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Opening Statements

Opening Statement: Full Committee Hearing with USDA Secretary Vilsack

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Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15), Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, delivered the following opening remarks at today's full committee hearing to receive testimony from U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack. Remarks as prepared for delivery: "Good morning, and welcome Secretary Vilsack. "Your appearance today comes at a critical time, when Congress will soon come...

Opening Statement: "A Review of Title VII: USDA Implementation of Research Programs"

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Rep. Jim Baird (IN-04), Chairman of the Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at today's subcommittee hearing entitled, "A Review of Title VII: USDA Implementation of Research Programs." Remarks as prepared for delivery: "Good morning and welcome to the first hearing of the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology in the 11...

Opening Statement: “Rising Risks: Managing Volatility in Global Commodity Derivatives Markets”

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Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson (PA-15), Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, delivered the following opening remarks at today's full committee hearing entitled, “Rising Risks: Managing Volatility in Global Commodity Derivatives Markets.” Remarks as prepared for delivery: "Over the past several years, we’ve seen several unexpected events that have shocked global commodity markets. The COVID-19...

Opening Statement: “Consideration of the Budget Views and Estimates Letter of the Committee on Agriculture for Fiscal Year 2024”

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Rep. Glenn " GT" Thompson (PA-15), Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, delivered the following opening remarks at today's Full Committee Business Meeting: "Consideration of the Budget Views and Estimates Letter of the Committee on Agriculture for Fiscal Year 2024.” Remarks as prepared for delivery: "Good morning, everyone. I call to order the business meeting to consider the Agricultur...

Opening Statement: “A Review of Title VIII: Forestry Stakeholder Perspectives”

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Rep. Doug LaMalfa (CA-01), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Forestry, delivered the following opening remarks at today's subcommittee hearing entitled, “A Review of Title VIII: Forestry Stakeholder Perspectives” Remarks as prepared for delivery: "Good morning. Thank you all for being here and joining us for the very first hearing of the Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Forestry. "Today’s hea...

Opening Statement: "Uncertainty, Inflation, Regulations: Challenges for American Agriculture"

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Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, delivered the following opening remarks at today's full committee hearing entitled, "Uncertainty, Inflation, Regulations: Challenges for American Agriculture." Remarks as prepared for delivery: "Good morning, and welcome to the first House Committee on Agriculture hearing of the 118th Congress. Our focus this morning will be...

Chairman Thompson Delivers Opening Remarks at Committee Organizational Meeting

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Rep. Glenn "GT" Thompson, Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, delivered the following opening remarks at today's Committee Organizational Meeting for the 118th Congress. Remarks as prepared for delivery: "Good morning, and welcome to the organizing meeting of the House Committee on Agriculture for the 118th Congress. I am honored to be the first Pennsylvanian to serve as Chairman in ne...

Opening Statement: Republican Leader Doug LaMalfa Conservation and Forestry Subcommittee Hearing: "A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Stakeholder Perspectives on Title II Conservation Programs"

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Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Chairwoman Spanberger. I appreciate you holding this hearing and the opportunity to discuss the 2018 Farm Bill’s Conservation Title. Title II conservation programs are voluntary and incentive-based, providing direct benefits to producers, their operations, and the land alike. The delivery of the farm bill’s conservation programs is a proven model that w...

Opening Statement: Republican Leader Glenn "GT" Thompson Full Committee on Agriculture Hearing: "A 2022 Review of the Farm Bill: Broadband"

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Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. As we have heard across multiple hearings this Congress, the need for better broadband connectivity in rural America is immense. In the past, I have talked about the checkerboard of connectivity in my home state of Pennsylvania, with some communities well served, while their neighbors—sometimes just down the street—struggle to download the...

Opening Statement: Republican Leader Glenn "GT" Thompson Full Committee on Agriculture Hearing: “Soil Health Practices and Programs that Support Regenerative Agriculture”

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Remarks as prepared for delivery: Thank you, Chairman Scott. Encouraging soil health and responsible conservation practices in agriculture have been central goals and priorities supported by Congress since the 1930s. Through the farm bill, producers and landowners can access a variety of conservation programs and tools to incorporate activities that support a variety of natural resources. These pr...