress and the USDA
00:25:43 for many farm families in our country to continue to grow the food and the fiber that we depend on.
00:25:48 As the Chairman of the General Farm Commodities Risk Management and Credit Subcommittee,
00:25:52 I'm committed to making significant improvements to Title I and give the support that our farmers deserve.
00:25:58 Thank you, and thank you for your work, GT, on this farm bill. I yield back.
00:26:03 Thank you, gentlemen. Now please recognize the gentleman from Alabama, too,
00:26:07 Representative Barry Moore, member of the House Agriculture Committee.
00:26:10 Representative Mr. Moore, for three minutes.
00:26:14 Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Consumer prices have gone up 19.4 percent since Biden took office,
00:26:20 and inflation 3.5 percent in the last year.
00:26:22 Producers simply can't afford this administration's bad policies.
00:26:26 My top priority this farm cycle has been addressing reference prices, which Mr. Scott just referred to.
00:26:32 Safety net programs are the bedrock of risk management for producers, and current reference prices
00:26:38 are not sufficient to help producers manage risk against these razor-thin margins thanks to Bidenomics.
00:26:44 As input prices go up and commodity prices go down, producers rely on these reference prices
00:26:50 and a farm safety net to stay in business.
00:26:54 I have seen this in my own family, hearing about the challenges my cousin, who is a young farmer,
00:26:58 has had just getting started.
00:27:00 I heard similar concerns during the farm bill listing sessions that I had all across the district.
00:27:05 That's why we need these inclusions in the farm bill.
00:27:09 They will deliver for producers in Alabama and across America.
00:27:12 We need this legislation to fund the farm safety net, promote market development,
00:27:18 increase feral swine control efforts, and modernize data collection for our foresters,
00:27:23 protect crop insurance, and expand rural broadband deployment.
00:27:28 I urge my colleagues to help our producers battle Biden's inflation.
00:27:32 Beforehand, I want to say I hope you'll all join me in praying for Israel
00:27:36 in the wake of this horrific attack they faced this weekend.
00:27:39 May God bless them, and thank you, Mr. Chairman, for your leadership.
00:27:42 And with that, sir, I'll yield back.
00:27:43 >> I thank the gentleman.
00:27:44 Mr. Speaker, can I inquire how much time remains?
00:27:47 >> The gentleman has 33 minutes remaining.
00:27:53 >> Very good.
00:27:54 Please recognize the gentleman from – Representative Mark Alford from Missouri 4th
00:28:01 Congressional District for three minutes.
00:28:03 >> Well, thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you so much to our distinguished Chairman,
00:28:09 G.T. Thompson.
00:28:10 And I want to thank him especially for bringing our listening tour for the Ag Committee to
00:28:15 the great state of Missouri this past August.
00:28:16 We had a great time.
00:28:17 People got to have their say on what they wanted in the farm bill,
00:28:22 and it was a truly bipartisan effort.
00:28:25 I'll never forget Jonathan Jackson coming there from the Ag Committee in Sedalia
00:28:31 and milking a cow for the very first time.
00:28:34 It was truly a sight to behold.
00:28:36 Look, I'm not a farmer.
00:28:38 I don't even play one on TV.
00:28:40 But I am an American who understands the importance of agriculture,
00:28:45 that our food security is our national security.
00:28:49 And that's why, Mr. Speaker, today I rise to express my strong support of passing a
00:28:53 robust farm bill, a lifeline for our nation's farmers and for the nourishment of our citizens.
00:28:59 My home state of Missouri boasts 87,000 farms,
00:29:03 the second highest number of farms in the United States of America.
00:29:06 Ag is the backbone of our nation, and through the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program,
00:29:12 SNAP, we bridge the gap between the produce of our farmers and the tables of more than
00:29:18 41 million Americans.
00:29:21 You see, SNAP is more than just a program, Mr. Speaker.
00:29:26 It is a pact with our citizens, ensuring that no truly deserving, qualified American goes
00:29:32 to bed hungry.
00:29:33 Yet it's our duty.
00:29:36 It's our duty to safeguard the integrity of SNAP.
00:29:39 It is our duty to make sure that every dollar is spent judiciously,
00:29:43 reaching only the hungry and not lost to fraud, waste, and abuse.
00:29:48 Mr. Speaker, it's estimated that about $34 million per day is lost to erroneous payments,
00:29:54 some $13 billion a year, where in some cases recipients intentionally cheat the system
00:30:00 to obtain more benefits than they are eligible for.
00:30:02 These fraudulent activities strain the program's resources and undermine its integrity,
00:30:08 affecting those who are generally in need.
00:30:10 Our farmers are held to integrity standards through their use of programs like crop insurance.
00:30:15 It is incumbent that states and recipients are held to similar standards.
00:30:21 With more than 80% of the Farm Bill's funding dedicated to SNAP, any fraud is unacceptable.
00:30:28 We must incentivize people to live a healthy lifestyle, eliminate waste, and firmly tackle
00:30:33 abuse without punishing those truly in need.
00:30:36 That's why, Mr. Speaker, it's time to wash SNAP with a program that is pro-work,
00:30:43 pro-accountability, pro-sustenance, and pro-health.
00:30:48 That's exactly what Chairman Thompson and my colleagues on the House Ag Committee
00:30:52 have been working on.
00:30:54 It is time to pass the Farm Bill that backs our hard-working farmers and ranchers and
00:31:00 keeps our food assistance programs both strong and honest.
00:31:05 Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I yield back.
00:31:07 Well, I thank the gentleman.
00:31:08 Thanks for his passion for, I know, Missouri's number one industry, which is agriculture,
00:31:15 and the number one industry in this great nation.
00:31:18 Now, I'm pleased to recognize a farmer, a mom, a wife, a grandmother, who represents
00:31:26 Illinois' 15th Congressional District, a member of the Agriculture Committee, Representative
00:31:31 Mary Miller, recognized for three minutes.
00:31:34 Thank you, Chairman Thompson.
00:31:36 Thank you for your leadership on the Agriculture Committee.
00:31:39 As one of the few family farmers left in Congress, I understand firsthand the challenges faced
00:31:47 by farmers.
00:31:48 My husband and I expanded our farm in the '80s when interest rates were at their highest
00:31:54 and the farm safety net wasn't as strong as it is today.
00:31:57 Crop insurance has given us and many fellow farmers the security needed to mitigate risks
00:32:07 and continue producing the food and fuel that keeps America running.
00:32:12 We must be steadfast in our commitment to protecting the needs of farmers and rule America
00:32:19 in the Farm Bill, including protecting crop insurance.
00:32:23 Today, our family farm faces the same challenges as many across the country.
00:32:30 Increasing land prices are making it nearly impossible for our sons to expand.
00:32:36 Biden's EPA threatens our no-till practice, which is best for soil conservation.
00:32:43 Inflation and Biden's relentless attack on American energy has increased our input costs.
00:32:50 With all the uncertainty that farmers face, they need the certainty of a five-year Farm
00:32:58 Bill.
00:32:59 Over the past year, we have diligently laid the groundwork to pass a robust Farm Bill
00:33:05 that safeguards farmers' interests, while Biden has been focusing on the Green Bad Deal
00:33:12 and DEI nonsense.
00:33:14 It is vital for us to pass a Farm Bill that puts farmers first.
00:33:20 Thank you, and I yield back.
00:33:22 >> Well, I thank the gentlelady for her service and her dedication to agriculture.
00:33:29 Now, I'm pleased to recognize the gentleman from Indiana's 4th Congressional District.
00:33:36 He is the chairman for the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Technology.
00:33:42 Dr. Jim Baird, please recognize the chairman for three minutes.
00:33:48 >> Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I appreciate all that you do for our committee.
00:33:55 And Mr. Speaker, since my first day here in Congress, I've been a relentless advocate
00:34:02 for hardworking farmers, ranchers, producers, and agricultural professionals who form the
00:34:08 backbone of our country.
00:34:10 It is their dedication and resilience that fuels our economy and feeds the entire nation.
00:34:16 Today, the world relies on American producers more than ever.
00:34:20 As geopolitical tensions abroad disrupt supply chains and heighten the threat of global food
00:34:28 insecurity, it has never been more important to give our producers the peace of mind that
00:34:34 they deserve.
00:34:35 That's why I'm pleased to see we are making progress on this year's Farm Bill and beginning
00:34:40 to move this legislation through the committee.
00:34:55 This has not been a simple process.
00:34:58 However, I am thankful for Chairman Thompson and everyone on the Ag Committee for their
00:35:02 hard work.
00:35:05 Over the past year, we have held listening sessions with stakeholders across the country
00:35:10 to build on the success of the 2018 Farm Bill and prepare for the future of American agriculture.
00:35:16 As chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology,
00:35:22 I am actually aware of the opportunities we have to deliver new agricultural innovations
00:35:28 that will address food insecurity, eliminate hunger, and grow the economy.
00:35:33 It is my hope that we can continue crafting this legislation, that we will prioritize
00:35:39 agricultural research that will reduce our dependence on foreign inputs, create thousands
00:35:45 of good-paying jobs, and utilize our nation's abundant agricultural resources.
00:35:50 I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee to ensure that
00:35:56 we meet the needs of all of our producers and prioritize research that will help America
00:36:02 be the global leader in agriculture.
00:36:04 With that, Mr. Speaker, I yield back.
00:36:06 The Vice President (Chairman Thompson)
00:36:07 I thank the gentleman.
00:36:08 And I thank you for your leadership on the committee and with your subcommittee as well.
00:36:13 Mr. Barry
00:36:13 Thank you, sir.
00:36:13 The Vice President (Chairman Thompson)
00:36:14 Thank you, Dr. Barry.
00:36:14 Now, I'm pleased to recognize a good friend, a member of the House Agriculture Committee
00:36:20 from California's 1st Congressional District.
00:36:23 I had the privilege of spending quite a bit of time with Mr. LaMalfa.
00:36:30 We had a very, what I would have to describe as a very emotional visit to Paradise, California,
00:36:36 that where so many lives, almost 100 lives were lost due to wildfire and an opportunity to ride
00:36:45 in a combine on his rice fields in Northern California.
00:36:52 And all of it, I really appreciate the opportunity.
00:36:54 He serves as the Chairman of the House Agriculture Forestry Subcommittee from California's 1st
00:37:00 Congressional District.
00:37:01 Representative Doug LaMalfa.
00:37:02 LaMalfa, and we'll recognize for three minutes.
00:37:06 Mr. LaMalfa
00:37:07 Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman.
00:37:08 I greatly appreciate your work on this committee and the hard work on the Farm Bill and the
00:37:14 demeanor with which you bring it.
00:37:15 You know, you bring people together with your effort on this and the, all of us coming together
00:37:20 have these field hearings and listening sessions around the country since the beginning of
00:37:25 last year in this session.
00:37:27 So I think that's been very productive and points out a strong bipartisan effort to make
00:37:31 this Farm Bill come together and be successful this year.
00:37:36 And we need it to do so because we need that certainty for all industries.
00:37:40 So I'm pleased to be able to be the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Forestry.
00:37:45 Thanks to Chairman Thompson on that.
00:37:49 That's a very important issue in Northern California where my district is, but all over
00:37:53 the West and indeed for the whole country.
00:37:56 Now, we should be deeply concerned about the state of our nation's timber industry, the
00:38:02 industry itself, as well as the condition of our forests.
00:38:05 We have many mills closing down lately because they can't economically make it.
00:38:10 And it's not due to their businesses practices per se, but more so the practices of the Forest
00:38:16 Service and the available lands and timber harvest they need.
00:38:20 This demands our immediate attention in the Farm Bill.
00:38:24 And as many people don't know, USDA oversees the US Forest Service.
00:38:30 So that's why this element is in the Farm Bill.
00:38:33 So as I'm depicting here in these posters here, you see what the difference between
00:38:40 managed forests and unmanaged forests, what they look like.
00:38:43 So on the left is a forest that's been thinned and properly maintained.
00:38:47 On the right, a still green forest, but it's so dense, birds can't fly through it, deer
00:38:53 can't run through it, which this used to actually be the norm.
00:38:56 But over 50 plus years of neglect in our forested areas have allowed this to happen because
00:39:02 at the same time we put out fire, which is a good thing, except for when fire can be
00:39:08 a useful tool at the right time of year under the right conditions for forest thinning.
00:39:13 We need to have an active management on that.
00:39:15 Forest Service oversees 193 million acres in its purview, and at best it's treating
00:39:21 1% of those acres per year.
00:39:23 That's why it's extremely important we have private industry as a partner, indeed,
00:39:28 the quarterback of carrying the ball on this issue for this industry.
00:39:33 We recently had a field hearing in South Dakota with my colleague Dusty Johnson.
00:39:38 We met up with the Niman Enterprises, the Niman family, a family company who's been
00:39:43 there many years.
00:39:44 They've just announced layoffs now because they can't get the number of board feet
00:39:48 that need to sustain their business there.
00:39:50 It's not just about business, it's about getting the wood products and paper products
00:39:54 and being a partner in helping our forest to be safer, cleaner, healthier, the whole
00:40:00 works.
00:40:01 And so if they're having to lay people off, that means a small town of Spearfish, South
00:40:05 Dakota, is going to suffer badly economically.
00:40:08 It means our forest is going to suffer due to ultimately overcrowding like you see on
00:40:13 the right here and make it an extreme fire danger.
00:40:16 It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when.
00:40:18 We need to have stronger activity, we need Forest Service to get cracking on this.
00:40:22 Part of the elements we've had in recent farm bills and this coming farm bill are a
00:40:27 continued expansion of categorical exclusions and utilizing.
00:40:32 These exclusions allow the bypassing of a lot of red tape and permitting and such.
00:40:39 It doesn't mean they're going to do anything environmentally unsoundly, it just means we
00:40:42 don't need to take two years to study every time we want to do a timber harvest.
00:40:45 We already know what to do.
00:40:46 They require NEPA so many times.
00:40:49 We need to have a faster process to get this done.
00:40:51 We're falling farther and farther behind.
00:40:53 We're losing the industry, we're losing the forests.
00:40:54 And so we need to have more categorical exclusions, we need to have more pilot projects like
00:41:00 we had at the south, the Tahoe area was about a 10,000 acre one.
00:41:05 Now what happened there is that work was done in thinning that area, fire hit that area
00:41:10 and it knocked the fire down to made it where it wasn't a devastating fire in that 10,000
00:41:13 acres.
00:41:14 It actually, we were able to put it out.
00:41:15 And so we have the ability to extend, expand the good neighbor policy which enabled local
00:41:22 governments and tribes to help manage the land for the Forest Service since they're
00:41:26 so far behind on this issue.
00:41:27 We have an expansion of that in the bill as well.
00:41:30 So what we're doing in the farm bill is just common sense things to make our forest
00:41:33 practices and forest health and have an industry at the same time.
00:41:38 Yes, it's good to talk about having an industry.
00:41:40 This isn't just big timber.
00:41:42 This is something that we need.
00:41:43 All these small towns in my area in northern California and all over the west that have
00:41:47 been boarded up, so to speak, from losing the industry.
00:41:51 We need folks to be able to come back and do this work to help us because just recently
00:41:56 the US is gone because China's reeling things back in from the number two importer.
00:42:00 Now the US is the number one importer of wood products.
00:42:03 What are we doing here?
00:42:04 We have so much burning up in our backyard and going to waste.
00:42:07 We need to put people to work in our country and our forests, make them better, safer,
00:42:11 and have an industry and jobs in this country.
00:42:13 So it's so important that we have these elements in this farm bill and we get it
00:42:18 passed along with all the other good things for agriculture, for farming, to have a stable
00:42:21 food supply.
00:42:22 Yes, he mentioned I was a rice grower myself in northern California five generations now.
00:42:28 We need all the above in order to have a stable food supply so our country is strong and secure.
00:42:33 The same goes with our forestry because you see success on the left here and impending
00:42:38 disaster on the right in this poster.
00:42:41 Mr. Chairman, thank you so much for the time and allowing me to be part of this tonight.
00:42:44 Well, I thank the gentleman from California for your leadership on forestry and all of
00:42:49 American agriculture.
00:42:50 Now please recognize one of our senior members on the Agriculture Committee from North Carolina
00:42:56 7, Representative David Rauser, for three minutes.
00:42:59 Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
00:43:00 Mr. Speaker, North Carolina is blessed to be one of the most agriculturally diverse
00:43:05 states in our great country.
00:43:07 Contributing more than $103 billion to our state's economy, agriculture has always been
00:43:13 North Carolina's number one industry.
00:43:16 But it's even bigger than that for this reason.
00:43:20 Food security is national security.
00:43:23 In other words, the economic impact of agriculture doesn't even come close to measuring its true
00:43:28 benefit to America and the world.
00:43:32 Today our farm families are struggling just like every other American is feeling the inflation
00:43:36 pinch.
00:43:38 In the case of American agriculture, it's even worse.
00:43:41 Our farm families are expected to see a 27 percent decrease in net farm income this year.
00:43:48 They're facing as much uncertainty as at any time in American history.
00:43:53 We have a crisis unfolding in farm country because of record high input and labor cost
00:43:59 driven by regulatory assault on the industry as well as stagnant or declining prices for
00:44:04 both crops and lobstock, eliminating any profit margin.
00:44:09 This by the way is at the same time every American household is paying more for food
00:44:14 than ever before.
00:44:17 This is why a strong farm bill is so critically important for both farmers and consumers.
00:44:23 It could not come at a more crucial time.
00:44:26 Important programs necessary to help our farm families survive, to feed and clothe America,
00:44:32 including a commodity title, healthy meals for low income families, rural development
00:44:36 programs so important to infrastructure and job growth in rural areas, animal disease
00:44:41 prevention, trade promotion, and key investments in research and extension services for our
00:44:46 producers along I might add with other important provisions.
00:44:51 All must be updated and improved to meet today's challenges in American agriculture.
00:44:57 We have the safest, most affordable food supply in the world and we must keep it that way.
00:45:04 A strong farm bill is key for that to continue.
00:45:07 A strong farm bill is America first.
00:45:11 We should never forget that.
00:45:13 So thank you Mr. Chairman for being such a strong leader and critical voice for agriculture
00:45:18 as we work towards a farm bill that properly addresses the challenges of those who provide
00:45:24 for our food and fiber.
00:45:26 I yield back.
00:45:27 Thank you gentleman for his leadership and dedication to this great industry that serves
00:45:33 every American family.
00:45:35 Now please recognize the gentleman from New York 23rd, yeah 23rd congressional district,
00:45:43 a neighbor of mine, neighbor of the north, Representative Nick Langworthy for three minutes.
00:45:49 Well thank you very much Chairman Thompson for hosting tonight's special order hour,
00:45:55 focusing on the consequential piece of legislation for rural America, the farm bill.
00:45:59 And also thank you for your work making sure that we have an adequate farm bill in all
00:46:04 the travel and the efforts that you've put into this at this point.
00:46:08 In western New York and the southerns here, agriculture not only drives our economy but
00:46:13 it's a way of life and a proud tradition for many families that I'm proud to represent.
00:46:19 I fight for more than 6,000 farms in my district as we develop each piece of this legislation,
00:46:26 especially as they struggle with the high input costs and shrinking margins created
00:46:31 by President Biden's reckless economic policies.
00:46:34 More specifically the farmer, the dairy farms in my district, they need better policy solutions
00:46:40 that offer them a stronger safety net and more predictable pricing.
00:46:44 As outlined in the bill that I introduced earlier this Congress, HR 1756, the Dairy
00:46:49 Pricing Opportunity Act, we need to ensure that this next farm bill authorizes reporting
00:46:55 of the cost and the yield information from dairy processors.
00:46:59 It also has been great to see the recent recognition of the role of our farmers, ranchers and
00:47:04 dairies in what they play in our nation's nutrition and health.
00:47:08 This next farm bill should also aim to increase access to dairy products for SNAP recipients
00:47:12 as outlined in the Dairy Nutrition Incentive Act, which I'm co-leading with my colleague
00:47:17 from California, Representative Jim Costa.
00:47:20 It's important that we empower and encourage households to consume healthy but under-consumed
00:47:25 foods such as milk and other nutrient-rich dairy products.
00:47:29 Western New York and the southern tier have a proud history of dairy farming and I want
00:47:33 to ensure that dairy remains a core component of our efforts as 90% of Americans fall short
00:47:39 of meeting the recommended intake of dairy.
00:47:42 And similarly, I've been leading the effort to expand access to New York maple products
00:47:46 with my bipartisan Maple Act, as I'm proud to represent hundreds of maple farms and have
00:47:51 even had the chance to visit many of them last month during New York's Maple Week.
00:47:56 It's a great product and the legislation would add maple syrup to the eligible products under
00:48:00 the Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program.
00:48:04 The farm bill doesn't stop at dairy production or specialty crops, it also focuses on developing
00:48:09 our rural communities that are so often forgotten here in Washington, D.C.
00:48:14 Title VI of the farm bill authorizes programs that are meant to foster economic growth in
00:48:19 our rural communities like the Rural Innovation Stronger Economy, or the RISE grant program.
00:48:26 This program has been instrumental in offering grant assistance to foster high-wage job creation
00:48:32 and accelerate the formation of new business in qualifying low-income rural areas.
00:48:38 While the RISE program has garnered success and popularity, it's important to recognize
00:48:42 that job accelerators typically provide specialized training for individuals seeking new skills
00:48:48 to secure employment in new business.
00:48:50 The explosion of cutting-edge technologies has presented rural areas with challenges
00:48:55 and adaptation, resulting in a widening workforce gap and diminishing economic prospects.
00:49:01 These challenges compound existing workforce issues in rural America, including limiting
00:49:05 access to education and workforce development opportunities and mismatches between available
00:49:11 jobs and the skills of our local workers.
00:49:13 In response to this need, we've introduced H.R. 7015, the Careers Act, to build upon
00:49:19 the RISE grant program by allowing funds to support career pathway programs in industry
00:49:25 or sector partnerships in specific industries, including public utilities, health care, manufacturing,
00:49:31 agribusiness, and others.
00:49:32 Opening this program to industry partnerships could create more collaboration between employers,
00:49:38 educators, and stakeholders to address workforce challenges and develop tailored training
00:49:43 programs ensuring a skilled workforce that meets industry needs.
00:49:47 The Careers Act champions skills development, innovation, and collaboration, empowering
00:49:52 rural communities to thrive.
00:49:55 We need to ensure that Title VI of this Farm Bill will do more to close the skills gap
00:50:00 and support our rural communities.
00:50:02 In all, I'm proud to be a voice for rural upstate New York, western New York, and the
00:50:07 southern tier, throughout the process of developing a final bill that not only supports American
00:50:12 agriculture but builds a better future for everyone.
00:50:15 Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for all your efforts, and I yield back.
00:50:18 Well, I thank the gentleman from New York, who is doing a great job serving this rural
00:50:24 America, his district, and American agriculture.
00:50:28 Now please recognize the gentleman, no stranger to agriculture, actually, being from the Central
00:50:33 Valley of California, a farmer himself, representing California's 13th congressional district,
00:50:41 Representative John Duarte.
00:50:42 Please recognize for three minutes.
00:50:44 Well, Chairman Thompson, it is an absolute honor to be here to support your Farm Bill,
00:50:50 and it's moving forward today.
00:50:52 As a fourth-generation California farmer, working side by side with my next generation,
00:50:57 the fifth-generation California farmers in my family, nothing is more important right
00:51:02 now than to get farm security and farm stability for American farmers.
00:51:08 As a California farmer, I've got some of my friends right now, best of breed friends,
00:51:13 calling me, telling me, if we can't get stability in our ag prices, if we can't get our costs
00:51:19 under control, if we can't get foreign markets opened up again, this might be our last year,
00:51:26 where the bank might have us sell property.
00:51:29 We're looking at a commercial real estate crisis in America today.
00:51:31 Well, let me tell you firsthand, there is a agricultural credit crisis coming in America
00:51:37 today because we're on the heels.
00:51:41 We're on the heels of COVID.
00:51:42 We're on the heels of supply chain disruption.
00:51:44 We're on the heels of Bidenflation.
00:51:47 Still under it.
00:51:48 And all of this is stacking up against farmers.
00:51:51 While American families have higher SNAP benefits than they've ever enjoyed before, and so many
00:51:56 of us on the Farm, the Ag Committee support SNAP program to keep American children and
00:52:02 families with robust nutrition, we have produce and protein leaving the dinner plates of working
00:52:09 families.
00:52:10 We have cereal companies today advertising breakfast cereal for dinner, again, as SNAP
00:52:16 benefits are higher than they've ever been, maintain their plussed up status after COVID.
00:52:22 And many of us on the Ag Committee support that, both sides of the aisle.
00:52:25 So what do we need?
00:52:26 We need a Farm Bill that produces American abundance, that produces, that promotes American
00:52:32 farmers' innovations, that allows American farmers to produce for national markets.
00:52:38 We're shut out of China with retaliatory ag tariffs.
00:52:41 We're fighting back on that.
00:52:42 But we need market access promotion.
00:52:45 We need the Specialty Crops Block Grants plussed up to help American farmers and specialty
00:52:50 crop producers find the new markets they need.
00:52:54 On the Gates Act, we want to solve big environmental problems, big ecological challenges with farming.
00:53:00 Well, we need to make sure the biggest farmers can do that.
00:53:03 So for those who are true farmers, that make over 25% of their income from agriculture,
00:53:08 we need to allow the conservation program access, irrespective of income limits.
00:53:15 We can do this.
00:53:18 Chairman Thompson, Speaker, thank you so much for the opportunity to promote the American
00:53:23 Farm Bill today.
00:53:24 We can get this done.
00:53:26 I yield back.
00:53:27 Mr. Speaker, can I inquire how much time, if any, remains?
00:53:34 You have seven minutes remaining.
00:53:36 Okay, very good.
00:53:37 Well, I thank the gentleman from California for being a valued member of the House Agriculture
00:53:42 Committee, for your work, your leadership, your service.
00:53:45 Mr. Speaker, we've just heard a multitude of reasons why we need to pass this Farm Bill.
00:53:50 This is a farm security, food security, and national security bill.
00:53:56 Food security is national security.
00:53:59 You know, I like to, my definition of American agriculture is pretty straightforward.
00:54:07 American agriculture today is science, technology, and innovation.
00:54:13 America's farmers have suffered enough.
00:54:15 They can't wait, and neither can we.
00:54:17 Over the past three years, the Committee on Agriculture has traveled all over the country
00:54:22 to both Republican and Democrat-held districts with one goal in mind, to listen and report
00:54:28 back.
00:54:29 Or as I like to say, use what God has given us, two ears, one mouth.
00:54:34 So when we go out, that's why we call them listening tours, to be able to take the opportunity
00:54:38 to listen from those folks, those hardworking families who are providing us food and fiber,
00:54:44 building materials, and energy resources all over this great nation.
00:54:48 We've been to at least 40 different states in one territory.
00:54:53 Probably some states, if you heard tonight, multiple times.
00:54:57 So I'm somewhere in the neighborhood of, had the privilege of chairing probably close to
00:55:02 85 listening sessions around this great nation.
00:55:06 Why would we do that?
00:55:07 Because we're building a Farm Bill listening to the voices outside the beltway of Washington,
00:55:14 to the people who work so hard, some of them seven days a week, to provide what is essential
00:55:20 for this great nation and for the families of this great nation.
00:55:24 Frankly, our process has been transparent, it's been collaborative, and it's been done
00:55:32 in good faith.
00:55:34 Mr. Speaker, I don't think there's a greater return on investment for a dollar spent in
00:55:38 Washington than one spent through the Farm Bill in agriculture.
00:55:42 And I'll say that lightly, I point to the facts of the number of jobs are created.
00:55:47 It's the number one industry in, quite frankly, in almost every state, and certainly in this
00:55:53 nation.
00:55:55 The economic activity is generated through the agriculture industry, both production
00:56:02 and processing, and everything really within the within that food supply chain.
00:56:08 The amount of taxes that are generated by farms, ranches, forestry operations, agribusinesses,
00:56:15 they're paid at every level of government to really fund what we hope are the essential
00:56:20 services.
00:56:21 It is the food security that is provided that results in national security.
00:56:26 There's no more slipperier slope to national insecurity than food insecurity.
00:56:31 That's obvious to see when you look around the world today.
00:56:33 We are blessed as a nation because of our agriculture industry and the hardworking families
00:56:39 that are working in it.
00:56:40 But it's also with American agriculture being based on science and technology innovation,
00:56:45 it's about a better environment and a cleaner climate.
00:56:50 When you look at the data that shows that American agriculture, and that's livestock,
00:56:57 that's plants, that's trees, because trees are a crop, result in the sequestration of
00:57:04 6.1 gigatons of carbon annually, which is 10.1% more than what it generates.
00:57:11 There's no better climate champions in the world than the American farmer, farmer, rancher,
00:57:17 forester.
00:57:18 And so we have a lot to be proud of when it comes to this industry.
00:57:23 And again, there's not a dollar that has a better return on investment than one that
00:57:28 is invested in American agriculture within this Farm Bill.
00:57:34 Recoups tremendously just in terms of the number of jobs, economic activity, and the
00:57:40 taxes that are generated as a result of those entities.
00:57:45 Too often in Washington, the naysayers and the pundits drown out our progress on key
00:57:51 issues.
00:57:52 Not on the Agriculture Committee.
00:57:54 There really is time to iron out the details, mark up the Farm Bill, and get it across the
00:58:00 floor and have the Senate do their job next.
00:58:06 We have, there's 12 titles to this Farm Bill, there's a lot to it.
00:58:10 And we understand that.
00:58:11 It's, it's very diverse, because it's everything that has to do with, with agriculture and
00:58:16 quite frankly, rural America.
00:58:19 It's got the safety net program and as I've said, food security is national security.
00:58:23 And a strong commodity title ensures that Americans can continue to produce the safest,
00:58:29 most abundant and most affordable food supply in the world.
00:58:33 In recent years, farm income has been on the decline.
00:58:36 USDA's own data expects farm income to fall by $80 billion by the end of 2022 to the end
00:58:43 of 2024.
00:58:45 This is the greatest two year loss in the net farm income in history.
00:58:50 This Farm Bill can do something about that.
00:58:53 Persistent inflation and rising costs of production warrant new investments in safety, farm safety
00:58:58 net.
00:58:59 A robust Title I aids the American producer in managing the risk of low prices or declining
00:59:04 farm revenues.
00:59:06 On the research side, if we, American agriculture is science, technology and innovation, the
00:59:12 Farm Bill promotes science, technology and innovation, which are necessary for training
00:59:15 the next generation of agriculturalists.
00:59:19 It's necessary for keeping American agriculture at the forefront of productivity and maintaining
00:59:24 our competitive age, competitive edge with China.
00:59:29 It helps us deal with sometimes deteriorating weather conditions.
00:59:37 It helps us in areas where soil health is not the finest to being able to turn that
00:59:41 around.
00:59:43 It helps us to be able to produce more on less acreage, which is what the trend has
00:59:47 been.
00:59:48 Trade, incredibly important part of the Farm Bill as well.
00:59:52 And the Farm Bill trade programs have worked to build and maintain and expand markets for
00:59:57 American agricultural products around the world.
01:00:00 American producers not only feed, fuel and clothe our nation, but provide for consumers
01:00:05 around the world.
01:00:07 And the Biden administration's trade agenda or lack thereof has left America's producers
01:00:11 with their hands tied, unable to engage in free trade and pursue new or expanded markets.
01:00:17 And so this Farm Bill is an opportunity to bolster those markets.
01:00:20 You've heard about forestry tonight.
01:00:23 The livestock program we've heard about this evening.
01:00:26 You know, Mr. Speaker, there's just, I'm looking forward here, without a doubt, before
01:00:33 May of getting this, moving this Farm Bill out of the House Agriculture Committee.
01:00:39 And then we'll get it to the floor, and we'll get it to the Senate, and we'll get it to
01:00:43 the President's desk.
01:00:44 And so we appreciate your presiding this evening, Mr. Speaker, and yield back whatever time
01:00:50 might remain.
01:00:52 The gentleman yields back.
01:00:54 Does the gentleman have a motion?
01:00:56 Yes, I do, Mr. Speaker.
01:00:58 I move that the House do now adjourn.
01:01:00 The question is on the motion to adjourn.
01:01:02 Those in favor say yea.
01:01:05 Those opposed say no.
01:01:06 The yeas have it.
01:01:07 The motion is adopted.