Neugebauer Questions USDA Secretary Vilsack

Statement

Rep. Randy Neugebauer (TX-19), Vice-Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, released the following statement after questioning USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack at today's Agriculture Committee hearing on the State of the Rural Economy:

"I appreciate USDA Secretary Vilsack for coming before the House Agriculture Committee today to provide an update on the state of the rural economy and specifically where things stand with the implementation of the 2014 Farm Bill. The USDA has jurisdiction over many issues that impact hardworking farmers in the 19th District, and I raised several concerns with the Secretary regarding issues affecting our cotton producers, including concerns with the relationship between marketing loan gains and the new payment limit, and China's cotton program and its effect on the global price of cotton. I also voiced my objections to President Obama's budget request which would dramatically increase the cost of crop insurance for producers of all crops in the 19th District and limit its viability. We cannot afford to move in that direction and the President's budget request is dead on arrival in Congress. As Farm Bill implementation continues and deadlines are right around the corner, I look forward to working with Secretary Vilsack to ensure that we have a Farm Bill that works for the 19th District of Texas and our great nation."

Source