Majority News
Chairman Roberts: Concerns Remain with Final SNAP Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Food and Nutrition Service released its final rule on eligibility requirements for retailers participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). "After a thorough review of the nearly 100-page finalized SNAP rule, I'm pleased that USDA listened to my concerns, echoed by nearly hal… Continue Reading
12.06.16
Chairman Roberts’ Statement on Child Nutrition Reauthorization Negotiations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today released the following statement on the status of efforts to complete reauthorization of child nutrition programs. "Today is a day I hoped would not come," Roberts said. "I'm very disappointed that the bipartisan, bicameral Child Nutrition Reauthorization negotiations have come to an end for the 114th Congress. "I'm proud of the commonsense reforms and the biparti… Continue Reading
12.05.16
Chairman Roberts’ Statement on CFTC’s Position Limits Proposed Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today released the following statement after the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) released a re-proposed rule on position limits. "Though I do not appreciate so-called 'midnight rulemaking' and certainly am not in favor of limiting farmers, ranchers, and end-users' risk management tools, I am encouraged that the CFTC decided not to make the controversi… Continue Reading
12.02.16
Chairman Roberts Names Glueck As Policy Director
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today announced the promotion of James Glueck to Policy Director for the Committee. "James has faithfully served the needs of farmers and ranchers for more than 10 years in various government and private sector roles," said Roberts. "James understands the unique challenges and difficulties facing agriculture and rural America. I'm proud to have him on my staff, and I am… Continue Reading
12.01.16
Chairman Roberts Issues Statement on Ag Committee Nomination Vetting Process
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today released the following statement regarding the Committee's vetting process for presidential nominees: "The Senate Agriculture Committee should examine President-Elect Donald Trump's nominees in the same manner it vetted President Obama's nominees. After all, the Obama Administration was the so-called 'most transparent Administration in history.' "I have served on… Continue Reading
11.15.16
Senate Agriculture Committee Leaders Call on China to Prioritize Biotechnology Approvals
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., this week sent a letter to President Obama regarding ongoing delays of agriculture biotechnology product approvals in China. The bipartisan letter contains 37 signatures, 16 of which are Senate Agriculture Committee members. The Senators write, "American producers rely on access to the global market for the food and fiber they harvest. If th… Continue Reading
10.14.16
Chairman Roberts Disappointed with USDA’s Advancement of GIPSA Rules
WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture transmitted to the Office of Management and Budget for review three rules first issued in 2010, commonly referred to as the GIPSA rules. "While the impact of these rules is not fully known, if they are in any way similar to the 2010 GIPSA proposal, I have serious concerns that the U.S. livest… Continue Reading
10.14.16
Chairman Roberts Applauds CFTC De Minimis Threshold Extension
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement after U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Timothy Massad's announcement to extend the de minimis threshold phase-in termination date by one year. "I'm pleased the CFTC has moved the automatic drop of the swap dealer de minimis level back one year," said Chairman Roberts. "It is important the Commission hav… Continue Reading
09.29.16
Chairman Roberts Applauds Senate Passage of Modernized Livestock Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today applauded unanimous Senate passage of H.R. 5883, the Clarification of Treatment of Electronic Sales of Livestock Act of 2016. H.R. 5883 passed the House of Representatives earlier this week and is identical to S. 3350, introduced by Agriculture Committee Member Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss. H.R. 5883 brings much needed clarity to the livestock marketing sector by mak… Continue Reading
09.28.16
Senate Agriculture Committee Advances CFTC Nominees
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today announced the Committee favorably reported nominees Dr. Christopher Brummer and Brian Quintenz to serve as Commissioners of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). The nominees may now be considered by the full U.S. Senate for final confirmation. "We need to fill the vacancies at the CFTC, and I'm pleased to hear assurances from both nominees to listen … Continue Reading
09.21.16
Chairman Roberts Thanks Vilsack, Questions Administration’s Overregulation and Uncertainty in Farm Economy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today held a hearing on the work of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the economic concerns voiced by farm country. The hearing, titled "The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Current State of the Farm Economy," featured testimony from U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack. For witness info, testimony, and to watch the hearing, click here. "Eleven… Continue Reading
09.15.16
Senate Agriculture Committee Holds Hearing on CFTC Nominations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today held a Committee hearing to consider the nominations of Dr. Christopher Brummer and Brian Quintenz to serve as Commissioners of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Per Committee Rules, a final vote on the nominations must occur in a separate business meeting of the Committee. Click here to watch the hearing. In April, the Committee passed legislatio… Continue Reading
09.13.16
Roberts, Stabenow Announce Hearing on American Agriculture, Rural Economy
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today announced the Committee will hold a hearing on "The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Current State of the Farm Economy." What: The U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Current State of the Farm Economy Who: Hon. Tom Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC Date: Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016 Time: … Continue Reading
09.13.16
Chairman Roberts: U.S. Farmers Deserve Level Playing Field in Global Marketplace
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today joined U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, and a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers to announce the launch of trade enforcement action against China at the World Trade Organization (WTO). According to USTR, China's use of market price support for its domestic rice, wheat, and corn exceeds the country's com… Continue Reading
09.13.16
Chairman Roberts’ Emergency Wildfire Legislation Approved by Senate Agriculture Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today held a business meeting where emergency wildfire legislation was favorably reported out of the Committee with of vote of 11-9. The Emergency Wildfire and Forest Management Act is similar to H.R. 2647, the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015, which passed the House of Representatives and was referred to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. … Continue Reading
09.09.16
Chairman Roberts Releases Emergency Wildfire Legislation for Markup
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today released emergency wildfire legislation in advance of a Committee markup scheduled for Tuesday, September 13th. The Emergency Wildfire and Forest Management Act is similar to H.R. 2647, the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015, which passed the House of Representatives and was referred to the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. Chairman R… Continue Reading
09.08.16
Chairman Roberts Announces Hearing on CFTC Nominees
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, announced the Committee will hold a hearing to consider nominees for Commissioners of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). What: Consideration of Commodity Futures Trading Commission Nominees Who: Christopher James Brummer, of the District of Columbia, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Brian D. Quintenz, of the District o… Continue Reading
09.06.16
Senate Agriculture Committee Announces Emergency Wildfire and Forest Management Legislation Markup
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, announced the Committee will hold a business meeting to consider H.R. 2647, the Resilient Federal Forests Act of 2015. Title: Business Meeting: H.R. 2647 Date: Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 Time: 10:00 a.m. Place: 328A Russell Senate Office Building ***Please note: Press bringing audio/video equipment should check in with the Senate Radio-Television Gallery at ra… Continue Reading
08.02.16
Bipartisan Senators Urge USDA to Revise SNAP Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., led a bipartisan group of 47 Senators in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), expressing concerns with the Agency's controversial proposed rule on retailer eligibility requirements in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Text of the letter is as follows: We write today to express our concern regar… Continue Reading
07.27.16
Bipartisan Senators to USDA: Address Organic Livestock, Poultry Concerns Before Publishing Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, led a bipartisan group of 13 Senators in sending a second letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), requesting additional information regarding expressed concerns with the Agency's proposed rule on revised organic livestock and poultry production standards. "The proposed rule raises significant concerns regarding the impact on current organic poultry and eg… Continue Reading
