Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on the President’s FY2017 Budget Request
Washington, DC – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today released the following statement in response to President Barack Obama’s FY2017 budget request.
“President Obama has been a steadfast champion for American agriculture, rural communities, and families of all walks of life,” Ranking Member Stabenow said. “This budget request continues that leadership by calling for an expansion of many key areas of the Farm Bill like food and agriculture research that support our growing bio-economy, the use of clean energy technologies, and local food systems. This budget proposal would also put a stop to the recent trend of cutting mandatory Farm Bill conservation programs that help farmers, ranchers, and landowners be the best stewards of their land.
“This budget request also emphasizes the important investments made in our bipartisan child nutrition bill that passed unanimously out of Committee in January. That smart, balanced reauthorization moves us forward with science-based nutrition policies while also ensuring children and families have access to food year-round. It’s time the Senate brings this important bill for a vote.
“I am pleased to see that this budget request also calls for added investments to financial regulators like the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. If we are serious about having a financial system that works for farmers, manufacturers, and consumers, we need a strong, effective cop on the beat. I will continue to work toward a CFTC reauthorization that realizes the importance of these investments.
“While this budget request moves us forward on many fronts, I disagree with the President’s suggestion that we make additional cuts to crop insurance. The 2014 Farm Bill made significant reforms to the way we provide risk management tools to our farmer and ranchers. It’s important that we keep the Farm Bill intact to provide the full five-year certainty promised in that bipartisan bill.”
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