Doe and Usda Interagency Research Act

Floor Speech

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan bill introduced by Chairman Lucas and myself authorizing cross-cutting, joint research and development between the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Together, these agencies leverage their incredible capabilities to address some of our multidisciplinary research challenges in crop science, carbon storage, and precision agriculture technologies.

Codifying the partnership between these agencies is a testament to our commitment to combat climate change and to serve the agricultural communities like those in my district and throughout the Nation.

We generated substantial momentum through the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which included research support toward agricultural productivity improvement goals.

This bill will sustain and strengthen this momentum by empowering deeper cooperation between two of our top science agencies, enabling national research and ag capability to fully realize the opportunities presented by new and emerging technologies.

The technologies that are being used on farms in my district are really cutting edge. For example, on farms in my district, there is in use a giant machine that roams the fields, and by computer, identifies weeds and zaps them with lasers.

This is done automatically, it doesn't use any pesticides, and those weeds are permanently gone. It is really an example of how we are entering a high-tech area in precision agriculture. The Federal Government can help facilitate progress in this field through bills like the one before us today.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to support this bill, and as I have no additional speakers, I yield back the balance of my time.

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