Minority News
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing on Rural Development and Energy
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 "Implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill: Rural Development and Energy Programs." Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Welcome to our witnesses and thank you for being here. Everyone in this room knows that rural America is the backbone of our economy, jus… Continue Reading
10.31.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Secures Farm Bill and Urban Agriculture Investments, Criticizes ERS and NIFA Relocation Funding
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, issued the following statement regarding the passage of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill. The bill includes an amendment introduced by Ranking Member Stabenow to provide $5 million to set up the new Urban Agriculture Office at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) authorized in the Farm Bill. "By and large, this bipartisan bill rejects the Trump Administration… Continue Reading
10.17.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing on Farm Bill Implementation
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 2018 Farm Bill". Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you, Mr. Chairman for holding this important hearing. Deputy Secretary Censky, thank you for being here and welcome back to our hearing room. It's been 10 months since Congress passed the bipartisan … Continue Reading
09.27.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Further Questions USDA Relocation After Critical Research Delayed
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 relocation of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) research agencies, the Economic Research Service (ERS) and the National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA), has delayed reports and research grants, despite assurances that the move would not affect the missions of the agencies. Thus far, the USDA has on-boarded nine n… Continue Reading
09.25.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing on the Livestock and Poultry Sectors
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 the Livestock and Poultry Sectors. Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you Mr. Chairman for holding this important hearing. Welcome to our witnesses and thank you for being here. We all know that farming is the riskiest business there is. From unexpected … Continue Reading
09.23.19
Senators Urge Trump Administration to Withdraw Proposal to Take Away Food Assistance from Millions of Americans
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, 15 Senators raised serious concerns about the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) proposed rule to eliminate categorical eligibility, which would take food assistance away from millions of families currently participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). In a letter, the Senators urged Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to withdraw the proposal, citing the negative consequences of the rule and noting that the Administration has not conducted … Continue Reading
07.31.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing on the U.S. Grain Standards Act
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 Reauthorization of the U.S. Grain Standards Act. Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing as we begin the process of reauthorizing the Grain Standards Act. Thank you to the expert panel here today, bringing perspectives… Continue Reading
07.25.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on the USDA’s Release of Trade Aid Details
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, issued the following statement regarding the Trump Administration's announcement of aid to assist American farmers affected by their trade policies. "The Administration continues to move ahead with no real trade strategy. These short-term, inequitable payouts are not a replacement for markets and a coherent trade strategy. "Today's announcement only confirms my prev… Continue Reading
07.25.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing on Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill
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 Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill. Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you, Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing today, and welcome to our witnesses. The 2018 Farm Bill includes many new opportunities that strengthen the diversity of American agriculture. We know s… Continue Reading
07.23.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on Proposed 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 to eliminate categorical eligibility, which would increase obstacles for families participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP): "This proposal is yet another attempt by this Administration to circumvent Congress and make harmful changes to nutr… Continue Reading
07.18.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Agricultural Research 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 "Agricultural Research and 2018 Farm Bill Implementation." Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you Chairman Roberts for holding this very important hearing. Dr. Hutchins, welcome back and thank you for being here. Agricultural research has always been the heart of the Dep… Continue Reading
06.25.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Urges USDA to Make Climate Change Research Public
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, raised strong concerns that the reported suppression of significant climate change research at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is harmful to agriculture and urged the Department to publicize past and future research. A Politico article published on June 24, 2019 reported a number of instances where USDA leadership downplayed the public release of several st… Continue Reading
06.25.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at CFTC Reauthorization Hearing
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow(D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today released the following opening statement at the hearing titled "The State of the Derivatives Market and Perspectives for CFTC Reauthorization." Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome to our witnesses here today. It's good to be with you all to discuss the CFTC and its reauthorization. It has been o… Continue Reading
06.20.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on Forest Service Jobs Corps Announcement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, issued the following statement regarding the Administration's decision to halt their harmful proposal to shut down or transfer management of all U.S. Forest Service Civilian Conservation Job Corps Centers nationwide. Stabenow helped lead a bipartisan, bicameral group of members of Congress to urge the Administration to reverse their plan. "After broad bipartisan obje… Continue Reading
06.13.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Applauds Dairy Margin Coverage Sign Up
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, issued the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Agriculture's announcement that dairy farmers can sign up for affordable benefits through Dairy Margin Coverage. This program provides improved support for dairy farmers facing financial uncertainty. Stabenow authored improvements in the 2018 bipartisan Farm Bill to support dairy farmers and strengthen t… Continue Reading
06.13.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Agricultural Trade 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 "Certainty in Global Markets for the U.S. Agriculture Sector." Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you Mr. Chairman for holding this hearing. Ambassador Doud, Under Secretary McKinney, and Dr. Johansson, welcome back to our committee room, and thank you for being here t… Continue Reading
06.05.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Joins Bipartisan Group of Senators and Representatives to Press the Administration for Answers on Forest Service Closures
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today joined a bipartisan, bicameral group of 18 senators and 33 representatives, led by Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Congressmen Peter DeFazio (D-OR-4), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-4), and Kurt Schrader (D-OR-5), to push the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to reverse their decision to shut down Civilian Conservation C… Continue Reading
05.30.19
Senators Raise Concerns that USDA Trade Aid will Continue to Benefit Foreign Corporations
WASHINGTON -Nine U.S. Senators, led by Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today raised concerns that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) will continue to allow foreign companies to profit from the Trump Administration's plan to assist American farmers affected by their trade policies. Last week, the Administration announced it would provide up to $1.4 billion to purchase commodities targeted by retaliatory tariff… Continue Reading
05.23.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Statement on the Administration’s Trade Aid Announcement
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow, Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, issued the following statement regarding the Trump Administration's announcement of new aid to assist American farmers affected by their trade policies. "Too many farmers are struggling as this Administration continues to pursue a chaotic trade agenda. Our farmers need a focused strategy, access to export markets, and long-term stability. "Unfortunately, this comple… Continue Reading
05.21.19
Ranking Member Stabenow Opening Statement at Hearing on Climate Change and Agriculture
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 "Climate Change and the Agriculture Sector." Stabenow's statement, as prepared for delivery, follows: Thank you, Mr. Chairman for holding today's very important hearing on climate change and the solutions that can come from agriculture. I believe there is no greater challenge that will affect th… Continue Reading
