Minority News
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on Release of Final RFS Volumes
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today issued the following statement regarding the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) announcement. "The RFS is an important driver of Michigan jobs and our bio-based economy. If America wants to be a leader in renewable fuel production, the EPA must make stronger commitments across the board. Today's announcement falls sh… Continue Reading
11.09.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider USDA, Farm Credit Administration Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today released the following opening statement - as prepared for delivery - at the nomination hearing to consider Glen Smith to be a Member of the Farm Credit Administration Board, and Stephen Vaden to be General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: I am pleased to be here to conside… Continue Reading
11.02.17
Statement from Ranking Member Stabenow on the Withdraw of Sam Clovis's Nomination
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, issued the following statement on Sam Clovis: "Sam Clovis's decision to withdraw his nomination as Chief Scientist is a victory for science and our farmers who rely on agricultural research. From day one, it was clear to me that Sam Clovis was the wrong choice for our farmers and ranchers. His lack of qualifications and long history of politically di… Continue Reading
11.01.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Asks Clovis about his Involvement in the Russia Investigation
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, wrote Sam Clovis, Trump Administration nominee for Agriculture Under Secretary of Research, Education, and Economics, to ask additional questions regarding his actions as co-Chairman of the Trump Campaign. The letter comes after new information surfaced this week from criminal filings that were released against former Trump Campaign officials. This r… Continue Reading
10.18.17
Stabenow Offers Budget Amendment to Protect the Farm Bill from Cuts
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, filed an amendment to the 2018 Senate Budget Resolution to protect the next Farm Bill from cuts in funding. "The 2014 Farm Bill streamlined over 100 programs and is already saving taxpayers $100 billion, while still investing in our farmers and ranchers" said Senator Stabenow. "As we write the next Farm Bill, we need to send a clear message to our farm… Continue Reading
10.17.17
Stabenow, Ernst Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Strengthen Conservation Partnerships in the 2018 Farm Bill
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry joined her Agriculture Committee colleague U.S. Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) to strengthen the Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) - an innovative approach to conservation authored by Senator Stabenow in the 2014 Farm Bill. The bipartisan Regional Conservation Partnership Program Improvement Act will provide more resources for partners to expand the… Continue Reading
10.05.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider USDA Nominees Ibach and Northey
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today released the following opening statement - as prepared for delivery - at the nomination hearing to consider Gregory Ibach to serve as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and William Northey to serve as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)… Continue Reading
09.28.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Highlights Economic Importance of Farm Bill Investments at Rural Development and Energy Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today released the following opening statement - as prepared for delivery - at the hearing entitled "Rural Development and Energy Programs: Perspectives for the 2018 Farm Bill." Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you, Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing to discuss issues that are so critically important to small towns and rural communit… Continue Reading
09.19.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider USDA Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today released the following opening statement - as prepared for delivery - at the nomination hearing to consider Stephen Censky to serve as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and Ted McKinney to serve as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Stabenow's statement, as prepared fo… Continue Reading
09.14.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing on Nutrition
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today released the following opening statement - as prepared for delivery - at the hearing entitled "Nutrition Programs: Perspectives for the 2018 Farm Bill." Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: I want to start by recognizing the heartbreaking devastation that Hurricanes Harvey and Irma have caused in the Southeast. These destructive storms und… Continue Reading
08.31.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Applauds New MPP Flexibility for Dairy Farmers
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today issued the following statement praising Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue for allowing new flexibility for dairy farmers enrolled in the Margin Protection Program: "I applaud Secretary Perdue for providing additional flexibility for our dairy farmers. As we work to improve the dairy safety net in the next Farm Bill, this is an important first … Continue Reading
08.25.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on Trump Administration Review of National Monuments
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today issued the following statement regarding the Trump administration's review of 27 national monuments, which includes thousands of acres of U.S. Forest Service land, managed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). "I am deeply concerned that the Trump administration has recommended removing protections for some of our most cherished national monum… Continue Reading
08.08.17
Stabenow Questions USDA Censorship Regarding Use of Term ‘Climate Change’
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today asked United States Department of Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue several questions regarding USDA's removal of the phrase 'climate change" in the agency's communications with farmers, ranchers, and the public. Stabenow's letter follows recent news reports containing dozens of pages of emails showing USDA staff discussing new terms to use in lieu of "cl… Continue Reading
07.27.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider CFTC Commissioner Nominees
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today released the following opening statement - as prepared for delivery - at the nomination hearing to consider Rostin Behnam, Brian D. Quintenz, and Dawn DeBerry Stump to serve as Commissioners of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Good Morning. I'd like to welcome and congratulate our three n… Continue Reading
07.26.17
Stabenow Invites Michigan Dairy Farmer to Share Perspective at Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, invited Michigan dairy farmer Ken Nobis, president of the Michigan Milk Producers Association, to share the perspective of the state's dairy producers at a Senate hearing on Tuesday. The hearing convened a total of 17 witnesses from across the country to collect feedback from agricultural experts ahead of the drafting of the 2018 Farm Bill. "Dairy is Michig… Continue Reading
07.25.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing on Commodities, Credit, and Crop Insurance
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today released the following opening statement - as prepared for delivery - at the hearing entitled "Commodities, Credit, and Crop Insurance: Perspectives on Risk Management Tools and Trends for the 2018 Farm Bill." Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you Senator Roberts for holding this very important hearing. I've always sa… Continue Reading
07.20.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on Senate Agriculture Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Senate Committee on Appropriations mark-up of the FY18 Agriculture Appropriation Bill: "This bipartisan bill is a win for our farmers, families, and rural communities. By and large, the bill rejects the Trump administration's shortsighted budget proposal that called for sharp cuts to the Farm Bill and … Continue Reading
07.20.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on Recent USDA Nomination Announcements
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today issued the following statement regarding recent announcements of nominees to fill key Senate-confirmed leadership roles at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). President Donald Trump has formally nominated Steve Censky for USDA Deputy Secretary and has announced his intent to nominate Ted McKinney for USDA Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Ag… Continue Reading
07.14.17
Senators Stabenow, Peters: NAFTA Modernization Should Strengthen Michigan Agriculture
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.) urged U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer to strengthen Michigan agriculture during negotiations to improve the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Agriculture is Michigan's second largest industry, and exports of agricultural products support an estimated 26,000 jobs in the state. Canada and Mexico consistently rank among the top destinations for agricultural products produced in Michigan, in… Continue Reading
07.13.17
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on Behnam Nomination to CFTC
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today issued the following statement regarding President Trump's nomination of Rostin "Russ" Behnam to serve as a Commissioner of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC): "Russ Behnam has a wide range of experience that would make him an excellent CFTC Commissioner. Over the past several years I have known Russ, he has proven to be knowledgeable and jud… Continue Reading
