Senators Stabenow, Roberts Announce Farm Bill Field Hearing in Michigan
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) today announced the Committee will hold its second Farm Bill field hearing of the 115th Congress in Frankenmuth, Mich. on Saturday, May 6 to begin work on the 2018 Farm Bill. Congress passes a Farm Bill only once every five years. The current Farm Bill was passed with strong bipartisan support in 2014 and expires in September 2018.
"The Farm Bill is critical to Michigan agriculture, which supports one in four jobs across our state," said Stabenow. "Thanks to input from our farmers and stakeholders, the 2014 Farm Bill has Michigan on every page, and was signed into law here at Michigan State University. We made historic investments to support our small towns, protect our land and water, help our farmers export and sell more products locally, and end unnecessary subsidies and programs – saving taxpayers $80 billion more than we first expected. As we begin our work on the 2018 Farm Bill, I'm committed to making sure Michigan's voice is heard again so we can continue to support our state’s farmers and families and create new jobs."
"Listening to producer perspectives from across the country is a critical step in writing the next Farm Bill,” said Roberts. “We had a successful first field hearing in Kansas, and I look forward to continuing the tradition of listening to farmers, ranchers, and other stakeholders with Senator Stabenow in Michigan."
The hearing, entitled “Growing Jobs and Economic Opportunity: Perspectives on the 2018 Farm Bill from Michigan,” will feature testimony from a wide variety of agricultural producers and Farm Bill stakeholders, examining agriculture, as well as conservation, rural economic development, research, forestry, energy, and nutrition policies that affect Michigan. Witnesses will be announced shortly. All stakeholders and the general public are invited to submit testimony or comments in writing for the official Committee record (see below).
What: U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Field Hearing on the 2018 Farm Bill
Date: Saturday, May 6, 2017
Time: 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. EDT
Place: Saginaw Valley Research & Extension Center - Michigan State University, 3775 S Reese Rd, Frankenmuth, MI
RSVP: To attend, email your name and organization (if representing a group) to MIRSVP@ag.senate.gov
Testimony: You are invited to submit testimony or comments for the official record for this field hearing in advance, but no later than May 12, 2017, either online at www.agriculture.senate.gov/farm-bill-input or by mailing it to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, 328A Russell Senate Office Bldg, Washington, D.C. 20510.
Live Broadcast: The hearing will be webcast live on ag.senate.gov.
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