Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. CONAWAY. 2.

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Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, more commonly known as the farm bill. I do so, proudly, because I still believe that rural America and our farm and ranch familles are the backbone of this country.

Our farmers and ranchers ensure that Americans across this great country pay the lowest grocery bills in the world. They also hand us a rare trade surplus, while creating 21 million American jobs.

In the heartland, agriculture is the lifeblood of the economy. When agriculture does well, Main Street does well; and when agriculture is suffering, so is Main Street.

But beyond the economic contributions, rural America and our Nation's farmers and ranchers are imbued with the values that I cherish deeply: the values of faith, family, God, country, and duty; of neighbor helping neighbor, hard work, and personal responsibility.

In short, Mr. Chairman, rural America and our Nation's farmers and ranchers make America great. I expect that is why the President of the United States strongly supports this farm bill and urges passage.

Times are not good right now in the heartland. Our Nation's farmers and ranchers are struggling in the midst of a 5-year recession, with no end in sight. Net farm income has been cut in half over this period of time. As a result, rural America is not partaking in the economic recovery that urban counterparts are experiencing.

There are many reasons behind the hard times in farm and ranch country. I will briefly discuss two.

In my hometown of Midland, Texas, we have received 1 inch of rain over the last 195 days. Drought is ravaging my State. Last year, we saw record losses due to hurricanes and wildfires. And to the north, in the ranking member's home State, farmers are struggling to get into the fields to plant, although it is the middle of May. The fact is the men and women who clothe and feed us in a manner that is absolutely unrivaled in world history are the ones hit hardest and first by Mother Nature.

A second reason for the current condition is another factor totally beyond the control of our farm and ranch families: the predatory trade practices of foreign countries. For the sake of brevity, I will offer just one example.

In just 1 year, China oversubsidized just three crops by more than $1 billion. To put that in perspective, the entire safety net for all of our farmers and ranchers under this farm bill is expected to cost just 64 percent of the amount China spent on illegal subsidies in just 1 year on just three crops.

Mr. Chairman, the global market is awash with high and rising foreign subsidies, tariffs, and nontariff trade barriers, and these are hurting American farmers and ranchers.

So what do we do about that? We heed the call of the President of the United States and the Secretary of Agriculture to pass this farm bill.

No, this farm bill is not a cure for all that ails rural America and our farmers and ranchers, but this farm bill does provide a safety net to see them through the hard times.

For my colleagues interested in the budgetary impacts of this farm bill, H.R. 2 keeps faith with taxpayers, with CBO now projecting more than $112 billion in savings, nearly five times what was pledged back in 2014.

There are many other aspects of this farm bill, but I will just briefly touch on three.

First, Secretary Perdue has shown great leadership on two particular issues that are extremely important to rural America: the opioid epidemic that is ravaging rural America needs an aggressive, effective response, and the lack of broadband in many parts of rural America puts farmers and ranchers in rural communities at a terrible disadvantage. The Secretary is determined to tackle these problems and has asked for the tools he needs to make it happen. This farm bill provides those tools.

Second, it is no secret that we do not have a bipartisan farm bill process at this moment, and that I deeply regret. Ultimately, Democrats and Republicans chose to agree to disagree on the question of whether work-capable adults should work or get free job training for 20 hours per week in order to be eligible for SNAP.

I respect my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, but I do want to be clear about something: This farm bill in no way, shape, or form disrespects Americans who depend on SNAP. To the contrary, the farm bill keeps faith with SNAP beneficiaries, providing needed benefits and something more--the dignity that comes with work and the promise of a better life that a job brings. I want these Americans to realize the American Dream.

Finally, in closing, I want to note that there is a cottage industry in this town that is determined to defeat this farm bill. They want this House to ignore the realities of Mother Nature and the predatory trade practices of foreign countries and turn our back on farm and ranch families struggling to hang on in the face of these hard times.

Mr. Chairman, that should not happen on our watch. I urge my colleagues to stand by the hardworking families that put food on our tables and clothes on our backs and still live every day by the values that made this country truly great. Let's stand up for rural America. Let's pass this farm bill.

House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, April 30, 2018. Hon. Rob Bishop, Chairman, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Bishop: I appreciate your support in bringing this legislation before the House of Representatives, and accordingly, understand that the Committee on Natural Resources will forego action on the bill.

The Committee on Agriculture concurs in the mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of the bill at this time, the Committee on Natural Resources does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this bill or similar legislation in the future. In addition, should a conference on this bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Natural Resources represented on the conference committee.

I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work the Committee on Natural Resources as this bill moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, K. Michael Conaway, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Natural Resources, Washington, DC, April 30, 2018. Hon. K. Michael Conaway, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I have received your letter regarding H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, which contains provisions within the jurisdiction of the Committee on Natural Resources.

In the interest of permitting you to proceed expeditiously to floor consideration of this very important bill, I will not seek a referral of H.R. 2. I do so with the understanding that the Natural Resources Committee does not waive any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matter contained in the bill that fall within its Rule X jurisdiction. Further, I appreciate the work between our committees on forest management and look forward to working with you to build upon the important provisions within Title VIII of the bill as it moves through the legislative process. I also appreciate your support to name members of the Natural Resources Committee to any conference committee to consider such provisions and for inserting our exchange of letters on H.R. 2 into the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor.

Congratulations on marshalling this monumental achievement through committee, and thank you again for the very cooperative spirit in which you and your staff have worked regarding this matter and many others between our respective committees. Sincerely, Rob Bishop, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC, May 1, 2018. Hon. K. Michael Conaway, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Conaway: I write with respect to H.R. 2, the ``Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018.'' As a result of your having consulted with us on provisions within H.R. 2 that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on the Judiciary, I forego any further consideration of this bill so that it may proceed expeditiously to the House floor for consideration.

The Judiciary Committee takes this action with our mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of H.R. 2 at this time, we do not waive any jurisdiction over subject matter contained in this or similar legislation and that our committee will be appropriately consulted and involved as this bill or similar legislation moves forward so that we may address any remaining issues in our jurisdiction. Our committee also reserves the right to seek appointment of an appropriate number of conferees to any House-Senate conference involving this or similar legislation and asks that you support any such request.

I would appreciate a response to this letter confirming this understanding with respect to H.R. 2 and would ask that a copy of our exchange of letters on this matter be included in the Congressional Record during floor consideration of H.R. 2. Sincerely, Bob Goodlatte, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, May 1, 2018. Hon. Bob Goodlatte, Chairman, Committee on the Judiciary, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Goodlatte: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 2. I appreciate your support in bringing this legislation before the House of Representatives, and accordingly, understand that the Committee on the Judiciary will forego action on the bill.

The Committee on Agriculture concurs in the mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of the bill at this time, the Committee on the Judiciary does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this bill or similar legislation in the future. In addition, should a conference on this bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on the Judiciary represented on the conference committee.

I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work the Committee on the Judiciary as this bill moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, K. Michael Conaway, Chairman. ____ Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington DC. May 2, 2018. Hon. K. Michael Conaway, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC.

I write concerning H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018. This legislation includes matters that fall within the Rule X jurisdiction of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

I recognize and appreciate your desire to bring this legislation before the House of Representatives in an expeditious manner, and accordingly, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forego action on the bill. However, this is conditional on our mutual understanding that foregoing consideration of the bill does not prejudice the Committee with respect to the appointment of conferees or to any future jurisdictional claim over the subject matters contained in the bill or similar legislation that fall within the Committee's Rule X jurisdiction. Lastly, should a conference on the bill be necessary, I request your support for the appointment of conferees from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure during any House-Senate conference convened on this or related legislation.

I would ask that a copy of this letter and your response acknowledging our jurisdictional interest as well as the mutually agreed upon changes to be incorporated into the bill be included in the Congressional Record during consideration of the measure on the House floor, to memorialize our understanding.

I look forward to working with the Committee on Agriculture as the bill moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, Bill Shuster, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, May 2, 2018. Hon. Bill Shuster, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Shuster: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 2, Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018. I appreciate your support in bringing this legislation before the House of Representatives, and accordingly, understand that the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will forego action on the bill.

The Committee on Agriculture concurs in the mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of the bill at this time, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this bill or similar legislation in the future. In addition, should a conference on this bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure represented on the conference committee.

I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure as this bill moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, K. Michael Conaway, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Education and the Workforce, Washington, DC, May 2, 2018. Hon. K. Michael Conaway, Chairman, Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to confirm our mutual understanding with respect to H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018. Thank you for consulting with the Committee on Education and the Workforce with regard to H.R. 2 on those matters within my committee's jurisdiction, including provisions relating to workplace safety, work requirements, and child nutrition.

The Committee on Education and the Workforce will not delay further consideration of this bill. However, I do so only with the understanding this procedural route will not be construed to prejudice my committee's jurisdictional interest and prerogatives on this bill or any other similar legislation and will not be considered as precedent for consideration of matters of jurisdictional interest to my committee in the future.

I also request you include our exchange of letters on this matter in the Committee Report for H.R. 2. Thank you for your attention to these matters. Sincerely, Virginia Foxx, Chairwoman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, May 2, 2018. Hon. Virginia Foxx, Chairwoman, Committee on Education and Workforce, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairwoman Foxx: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 2, Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018. I appreciate your support in bringing this legislation before the House of Representatives, and accordingly, understand that the Committee on Education and Workforce will forego action on the bill.

The Committee on Agriculture concurs in the mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of the bill at this time, the Committee on Education and Workforce does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this bill or similar legislation in the future. In addition, should a conference on this bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Education and Workforce represented on the conference committee.

I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work the Committee on Education and Workforce as this bill moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, K. Michael Conaway, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC, May 15, 2018. Hon. Michael K. Conaway, Chairman, House Agriculture Committee, Washington, DC.

Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to confirm our mutual understanding regarding H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018, which contains substantial matter that falls within the Rule X legislative jurisdiction of the Foreign Affairs Committee. I appreciate the consultation and cooperation between our committees, both before and after your markup of that bill.

Based on that cooperation and our associated understandings, and in order to expedite House consideration, the Foreign Affairs Committee agreed not to seek a sequential referral of H.R. 2, with the understanding that that decision in no way diminishes or alters the jurisdictional interests of the Foreign Affairs Committee in that bill, any subsequent amendments, or similar legislation. I respectfully request your support for the appointment of House Foreign Affairs conferees during any House-Senate conference on this legislation.

Finally, I respectfully request that you include this letter and your response in the Congressional Record during consideration of H.R. 2 on the House floor. Sincerely, Edward R. Royce, Chairman. ____ House of Representatives, Committee on Agriculture, Washington, DC, May 15, 2018. Hon. Ed Royce, Chairman, Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, DC.

Dear Chairman Royce: Thank you for your letter regarding H.R. 2, Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018. I appreciate your support in bringing this legislation before the House of Representatives, and accordingly, understand that the Committee on Foreign Affairs will forego action on the bill.

The Committee on Agriculture concurs in the mutual understanding that by foregoing consideration of the bill at this time, the Committee on Foreign Affairs does not waive any jurisdiction over the subject matter contained in this bill or similar legislation in the future. In addition, should a conference on this bill be necessary, I would support your request to have the Committee on Foreign Affairs represented on the conference committee.

I will insert copies of this exchange in the Congressional Record during Floor consideration. I appreciate your cooperation regarding this legislation and look forward to continuing to work the Committee on Foreign Affairs as this bill moves through the legislative process. Sincerely, K. Michael Conaway, Chairman.

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Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Chairman, I would simply say for the record that all of the bill was negotiated--except for the SNAP title--in good faith with my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Not once did they mention anything on many of these issues that were just brought up, but we did have an agreement on those non-SNAP titles. It was a SNAP title, quite frankly, that caused the rift.

Mr. Chair, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson), my colleague, the chairman of the Nutrition Subcommittee.

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Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Chair, I would like to recognize the fact that this brand-spanking-new program that never had any funding is authorized in the bill for discretionary spending to create the scholarship program that has just been referenced. There was no money taken out of the bill, because there was never any money in the program.

We simply recognized the need and we set that program up in place as a direct result of the gentleman's passionate plea for a scholarship program.

Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Iowa (Mr. King).

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Mr. CONAWAY. Mr. Chair, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Bost).

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