Majority News
Chairman Roberts, Staff Receive Leadership Awards from Wheat Growers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and key members of his staff, today received awards for their leadership on issues important to wheat producers from the National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) and the Kansas Association of Wheat Growers (KAWG). Roberts also addressed the NAWG and US Wheat Associates Winter Conference. "I'm honored to receive the 'Wheat Leader of the Year' award," said Chairman Ro… Continue Reading
02.02.17
Chairman Roberts Receives Congressional Sorghum Award
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, this week was recognized by the National Sorghum Producers (NSP) for his work on behalf of sorghum growers across the country. "I am honored to receive this award from the National Sorghum Producers," said Chairman Roberts. "The Committee has accomplished a lot in the past two years for American producers, and I will continue to seek the Sorghum Growers' advice and coun… Continue Reading
01.30.17
Senate Agriculture Committee to Hold Meeting to Adopt Funding Resolution, Rules
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today announced the Committee will hold a business meeting to adopt the Committee funding resolution and Committee rules. Date: Tuesday, January 31, 2017 Time: Immediately following the 12:20 p.m. floor vote Place: S-216, President's Room A transcript will be available on ag.senate.gov shortly after the meeting. -30-… Continue Reading
01.25.17
Senate Agriculture Committee Leadership Announces First Farm Bill Field Hearing in Kansas
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 its first field hearing of the 115th Congress in Manhattan, Kan., on the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization. "It's time to get to work on another Farm Bill, and we're heading straight to the heartland to talk directly to producers," said Chairman Roberts. "I can't think of a more appropriate venue to ho… Continue Reading
01.19.17
Chairman Roberts’ Statement on USDA Secretary Nominee Former Governor Sonny Perdue
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 President-Elect Donald Trump's selection of former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be his nominee for Secretary of Agriculture: "The most important quality for the Agriculture Secretary to possess is a solid understanding of the tough economic challenges farmers and ranchers face due to three years of low prices, declin… Continue Reading
01.18.17
USDA Ignores Producers’ Concerns, To Publish Organic Livestock and Poultry Rule
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service announced it will publish a controversial regulation to revise organic livestock and poultry production standards. "I, and a bipartisan group of Members of Congress, have expressed concerns multiple times over this detrimental rule," said Chairman Roberts. "We… Continue Reading
01.18.17
Chairman Roberts’ Statement on CFTC Violation of Antideficiency Act
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry today released the following statement after the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) was officially found in violation of the Antideficiency Act with regard to multi-year leasing contracts. CFTC Chairman Timothy Massad on Friday sent a letter to President Obama officially admitting guilt to Antideficiency Act violations from fiscal years 1995 to 2015. "After a ye… Continue Reading
01.05.17
Roberts Again Tapped to Lead Agriculture Committee; Republican Membership Announced
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., has been tapped to lead the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry during the 115th Congress, continuing his efforts to put the concerns of farmers and ranchers first. "I am humbled to be chosen by the Senate Republican Conference to lead the Agriculture Committee as we head into the 115th Congress," said Chairman Roberts. "We just wrapped up a productive two years in the Agriculture Committee, and I look forward to an … Continue Reading
12.22.16
Chairman Roberts' Statement on USTR Action Against EU Ban on American Beef
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 Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) announced actions against the European Union (EU) over discriminatory trade practices against American beef imports. "The U.S. beef industry produces the safest, most affordable beef in the world," said Chairman Roberts. "Unfortunately, the EU has chosen to limit the abil… Continue Reading
12.14.16
Chairman Roberts: USDA’s GIPSA Rule Limits Livestock and Poultry Producers’ Economic Freedom
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) Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration (GIPSA) released its interim final rule. Two additional proposed rules address unfair preferences and the poultry tournament system. "Unfortunately, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has chosen to ignore my persistent appeals over the last … Continue Reading
12.09.16
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
