Minority News
Roberts, Klobuchar Lead Request for Wheat Grower Assistance
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and other Senate colleagues today sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting funds in the CARES Act be provided to wheat growers of all wheat varieties to address price impacts from COVID-19. "As Members of Congress representing wheat-producing states, we write regarding the deteriorating economic conditions being experien… Continue Reading
08.31.20
Chairman Roberts Applauds USDA’s Free School Meals Through 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, applauded a school nutrition waiver announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which he requested earlier this month. On August 17, Roberts led a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue urging the Department to continue providing flexibilities to schools and sponsoring organizations for school meals and child nutrition. Click here to read the letter. "I … Continue Reading
08.17.20
Chairman Roberts Leads Letter To Urge Flexibility for School Meals
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to urge the Department to continue providing flexibilities to schools and sponsoring organizations for school meals and child nutrition. "As the school year begins, the challenges brought on by the COVID emergency persist. We encourage continued use of the child nutrition program waiver authority ably used thus… Continue Reading
08.05.20
Chairman Roberts: Ag Producers’ Work During Pandemic Is ‘Nothing Short of Heroic’
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate about the hard work of American agriculture producers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to watch his remarks. "Producing food for a troubled and hungry world is what farmers do day in and day out. But, especially at times like this, it is nothing short of heroic," said Chairman Roberts. "We've taken steps to address t… Continue Reading
07.08.20
Chairman Roberts Pleased to See First Investment in Animal Disease Vaccine Bank
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today praised an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of an initial $27.1 million purchase for a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB). "When we wrote the 2018 Farm Bill, we listened to stakeholders from start to finish. Our l… Continue Reading
06.25.20
Opinion: Helping Rural America Feed All of America
An opinion piece by Sens. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., in Agri-Pulse. Every American has a part to play in slowing the spread of the coronavirus. While many are working from home, an important few are working overtime on farms and ranches to make sure grocery store shelves are stocked. From harvesting wheat in Kansas to picking blueberries in Georgia, producers are getting up before the sun every day, while also adapting their operations to keep workers safe. They are among … Continue Reading
06.25.20
Roberts Applauds School Nutrition Flexibilities Extension
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today applauded U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue's announcement of five federal school nutrition program flexibilities through June 30, 2021. "I thank Secretary Perdue for providing certainty to school food service operators that flexibilities will remain available through the upcoming school year as they re-design the way meals are provided to children when s… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Chairman Roberts Hears Agricultural Perspectives on Climate Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today held a hearing on S. 3894, The Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2020. "Maintaining the health of our planet for future generations is, of course, of paramount importance. So is feeding the billions of people that populate the Earth today and in the years ahead," said Roberts. "In order for these two distinct needs to be met, there must be meaningful acknowledgem… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Roberts, Stabenow Announce Committee Passage of Grain Standards Reauthorization
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 passed the bipartisan U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 by a voice vote. Click here to read the legislation, summary, and section-by-section. "The entire federal grain inspection system needs the certainty, predictability, and transparency that the bipartisan U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization… Continue Reading
06.22.20
Senate Agriculture Committee Urges Secretary Perdue to Extend WIC Flexibilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting the extension of existing flexibilities for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) through September 30, 2020, as authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. "We appreciate the Department's actions to utilize administrative au… Continue Reading
06.17.20
Roberts, Stabenow Announce Climate Bill Hearing, Grain Standards Reauthorization Markup
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 legislative hearing on S. 3894, The Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2020. The Committee will also hold a business meeting to consider the U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020. Date: Wednesday, June 24, 2020 Time: 10:00 a.m. Place: G50 Dirksen Senate Office Building. The p… Continue Reading
06.11.20
Chairman Roberts Applauds CFTC-European Commission Announcement on Clearinghouses
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., applauded today's announcement on U.S.-based clearinghouses from U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Chairman Heath Tarbert. In implementing European Market Infrastructure Regulations (EMIR 2.2), the European Commission (EC) has indicated, through its delegated acts, it will not subject U.S.-based clearinghouses to the direct supervision by the European Securities and Mark… Continue Reading
05.19.20
Roberts Applauds Signup Announcement for COVID-19 Relief Funds for Ag Producers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today applauded an announcement from President Donald Trump and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to distribute direct assistance to agricultural producers affected by the COVID-19 emergency. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) will distribute direct payments totaling $16 billion to assist producers of beef, pork, dairy, row crops, … Continue Reading
05.07.20
Chairman Roberts Announces Kansas Broadband ReConnect Recipients
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today announced the Kansas recipients of the first round of funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's ReConnect Broadband program. "As a rural state, Kansas communities need access to high speed internet, a necessary tool to grow and thrive in the 21st century," said Roberts. "The ReConnect program complements our Farm Bill broadband programs and will help bridge… Continue Reading
04.28.20
Roberts’ Statement on Executive Order for Meat-Processing Plants During COVID-19
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 Donald Trump issued an Executive Order to keep meat-processing plants operational as critical infrastructure. "Farmers, as well as the entire food system, are suffering from the rippling effects of plant closures due to COVID-19," said Roberts. "I thank President Trump for declaring the importance of keeping America… Continue Reading
04.17.20
Roberts Applauds Efforts to Help Ag Producers with Disrupted, Lost Markets
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today applauded an announcement from President Donald Trump and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to alleviate agriculture sector hardships caused by the COVID-19 emergency. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program will distribute $19 billion to support farmers, ranchers, and consumers. Direct payments totaling $16 billion will assist producers… Continue Reading
04.03.20
Roberts, Stabenow Urge Small Business Administration to Provide Coronavirus Relief to Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., urged the Small Business Administration to ensure farmers and ranchers can access new loan programs created in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. "The impacts of COVID-19 are affecting many small businesses, including America's farmers," wrote the Senators. "We must take quick action to aid farmers at a time when… Continue Reading
03.23.20
Roberts Announces Senate Confirmation of USDA Nominee Brashears
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today announced that Dr. Mindy Brashears was confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Upon swearing in, Dr. Brashears will serve as Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food Safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. "I am pleased the Senate has acted on Dr. Brashears' nomination to continue leading food safety efforts at the U.S. Department of Agriculture," Roberts said. "She h… Continue Reading
03.12.20
Chairman Roberts Listens to Producer, Scientist Perspectives on Biotechnology Regulation
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, "Agriculture Innovation and the Federal Biotechnology Regulatory Framework." "As science and technology evolve, so must the regulations of these products. The Coordinated Framework for the Regulation of Biotechnology is the multi-agency, federal system that serves to asses any risks of new biotechnology products, to ensure their safety to th… Continue Reading
03.05.20
Roberts, Stabenow Announce Hearing on Ag Innovation, Biotechnology Regulation
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, "Agriculture Innovation and the Federal Biotechnology Regulatory Framework." Who: Mr. Patrick L. Johnson, Jr., Producer and Chairman, Environmental Task Force, National Cotton Council, Tunica, Miss. Dr. Wayne Parrott, Professor, Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, Institute of… Continue Reading
