Statement : Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
May 18, 2023
Statement
I am concerned today as I come here because it is very difficult, despite my faith, to rejoice in this markup because today this bill turns its back on rural America. It is a retreat from our most vulnerable communities. This bill really makes it more difficult to implement the purpose and to have a level playing field for all Americans.
May 18, 2023
Statement
After removing rescissions, the Agriculture bill provides a total funding level so insufficient that it was last seen in 2006. It is a sham proposal built on $8 billion in alleged savings that will likely not be available next year. The cuts in the bill are harmful, including slashing the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program by $500 million, cutting the Renewable Energy for America Program by $500 million, gutting investments in rural electric co-ops for clean energy and energy efficiency by $3.25 billion, eliminating loans that serve as a financial lifeline that has already helped more than 20,000 distressed farmers from keeping hardworking farmers from going into foreclosure, it’s an issue that is relevant to rural farmers, and taking food out of the mouths of veterans, children, seniors, and people with disabilities who rely on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
March 30, 2023
Statement
"To my friends on the other side of the aisle, you can’t have it both ways – either these and the many other programs in our bill are worthy and should be funded at the necessary level to do their jobs for the American people or they are not."
March 29, 2023
Statement
"The American people depend on a strong FDA. And while not a perfect agency, the FDA’s programs must be fully funded to ensure the health and safety of the American people. Anything less puts lives at risk."
March 29, 2023
Statement
"And we have to fight to keep our food, our medicine, our medical devices safe for all American families. Unfortunately, despite the need to continue investing and conducting proper oversight over the FDA, House Republicans’ reported proposal to cut fiscal year 2024 discretionary spending back to the fiscal year 2022 level threatens much of the progress made in recent years to protect our food and drugs."
March 28, 2023
Statement
"The CFTC is a steward of both American markets and American taxpayers' dollars. With one of the smaller budgets among independent agencies, the CFTC is responsible for regulating a massive financial market. In June 2022, the Bank for International Settlements estimated that global derivatives markets had a $632 trillion notional value—that is trillion with a 'T'—while the CFTC received a total of $365 million in FY23 appropriations. The CFTC is also the only U.S. financial regulator that does not impose user fees on market participants, which further demonstrates the huge return that the American people get on their investment in the agency."
March 23, 2023
Statement
"As I have often noted, these agencies conduct vital work that touches the life of every American. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on the appropriations process and the programs and issues that affect your district and your constituents. Your input is invaluable as we draft the Fiscal Year 2024 bill."
March 9, 2023
Statement
"I cannot overstate how important this work is to America. Our rural communities and agriculture industry affect the lives of every single American almost every single day. USDA federal programs help ensure that we produce the best, most abundant, and most affordable food for our families as well as materials vital to a wide range of American industries – from construction to medicine."