Agriculture

"I will have further questions on the administration’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak. I should also note that we continue to actively monitor your efforts related to youth use of vaping products. The deadline for companies to submit premarket application is just two months away. Preserving the ability of adults to use vaping devices as an offramp from smoking while preventing bad actors and youth-appealing flavors from remaining on the market is a delicate balancing act."

"Despite the likelihood that these challenges will continue for some time, the administration has put forth an inadequate budget, as it has every year during its time in office. This year, USDA’s budget request is $16.4 billion, which is a reduction of $3.5 billion, or 18 percent, in discretionary funding from the final fiscal year 2020 bill. I continue to believe many of the proposals in the budget are bad for our farmers, rural communities, and vulnerable populations and quite honestly dead on arrival."

"We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the appropriations process and learning more about the programs and issues that affect your district and your constituents. Your input is invaluable as we draft funding legislation for upcoming fiscal year for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the Food and Drug Administration, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the Farm Credit Administration."

"Your office is at the forefront of these efforts as they relate to the FDA. The Subcommittee shares your interests in ensuring the programs of the FDA are operating at the highest levels of efficiency, responding to your recommendations, and protecting the public health and safety of the American people."

"While USDA’s Economic Research Service forecasted a rise in net farm income in 2019, due in most part to direct government payments, there are alarming trends in the agricultural sector that must be examined and addressed. Last year, according to USDA, farm debt reached record levels at $416 billion. Farm bankruptcies are at their highest levels since 2011. These trends appear to raise significant warning signs for the year ahead and I would like to hear from our witnesses on their outlook for 2020."

"We have to do everything that we can possibly do to eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse, and mismanagement. We need to ensure that all of the USDA programs, over which our subcommittee has oversight, are operated with the best possible efficiencies in order to create the best possible outcome for those who use the agency."