Farmers, Ranchers, Foresters, and Consumers Deserve Certainty

Floor Speech

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Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Speaker, I thank Chairman Thompson for all he does for our committee.

Mr. Speaker, since my first day here in Congress, I have been a relentless advocate for hardworking farmers, ranchers, producers, and agricultural professionals who form the backbone of our country. It is their dedication and resilience that fuels our economy and feeds the entire Nation. Today, the world relies on American producers more than ever.

As geopolitical tensions abroad disrupt supply chains and heighten the threat of global food insecurity, it has never been more important to give our producers the peace of mind that they deserve. That is why I am pleased to see we are making progress on this year's farm bill and beginning to move this legislation through committee.

This has not been a simple process. However, I am thankful for Chairman Thompson and everyone on the Committee on Agriculture for their hard work.

Over the past year, we have held listening sessions with stakeholders across the country to build on the success of the 2018 farm bill and prepare for the future of American agriculture.

As chairman of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology, I am acutely aware of the opportunities we have to deliver new agricultural innovations that will address food insecurity, eliminate hunger, and grow the economy.

It is my hope that as we continue crafting this legislation, that we will prioritize agricultural research that will reduce our dependence on foreign inputs, create thousands of good-paying jobs, and utilize our Nation's abundant agricultural resources.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on the Committee on Agriculture to ensure we meet the needs of all our producers and prioritize research that will help America be the global leader in agriculture.

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