Majority News
Chairman Roberts Highlights Need for Conservation Efforts in the Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today addressed the National Association of Conservation Districts, urging advocacy for voluntary conservation programs in the upcoming Farm Bill reauthorization. "The conservation districts are the perfect example where we see coordination in government working at its best - bringing together federal, state, local and private partners and leveraging those resources to … Continue Reading
03.16.17
Senate Ag Committee Announces Hearing on USDA Secretary Nominee Perdue
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 nomination of former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be the next U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. Date: Thursday, March 23, 2017 Time: 10:00 a.m. Place: 325 Russell Senate Office Building ***Please note: Press bringing audio/video equipment should check in with the Senate Radio-T… Continue Reading
03.15.17
Chairman Roberts’ Statement on President Trump’s Pick to Lead CFTC
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement regarding President Donald Trump's announcement to nominate J. Christopher Giancarlo to be Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): "I'm pleased that the President has announced his intention to nominate Acting Chairman Christopher Giancarlo to be Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. He has been an… Continue Reading
02.28.17
Chairman Roberts: Relief from WOTUS Rule Is Coming
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statement after President Donald Trump signed an executive order providing relief from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 'Waters of the U.S.' (WOTUS) rule. "The WOTUS rule has been a thorn in the sides of rural America for too long, and I'm thrilled President Trump has taken swift action to get rid of it. "The Obama Administration's … Continue Reading
02.23.17
Chairman Roberts Listens to Kansas Producers at Manhattan Hearing on Farm Bill
MANHATTAN, Kan.,- Continuing his commitment to put the concerns of farmers and ranchers first, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry today held the first hearing on the 2018 Farm Bill in Manhattan, Kan., at Kansas State University. The hearing is titled, "Hearing from the Heartland: Perspectives on the 2018 Farm Bill from Kansas." "We start the journey to a successful and timely 2018 Farm Bill in the Heartland,… Continue Reading
02.17.17
Chairman Roberts: Senate Approves Scott Pruitt to be EPA Administrator
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry today said the Senate approved the nomination of Scott Pruitt to be the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). "I look forward to working with Administrator Pruitt," Roberts said. "He understands that while farmers and ranchers make their living off the land, they are also its best stewards. "For years we have struggled with an EPA that was not only tone de… Continue Reading
02.17.17
Senate Agriculture Committee Announces Subcommittee Assignments for 115th Congress
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 new Subcommittee assignments for the 115th Congress. At a business meeting today, the full Committee approved Subcommittee chairs, ranking members, and assignments, which are listed below. The Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade oversees matters regarding production agriculture, including commodity pro… Continue Reading
02.14.17
Chairman Roberts Joins Bipartisan Bill to Relieve Farmers of Redundant Regulation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, with a bipartisan group of senators, introduced S.340, the Sensible Environmental Protection Act, to eliminate redundant federal permitting requirements for pesticide applications. Introduced by Sens. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, and Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., S.340 amends the Clean Water Act and the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) to clarify Congr… Continue Reading
02.07.17
Chairman Roberts Announces Agriculture Committee Staff Changes
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry today announced changes to his senior professional Committee staff. Joel Leftwich, the Committee's staff director, will be leaving the Committee staff later this month to pursue other interests. Replacing him as staff director will be the Committee's policy director, James Glueck. "Joel Leftwich has been a trusted and valuable advisor," Roberts said. "He fought for farm… Continue Reading
02.06.17
Chairmen Roberts, Grassley Seek Assurances After CFTC IT Whistleblower Investigation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee today sent a letter to Acting Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Christopher Giancarlo, requesting a formal briefing of CFTC's efforts to address the systemic weaknesses of internal data security policies and procedures, as well as efforts to eliminate whistleblower reprisal. The letter comes after the… Continue Reading
02.02.17
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
