Majority News
Incoming Chairwoman Stabenow Announces Agriculture Committee Agenda for the Beginning of the 117th Congress
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), incoming Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today announced her agenda for the beginning of the 117th Congress. "From the ongoing pandemic to the devastating climate crisis - our farmers, families, and rural communities need help," said incoming Chairwoman Stabenow. "My vision for the Committee revitalizes our food and farm economy to grow new opportunities in American agriculture and provide acce… Continue Reading
01.27.21
Stabenow, Boozman Announce Hearing on Agriculture Secretary Nominee Tom Vilsack
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Senators Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and John Boozman, R-Ark., today announced the Committee will hold a hearing to consider the nomination of Tom Vilsack to be Secretary of Agriculture. Date: Tuesday, February 2, 2021 Time: 10:30 AM ET Place: 301 Russell Senate Office Building Who: The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack, of Iowa, to be U.S. Secretary of Agriculture ***The Committee will follow guidelines developed in consult… Continue Reading
01.21.21
Senator Stabenow Statement on Acting CFTC Chair Behnam
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), incoming Chair of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today issued the following statement after the Commission unanimously elected Rostin Behnam to serve as acting Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): "The CFTC will be in excellent hands under Acting Chairman Behnam's leadership. "During his time as a Commissioner, I have been impressed by his proactive work to protect our economy… Continue Reading
01.18.21
Ranking Member Stabenow Congratulates Dr. Jewel Bronaugh on Agriculture Deputy Secretary Nomination
WASHINGTON- Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of Dr. Jewel Bronaugh to serve as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). "Dr. Bronaugh's background in farm services, research, and extension will bring a breadth of knowledge and experience to the Department." "As the first woman of color to se… Continue Reading
01.11.21
Ranking Member Stabenow Leads Advocates in Urging USDA to Prioritize Protections for Food Workers
WASHINGTON- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today joined leading agriculture and worker advocates to urge the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement the bipartisan worker protection provisions in the COVID-19 assistance package. USDA recently announced an additional round of food boxes without taking action on important provisions to keep food workers safe and repair the persistent gaps in the food sup… Continue Reading
12.20.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Leads Bipartisan Effort to Secure Increases in Food Assistance, Support for Farmers in Final COVID-19 Package
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, partnered with Chairman Pat Roberts to successfully lead bipartisan negotiations to increase food assistance for families and provide help to farmers and food suppliers in the final COVID-19 package. The final bill includes a 15% increase in SNAP benefits and provides additional funding for food banks and senior nutrition programs. Along with her work to fight the… Continue Reading
12.18.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Meets with Secretary Vilsack
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement after her meeting with former Secretary Tom Vilsack, President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Secretary of Agriculture to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). "Secretary Vilsack and I discussed how he plans to quickly respond to the urgent challenges facing farmers and hungry families. He shared his commitment to rebuild … Continue Reading
12.10.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Congratulates Secretary Vilsack on Agriculture Secretary Nomination
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden's nomination of former Secretary Tom Vilsack to serve as Secretary of Agriculture to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). "Secretary Vilsack has the experience, resolve, and vision that is needed to usher in a new era at USDA. I worked closely with him during the Obama Administration a… Continue Reading
12.03.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Congratulates Incoming House Agriculture Leadership
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement regarding the selection of Congressman David Scott as Chairman and Congressman G.T. Thompson as Ranking Member of the House Agriculture Committee. "I want to congratulate Congressmen Scott and Thompson on becoming the next leaders of the House Agriculture Committee. Both of them have been champions for rural America, and I know th… Continue Reading
12.02.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing on Agriculture Research
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today released the following opening statement at the hearing titled "Agricultural Research and Securing the United States Food Supply." Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this important hearing. And thank you to our witnesses for providing testimony today. Mr. Chairman, I want to start by recognizing that … Continue Reading
11.23.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Raises Concerns that the General Service Administration’s Transition Delay is Hurting Farmers, Families
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today raised concerns that the General Service Administration's unprecedented delay in starting the transition is harming farmers and families. In a letter, Ranking Member Stabenow urged Emily Murphy, the Administrator of the General Services Administration, to take immediate action to recognize Vice President Joe Biden as President-elect and allow the trans… Continue Reading
11.23.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Congratulates Secretary Kerry on Climate Appointment
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement regarding President-elect Joe Biden's appointment of former Secretary of State John Kerry to serve as the first Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. "Secretary Kerry is exceptionally qualified to serve as our nation's first Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. He has been a leader on addressing the climate crisis for decades,… Continue Reading
11.17.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Applauds Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today applauded the work of the Food and Agriculture Climate Alliance formed by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Environmental Defense Fund, FMI - The Food Industry Association, National Alliance of Forest Owners, National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, National Farmers Union, and The Nature Conser… Continue Reading
10.22.20
Stabenow, Leahy Lead Call for USDA to Reverse Decision to Decrease COVID-19 Relief Available to Dairy Farmers
Washington - Today, a group of 15 Senators led by U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), the most senior member of the Committee, called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reverse its decision to unfairly exclude dairy farmers from receiving COVID-19 relief to cover losses related to meat production. While milk is the primary income for dairy farms, they often are diver… Continue Reading
10.15.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on CFTC Position Limits Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released a statement regarding the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) final rule on speculative position limits, which fails to go far enough to protect consumers and producers from irresponsible commodity trading that has caused unnecessary spikes in prices for consumers: "When Wall Street traders make reckless decisions, consumers end up fo… Continue Reading
09.22.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on Agreement to Help Families and Farmers in the Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON -Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement regarding the agreement on the continuing resolution. This agreement includes important nutrition provisions, including an expansion of Pandemic EBT for families for the next year and an expansion of this critical assistance to children in childcare. It also protects important flexibilities that allow states and schools to pr… Continue Reading
09.21.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on USDA Provisions in the Continuing Resolution
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provisions in the continuing resolution. "Farmers have been hurting due to multiple disasters - and those hit the hardest need support from USDA. Whether it's using USDA dollars to bail out Big Oil or favoring certain farmers over others, the Trump Administration has prove… Continue Reading
09.17.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Speaks Out Against Reports of Trump Administration Plans to Bail Out Oil Companies with USDA Funds
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, responded to reports that the Trump Administration is considering using U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) funds to bail out oil refiners. As reported by Reuters, the Administration is contemplating providing at least $300 million in relief to oil companies who were denied Environmental Protection Agency waivers to avoid the required biofuel blending ob… Continue Reading
09.14.20
Independent GAO Report Confirms Trump Administration Payments for Trade Damages Favored Certain Farmers
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Commodities, Risk Management, and Trade, announced a new report from the nonpartisan U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO), which found the Trump Administration's payments to farmers harmed by the President's trade turmoil ultimately created deep regional inequities, favored certai… Continue Reading
09.09.20
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on CFTC Climate Report
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement regarding a new report on the impact of the climate crisis on the financial sector. The report is the result of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Climate-Related Market Risk Subcommittee, which was established by CFTC Commissioner Rostin Behnam to identify climate-related financial risks. "The climate crisis poses ser… Continue Reading
