Minority News
Senators Urge Implementation of Farm Bill Dairy Improvements
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Roy Blunt (R-Mo.) led a bipartisan letter urging Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to prioritize the implementation of the dairy provisions in the 2018 Farm Bill. As dairy farmers across the country continue to struggle from market instability, the 2018 Farm Bill dramatically expands support for dairy producers, providing flexible, affordable cov… Continue Reading
03.28.19
Bipartisan Group of 47 Senators Urges Trump Administration to Withdraw Proposed SNAP Rule
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senators Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) led a bipartisan letter that raised concerns about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's proposed rule to make harmful changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and urged Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to withdraw the proposal. "The proposed changes would take food assistance away from Americans struggling to find stable employment while doing nothing to help them to actually becom… Continue Reading
03.13.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider CFTC Nominee
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 nomination hearing to consider Heath Tarbert to be Chairman of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is good to be with you this morning to consider the nomination to this important position at the CFTC. Mr. Tar… Continue Reading
03.11.19
Ranking Member Stabenow: Trump Administration Budget Undermines the Bipartisan Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry released the following statement in response to the Trump administration's fiscal year 2019 preview budget proposal. The Administration calls for a 15% cut to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), on top of a $267 billion cut to Farm Bill investments. "Just months after the President signed the historic bipartisan Farm Bill into law, his budget proposal… Continue Reading
02.28.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Farm Bill Implementation 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 at the hearing titled "Implementing the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018," featuring Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's great to be back in our committee room for our first hearing this Congress. First, I'd like to recognize o… Continue Reading
02.19.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Responds to Forest Service Sexual Misconduct Report
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, issued the following statement regarding the release of a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Office of Inspector General report to evaluate whether the U.S. Forest Service effectively implemented initiatives to address the agency's longstanding history of sexual misconduct. "I asked the Inspector General to conduct this audit because of longstanding reports of har… Continue Reading
02.07.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Urges Banks to Consider Farm Bill Dairy Improvements
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, raised concerns that the government shutdown has delayed the dairy safety improvements from the 2018 Farm Bill, jeopardizing dairy farmers' ability to access loans and credit. In a letter to three regulators who oversee agricultural credit providers, Stabenow urged lenders to estimate the Farm Bill benefits as they work with farmers to analyze their f… Continue Reading
01.24.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Raises Concerns on CFTC Shutdown Impacts for Farmers, Businesses and Consumers
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry wrote a letter to the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to raise concerns and request information regarding the impact of the government shutdown on farmers, businesses, and consumers. It has been 33 days since funding has lapsed for the CFTC - the longest shutdown on record. The CFTC's mission is to promote and ensure competitive, tran… Continue Reading
01.09.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Raises Concerns on Shutdown Impacts for Farmers, Families, Rural Communities
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry wrote a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to raise concerns and request information regarding the impact of the government shutdown on farmers, families, and rural communities. It has been 19 days since funding has lapsed for the USDA - the second-longest shutdown on record. "I am deeply concerned that the shutdown is having a devast… Continue Reading
01.04.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on Announcement of Sen. Pat Roberts’ Retirement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, issued the following statement regarding U.S. Senator and Chairman of the Senate Agriculture Committee Pat Roberts' decision to not seek reelection: "Throughout his career, Pat Roberts has been a true champion for American agriculture and for Kansas farmers, ranchers, and families. Day in and day out, he defines what it means to be a consensus builder. As my true f… Continue Reading
12.20.18
Ranking Member Stabenow: President Trump Signs Bipartisan Farm Bill
WASHINGTON - Today U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow applauded the enactment of the 2018 Farm Bill after President Trump signed the bill into law. Stabenow co-authored the bill as Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. "After many months of hard work, the 2018 Farm Bill is now the law of the land," said Senator Stabenow. "This bill expands the diversity of our agricultural economy, maintains a strong food and farm safety net, creates new opportunities in… Continue Reading
12.20.18
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on USDA Nutrition Assistance Rule
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) proposed rule, which would increase obstacles for families participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): "Congress writes laws and the Administration is required to write rules based on the law, not the other way around. Congress chose not to change the curr… Continue Reading
12.13.18
Stabenow Applauds USDA Launch of High-Speed Internet Initiative
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today released the following statement on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcement of a new $600 million loan and grant program to bring high-speed internet to rural communities: "I'm pleased the USDA is finally moving forward on the $600 million high-speed internet investment Congress provided in the 2018 Omnibus. Expanding high-speed internet… Continue Reading
12.10.18
Stabenow: 2018 Farm Bill Will Grow our Diverse Agricultural Economy
WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry praised the release of the final text of the 2018 Farm Bill conference report. The final bill reflects a hard-fought bipartisan, bicameral agreement on a five-year farm bill to strengthen the diversity of American agriculture and support the 16 million jobs that power the food and farm economy. "By working across the aisle, we overcame many differences to delive… Continue Reading
11.28.18
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider Three USDA 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 at the nomination hearing to consider three U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) nominees: Mindy Brashears to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety, Naomi C. Earp to be Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights, and Scott Hutchins, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Ec… Continue Reading
09.13.18
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing on the Agricultural Trade
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 "Perspectives on U.S. Agricultural Trade." Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing to discuss one of the most pressing issues facing agriculture. Ambassador Doud, Under Secretary McKinney, and Dr. Johansson, welcome and thank you … Continue Reading
09.05.18
Ranking Member Stabenow Delivers Opening Remarks at Farm Bill Conference Committee Meeting
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today joined Senators and Representatives from both parties at the first Farm Bill Conference Committee Meeting. The Farm Bill Conference Committee is composed of 56 members, including nine Senators and 47 Representatives. As Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Stabenow serves as one of the four leaders of the conference committee. The meet… 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
07.24.18
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing to Consider USDA, CFTC 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 at the nomination hearing to consider Dan Michael Berkovitz to serve as a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), and James E. Hubbard to serve as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Stabenow's statement, as … Continue Reading
06.26.18
Ranking Member Stabenow: The Farm Bill is a Jobs Bill
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today spoke on the Senate floor regarding the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill. Watch the video below of her full remarks:… Continue Reading
