Majority News
Senate and House Ag Leaders: We've Reached Agreement in Principle on 2018 Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senate and House Agriculture Committee Chairmen Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and Mike Conaway (R-Texas) and Ranking Members Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) made the following announcement today on the state of 2018 Farm Bill negotiations: "We're pleased to announce that we've reached an agreement in principle on the 2018 Farm Bill. We are working to finalize legal and report language as well as CBO scores, but we still have more work to do. We are committed to… Continue Reading
11.28.18
Chairman Roberts Holds Hearing on Three USDA Nominations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today held a hearing to consider the USDA nominations of Mindy Brashears, Naomi Earp, and Scott Hutchins. Mindy Brashears, of Texas, is the nominee to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety. Naomi C. Earp, of Maryland, is the nominee to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights. Scott Hutchins, of Indiana, is the nominee to be Under Secre… Continue Reading
11.27.18
Chairman Roberts Announces Senate Confirmation of USDA General Counsel
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today is pleased to announce that Stephen Vaden was approved by the U.S. Senate. Upon swearing in, Stephen Vaden, of Tennessee, will serve as General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). "I'm pleased the U.S. Senate has cleared another critical USDA nominee," Roberts said. "Mr. Vaden is well suited for the job and ready to serve as USDA general … Continue Reading
11.16.18
Chairman Roberts’ Statement on USDA, FDA Plan to Regulate Cell-Cultured Food
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today made the following statement after the Trump Administration announced a decision on how to regulate cell-cultured food products derived from livestock and poultry. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and U.S. Food and Drug Agency (FDA) Commissioner Scott Gottlieb today announced that both agencies will oversee the joint regulation of these products. FDA wil… Continue Reading
11.13.18
Roberts, Stabenow Announce Hearing on USDA Nominees Brashears, Earp, and Hutchins
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 to consider the USDA nominations of Mindy Brashears, Naomi Earp, and Scott Hutchins. Who: Mindy Brashears, of Texas, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety Naomi C. Earp, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights Scott Hutchins, of Indiana, to… Continue Reading
10.17.18
Chairman Roberts’ Statement on Pending U.S. Trade Negotiations
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee, today released the following statement after President Trump formally notified Congress of intent to begin trade negotiations. "I am very encouraged by the administration's announcement to pursue trade agreements with Japan, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. President Trump and Trade Representative Lighthiz… Continue Reading
10.15.18
Chairman Roberts’ Statement on National School Lunch Week
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 President Trump proclaimed Oct. 14-20, 2018, as National School Lunch Week. "The National School Lunch Program is vital to helping America's schoolchildren reach their full potential throughout the school day and well into the future. I thank the school nutritionists and food directors for their work day in and day out to pr… Continue Reading
10.01.18
Chairman Roberts’ Statement on NAFTA Renegotiation
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 President Trump announced the United States, Canada, and Mexico have reached an agreement on the renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "I'm pleased to see the U.S., Canada, and Mexico have successfully delivered a renegotiated NAFTA for consideration, and I am eager to review the details," said Chairman Ro… Continue Reading
09.26.18
Chairman Roberts’ Statement on U.S.-Japan Trade 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 after President Trump announced plans to begin formal trade negotiations with Japan. "I applaud President Trump for moving to begin trade discussions with Japan, and I look forward to continuing to engage with the Administration, especially as it relates to agriculture," Roberts said. "In 2017, the U.S. exported nearly $12 billion … Continue Reading
09.26.18
Senate and House Ag Committee Leaders: We Are Still at the Table
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Members Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., today met and released the following statement on progress of the 2018 Farm Bill. "Each of us is still at the negotiating table, and we remain committed to working together on a Farm Bill. Our conversations are productive, and progress toward an agreement is taking shape. We are going to get this … Continue Reading
09.13.18
Chairman Roberts: The Entire Food & Agriculture Value Chain Relies on Trade
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today held a hearing titled, "Perspectives on U.S. Agricultural Trade." "I hear from producers across the agriculture industry, and across our food value chain, about how trade policies impact their prices, decisions, and livelihoods," said Chairman Roberts. "These are not new concerns. The U.S. has long had to work to overcome barriers to trade around the world" "We n… Continue Reading
09.05.18
Roberts, Stabenow Announce Ag Trade Hearing
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 titled, "Perspectives on U.S. Agricultural Trade." Who: The Honorable Gregg Doud, Chief Agricultural Negotiator, Office of the United States Trade Representative, Washington, D.C.The Honorable Ted McKinney, Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, United States Departmen… Continue Reading
09.05.18
After Seven Farm Bills, Chairman Roberts Leads Conference Committee
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today held a public meeting of the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee. "This is the eighth farm bill that I've been a part of during my time in public service. The circumstances are always a bit different, but we all have a history of working together in a bipartisan, bicameral fashion to find solutions and to get farm bills done," Chairman Roberts said. "If it wa… Continue Reading
08.28.18
Roberts, Stabenow Announce Senate Confirmation of USDA, CFTC Posts
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 that James E. Hubbard, Dawn DeBerry Stump, and Dan Michael Berkovitz were confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Upon swearing in, James E. Hubbard will serve as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Dawn DeBerry Stump and Dan Michael Berkovitz will serve as Commiss… Continue Reading
08.27.18
Chairman Roberts’ Statements on Administration’s Trade-Related Announcements
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following statements on trade-related announcements by the Trump Administration. The U.S. Department of Agriculture today released additional details on its plan for up to $12 billion in assistance to farmers impacted by tariffs. "I appreciate Secretary Perdue's efforts to provide temporary relief to our hard-working farmers who are being affected b… Continue Reading
08.22.18
Senate and House Ag Committee Leaders: Farm Bill Conference Public Meeting Sept. 5
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Members Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., today announced a public meeting of the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee. "We are pleased to announce a meeting of the full Farm Bill Conference Committee," Senate and House Agriculture Committee leaders said. "We are committed to working together on a Farm Bill that delivers certainty and pred… Continue Reading
08.01.18
Roberts, Stabenow Applaud Vote to Begin Farm Bill Conference, Appointment of Conferees
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today are pleased the Senate has voted to move forward with the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee. The Senators also applauded the announcement of the Senators who will serve on the 2018 Farm Bill Conference Committee. Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark. Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D. Sen. Joni Ernst, R… Continue Reading
07.31.18
Senate Agriculture Committee Advances CFTC Nominee Berkovitz, USDA Nominee Hubbard to Full Senate
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 voted to favorably report the nominations of Dan Michael Berkovitz to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and James E. Hubbard to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Mr. Berkovitz and Mr. Hubbard may now be consid… Continue Reading
07.30.18
Senate Agriculture Committee to Consider Nominees Berkovitz, Hubbard
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 business meeting to consider the nominations of Dan Michael Berkovitz to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and James E. Hubbard to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Date: Tuesday, July 31, 2018… Continue Reading
07.26.18
Senate and House Ag Committee Leaders Meet to Discuss Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership today met to discuss the 2018 Farm Bill, prior to full Conference Committee discussions. Agriculture Committee Chairmen Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Rep. K. Michael Conaway, R-Texas, and Ranking Members Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., and Rep. Collin Peterson, D-Minn., released the following statement after the meeting: "We look forward to working together to get a Farm Bill finished as quickly as possible, and we're com… Continue Reading
