▶ 0:17:10Committee will come to order. Welcome and thank you all for joining today's hearing where we will hear from Secretary Rollins from the US Department of Agriculture. After brief opening remarks, members will receive testimony from our witness today and then the hearing will open to questions. So once again, good morning everyone.
▶ 0:17:29Uh, I'd like to welcome you all to today's hearing and extend a special thanks to the Honorable Brooke Rollins for joining us for her first appearance uh before this committee as our 33rd Secretary of Agriculture. I'm proud to call her a friend and deeply appreciative of the leadership she has shown in just a few short months on the job. Madam Secretary, we're truly grateful to have you with us today. This committee is dedicated to the prosperity and long-term sustainability of rural America.
▶ 0:17:59Our nation's farmers, ranchers, and foresters are the fundamental piece of America's number one industry, which close and feeds millions of American families and billions around the world. And that is why Congress came together at the end of last year to provide a meaningful relief with $21 billion to address weather related losses in 2023 and 2024 and another $10 billion to help offset sustained economic losses impacting producers.
▶ 0:18:28So, I'm grateful to Secretary Rollins for the work she has done and will continue to do to get those dollars out the door, ensure uh uh that help reaches the producers who need it most, largely thanks to these investments and a renewed emphasis on expanding global markets. Recent USDA forecasts show net farm income stabilizing for 2025.
▶ 0:18:52Those dollars, while not enough to make producers whole, were enough for many to keep the lights on and obtain credit to farm another year. However, input costs remain high and commodity prices continue to soften, and forecast margins, working capital, and debt loads continue to deteriorate. Our work to support America's farmers and ranchers is not yet complete.
▶ 0:19:15Over the past several years, the producers we represent have withstood unprecedented mix of adversity, uh, global pandemic, record inflation, supply chain disruptions, animal disease, and natural disasters. And yet, they've continued to deliver the safest, most abundant, and most affordable food supply in the world. While that's not something that we take for granted, it is something we must support through sound policy, stable markets, and a strong USDA.
▶ 0:19:46That said, we have plenty to discuss this morning, Madam Secretary. We're eager to hear your plans to make USDA more efficient, particularly as it relates to reorganization efforts, ensuring that there is not a disruption to customer service. We're also interested in your strategy to support producers with today's challenging trade environment and animal health risks. As you and the president work to lower barriers and open new markets, we and we navigate these issues together.
▶ 0:20:15I trust you'll continue to keep the interests of the American agriculture front and center. We're turning the page to a new chapter for American agriculture. One where new scientific breakthroughs and technology will work handinand with tradition, stewardship, and grit to address the challenges at hand and build on the legacy of resilience and innovation driven by our farmers and ranchers. As part of that new chapter is incumbent on Congress to do our job.
▶ 0:20:45The big the one big beautiful bill is a critical down payment on meaningful change for America, but it's just the beginning. We must also deliver a full farm bill reauthorization that provides certainty and long-term support for our producers. Once we complete the reconciliation process, we will build on that foundation with a comprehensive farm bill later this year. Secretary Rollins, I know that you bring to this role a deep belief in the power of rural America and the American farmer.
▶ 0:21:16We share that belief. I know that we are aligned in our commitment to the people in this country who produce as well as those who consume. As we begin this cons conversation today, I I want to underscore my hope and expectation that the relationship between this committee and the Department of Agriculture will be strong will be a strong, productive partnership. The future of our food supply, our environment, and our economy depends on it.
▶ 0:21:44With that, I I thank you again, Secretary Rollins, for your service and your testimony. I now yield to the ranking member Craig from the great state of Minnesota for her opening Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I want to welcome Secretary Rollins to our committee hearing today.
▶ 0:22:01Um, she reminded me in the back room that she spent every summer in Minnesota, so has a deep connection to my home state as Doing right by our family farmers requires working across the aisle. That's been a trademark of this committee over time and that's how successful farm bills usually function.
▶ 0:22:25Traditionally, USDA has reflected that commitment as well by supporting our family farmers as they grow food that feeds our country and the world, ensuring our food is safe to eat, stopping the spread of animal disease, and innovating the future of food and However, I am genuinely concerned that under this administration, agriculture policymaking has become more partisan and polarized.
▶ 0:22:51This reckless push to cut nearly 300 billion in funding to a title of the farm bill instead of prioritizing getting a 12 title five-year farm bill across the finish line is of particular concern to this committee and it has put the bipartisan farm bill in jeopardy.
▶ 0:23:10In addition, DOE has been uh given essentially a free pass to damage program integrity and undermine the USDA's ability to carry out its core functions and provide key services that America's farmers rely on. Madam Secretary, your agency has fired and then had to rehire agency employees because of uninformed and um reckless decisions over the course of the past few months.
▶ 0:23:38Our trade deficit is increasing. Retaliatory tariffs are coming. Countries are already moving to buy commodities from other nations instead of America's farmers. Input costs are stubbornly high. The bird flu remains a concern. Food banks have been defunded. Billions of dollars in farm programs remain frozen. School cafeterias have been cut off from sourcing locally grown food.
▶ 0:24:08Food safety and animal health experts have been fired or forced out. Nutrition assistance programs are being decimated. The farm bill is in jeopardy. The USDA Inspector General, who rooted out fraud, waste, and abuse, was fired. And the Maha Commission, which USDA signed off on, is issuing reports with madeup science and fake citations without talking to family farmers.
▶ 0:24:37I grew up in farm country. My grandfather was a farm foreman. And I now have the opportunity and honor of representing corn, soybean, pork, and turkey producers, among others in Minnesota's second district. They're tough people. They want markets, not farm income, from more government handouts because their government's policies are hurting their farms.
▶ 0:25:03So yes, Madam Secretary, we are grateful that you've come to testify in front of us today and we have a lot to talk to you about. Thank you for being here. And Mr. Chairman, I yield. I thank the gentle lady. She yields back. Uh the chair would request that other members submit their opening statements for the record so our witness may begin her testimony.
▶ 0:25:26And to ensure that there is ample time for questions, I'm pleased to welcome to the committee or witness for today, USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins. Madam Secretary, thank you for joining us and we're now going to proceed to your testimony. You'll have five minutes. Uh thank you for your written testimony that you've submitted. Uh all of our members have a a copy of that written testimony. Um the timer in front of you will countd down to zero at which point your time is expired.
▶ 0:25:54Secretary Rollins, please begin when you're ready. Well, thank you, Chairman Thompson, Ranking Member Craig, and distinguished members of this committee. I appreciate the opportunity to be here today to highlight what the US Department of Agriculture has accomplished since the start of our new administration just a short few months ago. Uh, under the Trump administration, the hardworking Americans who feed, fuel, and clothe our nation and the world are at the center of everything we do at USDA.
▶ 0:26:24Our USDA is putting farmers first and taking bold action every single day. The following is a quick list of just a few of those highlights over the last 118 days. First, tackling the aven bird flu outbreak and lowering the price of wholesale eggs by more than 65% with retail prices following at 25% and gaining every week.
▶ 0:26:49Second, taking action to respond to foreign disease outbreaks like the new world screworm because food security is national security. I'm sure we'll get into that today. Third, we've kicked off a comprehensive effort to identify and to rectify politically motivated lawfare originating and against our family farms such as the Ma family of South Dakota. Fourth, we are streamlining unnecessary regulations and cutting red tape for poultry farmers and other producers.
▶ 0:27:20For example, by extending line speed waiverss and removing duplicative data collection. Number five, USDA moved out the emergency commodity assistance program in record time and a lot of leadership in this committee to get that money there and aid have already sent out aid to more than 500,000 farmers in just the last eight weeks with a total of over 7.7 billion dollars out the door to date.
▶ 0:27:46Additionally, we have issued1 billion dollars of the emergency livestock relief to date and are on track to meet our deadlines for the remaining congressionally authorized disaster programs which are so important especially since the farm bill uh uh was not done in the last few years. number six in the Oval Office yesterday talking with President Trump and the media about the increase of productivity and production in our timber industry uh after being decimated over the last few years.
▶ 0:28:16Seventh, uh opening up five markets around the world in certain um parts of the world where new uh markets have been open and our products have moved in great American farm products. And finally, continuing to address waste, fraud, and abuse in SNAP and frankly all USDA programs that have long neglected to put our farmers first.
▶ 0:28:38This includes a review of thousands, tens of thousands of contracts, grants, employee trainings, and DEI programs resulting in over savings of $5.5 billion. Now, let me expand on just a few of those in my remaining two minutes and 11 seconds. Uh my team and I are regularly meeting as I mentioned with foreign partners expanding markets around the world promoting agricultural products which are the best. I've already traveled to the UK into Italy.
▶ 0:29:06I am soon to leave for Vietnam, Japan and India and after that going to South America. We are working as hard as we possibly can pushing these aggressive trade deals to put our American farmers and producers first. In this administration, it doesn't take more taxpayer dollars to boost timber production, to unleash American energy dominance, and to balance unfair trade commitments around the world.
▶ 0:29:33It just takes a president who can harness the strength and ingenuity of the American people. There is still much work to be done as we realign the American and world economy at the service of the American people and the American farmer. We are leaving no stone unturned as we evaluate the effectiveness of all of our programs and I thank each one of you on both sides of the aisle for your collaboration in that effort.
▶ 0:29:58We are also at a pivotal moment where we can safeguard our country from fiscal ruin and I applaud the steps this committee took sir on passing the one big beautiful bill and all of the work that that took.
▶ 0:30:12This bill leverages a once- in a generation opportunity and specifically for our farmers, increasing $3.8 billion dollar in income projected, protecting over two million of our family farms from the death tax and cutting more than 10 billion in taxes again just in our agricultural community.
▶ 0:30:33As the 33rd Secretary of Agriculture, I have the profound privilege of seeing firsthand how our nation's farmers serve as the very heartbeat of this country. Their unwavering dedication and resilience are not merely testaments to hard work. They form the bedrock that upholds our national security, revitalizes our rural communities, and preserves our cherished traditions. Our farmers and ranchers do not rest, and neither do we at the USDA.
▶ 0:31:01I'm proud to be at the helm of Abraham Lincoln's people's department. I'm proud to be at the table with President Donald Trump and fighting for the very foundation of our American way of life. Thank you, and I look forward to today's Thank you for your important testimony today, Secretary. At this time, members will be recognized for questions in order of seniority, alternating between majority and minority members, and in order of arrival for those who joined us after the hearing convened.
▶ 0:31:32You'll be recognized for five minutes each in order to allow allow us to get to as many questions as possible. And I recognize myself uh for five minutes of questions. Madam Secretary, I'd like to talk with you about an issue that poses an eminent threat to to the pork industry and livestock production overall. State mandates like California's Proposition 12 are misguided, not based in sound science, and create arbitrary production standards for pork producers.
▶ 0:31:59In addition to being burdensome for producers, the final pork product is also more expensive for consumers. Pork prices in California have risen 20% on average since the implementation of Prop 12, and the cost of constructing Prop 12 compliant barns are estimated to be at least $3,400 to $4,000 per SA. With costs like these, neither the producer or the consumer are winning. As we all know, the Supreme Court has weighed in on this matter and asked Congress to act.
▶ 0:32:27And we attempted to do so in the Farm Food and National Security Act of 2024. Language we included would ensure that livestock producers only have to abide by production standards in the state in which they reside. Protecting both the rights of an individual producer and states rights. I know you understand this issue well.
▶ 0:32:45Can you talk about the negative impact that state mandates like Prop 12 have had on the pork industry and the dangerous precedent that sets for all livestock production and what is the risk for both producers and consumers if we do not act? Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. That's a really important question. It's one that came up a lot in my confirmation process on the on the Senate side of the House.
▶ 0:33:06And and one thing I will note is that no one is more of a believer in federalism and the 10th amendment and our founders vision of the state's rights to be able to be their own laboratories of innovation. So I'll say that first. But second, when those ideas and those rules and those laws begin to impact other states in such a negative way, that is not what our founders intended. That is not constitutional and it is not okay.
▶ 0:33:33the extreme impact of Prop 12, especially on our pork producers. I believe this is a bipartisan question there. We may not all agree in this room, but I think most agree, even on the Democrat side of the house, that it cannot stand. So, I stand in full support of your effort. We're also looking at things we could potentially do at the department to mitigate for some of the uh the consequences of this uh this rule that again California has the right to do what California wants to do.
▶ 0:34:00But the minute that crosses the border and begins to again compromise in such a significant way our pork producers, we need to act. Well, thank you, Secretary. I I'd like to turn to a topic that is of increasing concern for our producers and that is the availability of agriculture labor. Last Congress, the committee convened the Agriculture Labor Working Group led by co-chairs Rick Crawford and Don Davis, and they're working on turning their bipartisan recommendations into legislation.
▶ 0:34:27But a legislative solution would not address the immediate needs of the industry. I was encouraged by President Trump's comments on at the April 10th cabinet meeting where he said he would work with the agriculture industry and alluded to a process by which there would be some sort of flexibility provided to farmers and a new process to allow undocumented workers and their jobs to come back in legally. However, recent enforcement actions have begun to impact and even target agriculture operations.
▶ 0:34:55And yet, there's still a lack of clarity for producers. As I'm sure you know, these employers have a limited ability to question an employes documentation and are unaware of any issues with her status until an I9 audit is conducted. Uh what if anything are you, Secretary Chevr, and Secretary Gnome doing to follow through on the president's comments and making sure that enforcement is not impacting food security, which I think we both agree is a matter of national security. No, that's right, sir.
▶ 0:35:25And in fact, I was with the president yesterday in the Oval Office. I spoke with him again this morning. Uh this was one of the issues that we spoke about. Uh this president's commitment to ensuring that all laws are followed remains paramount, but also combining that with understanding the significant challenges to our a producers in finding the labor that is necessary to produce not only for their farms to be able to basically stay in business, but also to your point, this is much bigger than that.
▶ 0:35:54This is a national security issue. And the moment that America is not able to feed ourselves any longer, that is the moment that we are no longer the superpower, the preeminent superpower in the world. So that's how very seriously I take this.
▶ 0:36:09As you mentioned on April 10th at our cabinet meeting, the president himself brought this issue up and specifically directed Secretary Chavez Durimemer, who herself uh is from a farming background, who is our labor secretary, uh along with myself and Secretary Gnome, our DHS secretary, who also is from a farming and ranching background to ensure that we are doing everything we can to uh to make sure that these farmers and ranchers have the labor that they need.
▶ 0:36:37So the president is hyperfocused on that, understanding the challenges currently at hand. But please know that we are in constant daily communication about how to solve for that quickly while also working in partnership with this committee. And Mr. Chairman, your leadership on this has been really, really important as have so many sitting in the room today. Thank you, Secretary. My time uh my time has expired. Now recognize the gentle lady from Minnesota, the ranking member for five minutes. Thank you so much.
▶ 0:37:06Over the past several months, I met dozens of family farmers and producers across this country. They've represented operations of all different types and sizes. Despite their many differences, there was a common theme between all these meetings, the lack of certainty. Every farmer, grower, rancher, and producer has said that they need more certainty. And despite this administration's promise to put farmers first, we've seen that many of the actions are actually harming them.
▶ 0:37:34We've seen trade wars increase instability in farm country and surrender market access to our competitors like Brazil. We've seen USDA programs that farmers rely on for income frozen or eliminated with little to no explanation. And on the ground in districts like mine, local FSA, NRCS, and Forest Service staff are being let go.
▶ 0:37:57Wait lists are getting longer and fewer USDA staff are available to help family farmers navigate the AY's incredibly popular and impactful programs. And the administration wants to gut a title of the farm bill in I've got three questions, so uh I may have to um reclaim my time during some of your answers because I want to make sure to get to all of them. Let me start by asking about the agency.
▶ 0:38:23Uh, Madam Secretary, before the department moved forward with its layoffs restructuring plan, did the department carefully analyze what these folks did and the impact these cuts would have on farm country? Well, thank you uh, ma'am, and and certainly, uh, had a great visit to your your state, a Sugarbeat Farm, recently. Uh, the bottom line is this, that no one has been fired.
▶ 0:38:48There were 15,000 USDA employees who took the resignation, the deferred resignation, but no one was fired. So, I think that's really important. In a normal year, madam, uh we'll have 8 to 10,000 attrition rate. So, while I think there's been a big narrative about how these important people have been fired, that was not the case. What we have done, and yes, to answer your question, is a very careful review. Yesterday in the Oval Office, we talked about our fire uh our wildland firefighters.
▶ 0:39:15They're at 96% uh full, meaning we are ahead of where the Joe Biden uh USDA was last year at this time to prepare for wildfire season. to your point on the FSA offices, what I have asked every member to do, and I know you have my cell phone, uh I welcome every member, Republican or Democrat, to call me directly with specific um examples and we can get on that right away because that that forward-f facing part of USDA with our rural communities and with our farmers is
▶ 0:39:45of priority to me. So, if you could help us solve for that, thank you. I'm going to go to my second question. Thank you so much. I look just to be clear, if you had reviewed this, you would have made sure that folks who are trying to stop bird flu in our country weren't allowed to retire. In fact, I ran a big business for a lot of years before I came to Congress. And you know, voluntary retirements often exactly the wrong people retire.
▶ 0:40:12That's why you take a more um thorough review of these things before you just say everybody who wants to retire retire. But nonetheless, um, let's go on to trade. 40% of my district is covered in corn and soy every summer. Since we're losing market access in China, what markets are you targeting to help US soy producers compensate for the market access that they have lost?
▶ 0:40:35Yeah, I appreciate that question and and I know in your comments you mentioned um the farmers and trade and the uncertainty and we certainly realize that we are very aggressively specifically on our rowcroppers but to soy um for example really working to expand the markets. Last week I was in Italy. Interestingly Italy of course the the um government of Georgia Maloney is very aligned with President Trump.
▶ 0:40:58uh they are very open but Italy again as an example imports about 75 billion dollars in agriculture products only$1.7 billion comes from our American farmers and ranchers and this is one of our best friends around the world so we had great conversations specific to soy uh on how we get which is the number one import but not nearly enough how we get more of that into Italy into the EU into Japan into India into Vietnam secretary I'm sorry 40 seconds I'm going to reclaim my time and China
▶ 0:41:29represents 50% of the US soybean market. Wouldn't it I'm not going to ask, but I I believe it would have been a better strategy to go get these markets before you do an acrosstheboard trade war that decimates 50% of the markets. About one hour ago, the president announced a deal with China. So, that is being solved. And then, um last question really is about HPIA. Do you support Look, I've got a bunch of turkey growers in Minnesota. Don't even get me started on the Maha report, Secretary Kennedy.
▶ 0:41:56Um, do you support developing a robust vaccine strategy and will you commit to using vaccines to combat animal disease? We are looking at all of the above. We have a hundred million dollars committed. We have 417 applications uh, ranking member Craig that we are currently working through vaccines, therapeutics, we're looking at everything across the board. Thank you and I yield back. Gentle time expired. Now recognize gentleman from Oklahoma, Mr. Lucas, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Secretary Rollins.
▶ 0:42:26Thank you for taking time to testify before the committee today and discuss the issues that are affecting our farmers back home. Last week, I chaired a subcommittee hearing to discuss voluntary conservation programs in the farm bill and the improvements Congress can make to ensure that these programs truly work for producers that they're intended to benefit.
▶ 0:42:45I heard from a variety of witnesses representing both producers and technical assistance providers and they agreed with reinvesting the unobligated inflation reduction act funds into the baseline of the farm bill without the climate side boards is a necessary step to ensure that these programs reach more producers. To that end, Madam Secretary, I've heard from many of my producers back home that the climate smart commodities grant process under the Biden administration was confusing and left little room for producer choice.
▶ 0:43:15Can you share with the committee what you're doing at USDA to revamp this program and to streamline the application process for producers? Yes, sir. Thank you. That remains a top priority for us. We've already made announcements on how to make it easier, cleaner, and better, and to put our producers first. Uh we've asked several uh applicants to reapply uh based on that as a priority and driving that forward. If you hear anything different, Congressman, please let us know.
▶ 0:43:43It's those anecdotes that help us get better. But yes, sir, we are solving for that every day at uh USDA. It sounds like the advancing markets for producers initiative is focused on making sure producers come first and that USDA is a partner alongside producers rather than a dictator. Uh does that sound like an accurate assessment of what you and the department are attempting to do? That is accurate.
▶ 0:44:07Uh we've asked people to reapply uh if and when they have at least 65% of their application focused on producers. In my remaining time, I wanted to take a moment to thank you for the emergency livestock relief program funds that went out the door last month. Oklahoma's experienced several severe fires in recent years that have impacted hundreds of producers across the state. And under the Biden administration, it took an average of 13 months for disaster funds to reach producers.
▶ 0:44:36However, Congress passed the American Relief Act of 2025 in December, and producers have received ELRP assistance in May. That's a significant improvement, and I know my constituents are grateful. Madam Secretary, have you received any immediate feedback on the roll out of these funds? We have um we've been so grateful realizing it's imperfect, but we've been so grateful at the response. And I just want to say this morning at 6:00 a.m.
▶ 0:45:04I was on a conference call with the team talking about the next round of funds. 6 a.m. Uh last night at 10:30, I was on a call with a couple of other congressmen talking about it. We are so committed to working 20 hours a day, sometimes more to ensure that this money moves quickly, as quickly, and as efficiently as possible. And I'm really proud of the team for being able to execute on that. And by the way, these are both politicals and careers, uh, which I I just want to lift up.
▶ 0:45:30And I want to thank you for increasing funding to reimburse states for food safety inspections. Oklahoma administers top-notch food safety inspections and I know my constituents back home view it as a great example of the federal government working in tandem with the state.
▶ 0:45:45Madam Secretary, what additional steps do you think Congress needs to take to ensure that state food inspection programs run smoothly and that the funds USDA released are and of course the funds are greatly appreciated, but there is a role here in Congress to ensure the longevity of cooperative partnerships and state programs.
▶ 0:46:04I think that it continues to be of paramount importance, especially as I mentioned in my opening remarks, I think as ranking member Craig mentioned, I think as chairman uh Thompson mentioned that food security is national security. And just last week, if you weren't tracking, we arrested uh someone that potentially had come in across the borders with some agot terrorism uh products that could potentially have really disrupted our food supply.
▶ 0:46:29So, the food safety inspection system specific to the states continues to be a priority. And again, anecdotally, if you see something different or have suggestions, please let me know. Top of the list for us. And my last thought is, thank you for the very aggressive approach on the screworm flies. Yeah. Being a livestock producer in Oklahoma, not that far from your stomping grounds, we are really close to the problem right now. We're really close.
▶ 0:46:55I'll be making a major announcement next week on the very next step which will be probably more aggressive than anyone in recent history uh on the new world screwworm and I think you and hopefully the entire committee will be very pleased. And my constituents say thank you. Yield back, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, sir. Gentleman yields back. Now recognized Mr. David Scott from Georgia for 5 minutes. Thank you.
▶ 0:47:15Uh, chairman, Madame Secretary, you have advocated stopping the funding going to the 1890s colleges and universities. Do you realize the damage, and evil that you have done?
▶ 0:47:45Well, first of all, your premise is completely wrong. In the last administration, I was in President Trump's West Wing, and fully funding the H.B.CU was my project. I stood in the Oval Office when that happened. I uh to date continue to be alongside President Trump, one of the biggest advocates for our H.B.CU and our 1890 projects. So, I'm not sure what information you have, sir, but that is definitely not me. And you can look at my long history of supporting uh that those efforts. I think they're very important.
▶ 0:48:14So, if I understand you correctly, you support this vital program. You have not frozen or advocated freezing. No, the money. No, you are full steam ahead. Full steam ahead. Now, we are looking at every program at USDA.
▶ 0:48:39So as part of the larger effort to analyze and evaluate, yes, but no, our support is paramount for those projects, the president has been unequivocal in his support and we will continue in that direction. So in February, you did not advocate suspending funding for the 1890s student scholarship program. Not in total, sir.
▶ 0:49:09It was part of the larger review of every program including the farming program to ensure that we were using taxpayer dollars to their highest and best use. Okay. The reason that I'm very concerned about this is that this is the most significant Democrat and Republican program here.
▶ 0:49:36Not only do we support it, but this committee voted to increase the funding to 200 to a hundred million from the $80 million that we got in the last farm bill. We need you to help us secure that. This is the most important product.
▶ 0:50:05Let me tell you why this is so important There was a general in the Civil War that devastated the South.
▶ 0:50:19William Dempsa Sherman went through here and But this same general laid out the program for revitalization of the South.
▶ 0:50:38And he went to President Lincoln and said, "In each of the Confederate States, we're going to put land grant colleges." It is the land. It is the economy. It is the strength of the south and they put forward this program.
▶ 0:51:06there was no room for the community until in 1890s they brought forth the separate but equal doctrine. Everywhere they had put the white land grant schools. they had to put the black ones and that is the growth of this. So I wanted to share with the history.
▶ 0:51:34I'm glad that you are on our team and helping us. This is great news. Thank you sir. Thank you for that. And I'll say I'm a proud graduate of Texas A&M University and spent a good amount of time at Prairie View A&M about f 45 minutes away. I'm really proud of that school. In fact, our vice chancellor of Texas A&M and head of the A school, Jeff Sable, is here. He was my meats professor 30 years ago at Texas A&M, now running the whole kitten kaboodleoodle.
▶ 0:52:04So, no, we remain very committed and understand and I'm a graduate of the great alma mada Florida&M University. Yes, sir. I wouldn't be here if they didn't give me that scholarship. Yes, sir. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Gentlemen, his time is expired. U this Penn State land grant university graduate rec recognizes Mr.
▶ 0:52:31Austin Scott from Georgia for five years. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Madam Secretary. I appreciate your commitment to the 1890 colleges. That's important to all of us. It has historically been done in a very bipartisan manner. And uh I might also mentioned that my colleague David Scott, I believe you were in school with a Donald J. Trump at one point of your life. Is that correct? Yes, at the Wharton School of Finance and he helped to get that scholarship program.
▶ 0:52:58It was under his administration that we passed. Very committed. Okay. Very I want to uh I want to I want to bring this up, Madam Secretary, and I'm asking you for your help with this and I want and what I'm asking for is transparency in this.
▶ 0:53:13And so you'll you'll recall that in the U American Rescue Plan uh there was $3 billion that was put in for people and if you owed any money to the USDA, you were going to receive 120% of whatever your loan balance was. Uh there there was one race that was excluded from that payment. The courts ruled that it was unconstitutional that you could not discriminate and exclude uh a race from those payments.
▶ 0:53:41That money was that I think it was four out of four federal judge judges said you could not exclude based on race. Then uh so that same money was then transferred into uh the inflation reduction act. And in the inflation reduction act they did two things. One of them was the farm loan uh borrowers relief program. And basically how any loan who was more than 60 days late got brought current.
▶ 0:54:09So, if you were five years late on your farm payment, you got five years worth of payments plus the next payment made. Uh, now if you cashed in your retirement plan to make your farm payment, um, you didn't get anything. But anyway, they brought those loans current and uh, plus 60 days. And my understanding is there's questions around the 1099. uh it is clearly taxable income since there was not a bankruptcy and just want to make sure that we're working with the IRS.
▶ 0:54:40My understanding is two separate 1099s may have been issued on that and making sure that uh that is taxable income by law. Uh but then uh there was about $2.2 billion that was paid out. Um and there were discrimination over 40% of those payments went to people who had never farmed. and they were ranged between5 and $500,000 in the payments.
▶ 0:55:08And my understanding is a third-party vendor was used to make the of discrimination or not discriminated against. And that third party vendor no longer exists, nor did they exist prior to the program being put in. 50% of the payments went to Alabama and Almost 50% of the payments didn't go to went to people that never farmed.
▶ 0:55:32And I just I I just want to make sure that we're looking into this and where those payments went to, who they went to, and that uh and it's going to be public record who received those payments and and so I've met with your people. Just any comments on that would be appreciated, but just again looking for a commitment to continue to work to find out if there was fraud in those in those payments.
▶ 0:55:56Congressman, what I have seen in the last 118 days since I was sworn in uh in in fe midFebruary blown my mind. It is stunning the amount of money that was pushed out in the last USDA without accountability, without understanding of where it was going that just the pure sums are absolutely mind-boggling.
▶ 0:56:23So, we are working feverishly to try to get our arms around it and we'll continue to do so. And I would so welcome your partnership in that as we're moving that forward. But yes, you have my 100% I want to know who owned who was the vendor that got paid the 10% of that money. That's a lot of money that someone got paid. Uh next, can you just give us an update on the block grant applications process? I represent the state of Georgia.
▶ 0:56:48As you know, we were devastated by the storms, but if you could update us on the block grants, I would very much appreciate that. Yes, sir. Uh, the block grants are moving forward. Georgia has been at the front of the line. They have been extremely efficient. Uh, their leadership has been great. Tyler Harper and the whole team there. We've met with your team from Georgia four different times. That money is likely to move uh in the next week or two.
▶ 0:57:14Thank Thank you very much and I look very much forward to you in making sure that there is no fraud uh or criminal activity in in that other payment program. Great sir. We'll follow up with that. Thank you. That gentleman yields back now. Recognized gentleman from California, Mr. Clauser, for five minutes. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman and the ranking member for this important hearing. Thank you, Secretary Rollins, for being here. Um it's good to see you again since the swearing in and I want to remind you that uh the offer I made then and still stands.
▶ 0:57:43would like you to come out to California and show you some of the most productive agricultural land in the country. Last year, 59.5 billion dollars at the farm gate, the largest agricultural state in the nation. Has been for decades. I believe and I think maybe there's a large consensus in this room that food food is a national security issue. Doesn't often get treated that way, but it is.
▶ 0:58:07Um, I know from a lot of perspectives, not only the people that I represent, but I'm a third generation family farmer uh in California. And um, I think it's important to note that California has over 70,000 farms. Ranches are remarkably uh, productive. Um, 70% of these farms are less than 100 acres. 89% are less than 500 acres.
▶ 0:58:30Yet we produce 50% of the nation's fruits and vegetables, 80% of the citrus production, 20% of the milk supply, and more than 400 different agriculture commodities. It's truly an amazing story. This food production goes towards supporting nearly 5 million America 5 million Californians who rely on SNAP um who are food insecure as a part of the 47 uh million Americans that also rely on SNAP as their food safety net.
▶ 0:58:59And I think we need to work together if we're going to get this farm bill done. That's the bottom line. That's what we've always done in years past. Uh and our farmers and ranchers want to provide for our neighbors and communities and not cut them off from the dinner table. That being said, Madam Secretary, I have a couple questions. High path aven flu hit the uh entire country. Uh in California, the dairy industry and the poultry industry were hard hit. We know it's important that we follow science. You said that in your testimony.
▶ 0:59:29Uh I think it's important for all of those impacted by the aven flu that we go forward with a production of a vaccine uh being mindful of our trading partners. Uh I have a bipartisan letter here, Mr. Chairman. I'd like to submit for the record uh on the high path aven flu. Without objection. Thank you. Um I would like to know whether or not you're committed to continuing to work on a vaccination program for the dairy industry. Madam Secretary, I am.
▶ 0:59:56Uh, one quick clarification uh to my friend from Georgia, the crack team behind me, uh, Mr. Scott, we will be finalizing the agreement for Georgia next week. The money will move in July. So, I just wanted to to make sure to clarify, but yes, sir, we remained wholly wholly committed uh to looking down every single path under every single hood, doing everything we can on this high path to try to contain it. It obviously has jumped to the dairy industry, could jump again to another industry. It's it's of paramount importance we do that.
▶ 1:00:25The possibility that it could affect humans is I think a great concern to all of us. Let me go on. That's exactly right. Uh next next question involves market assistance for specialty program crops. I've had a number of farmers in my area that have applied for that uh where there's been confusion with the FSA offices. Uh they're still reaching out to determine whether or not the payments from the market assistance specialty crop program are going to take place. Could you comment on this? I will. I want to make sure I get it right.
▶ 1:00:54So, let me flip in my handy dandy little folder here. Uh, we have allocated uh $2.65 billion to this program. So, it is a significant priority. That's what I wanted to check. For the purpose of my time, why don't we follow through with your office on these constituents who've been calling my office and we can try to resolve this problem. That would be great. We would welcome that. Food for Peace has been an important bipartisan effort since its inception in 1954.
▶ 1:01:21I'm very disappointed on what happened with USI aid uh and I don't know how uh you folks are going to uh be able to implement the responsibility as the president has outlined. Uh do you agree the program should continue for USDA, it's uh not only helps people who are food insecure uh throughout the world, it helps America's uh view uh and it helps American agriculture. What's your position on that? Yeah.
▶ 1:01:50Well, we are re-evaluating all of it. I will tell you that we have 14 of the food for progress projects remain active in 17 countries and funded. So, the ones that align with the America first agenda, the ones that make sense to put America first and for our community, we are continuing those and that is the rea, you know, the reorganization and the refocus the president asked us to do and to the American people. More discussion to car carry on here. also um research research I think has been an important component with our land grant universities.
▶ 1:02:21Uh I will talk to you later and send you a letter but they're important programs at USDA stations working together with California agriculture and I'm very concerned about the reduction of these research programs. They've done so much for so many. The research programs continue to be a priority. What we are looking at that the ones that don't um aren't as effective, the facilities are behind. They don't make sense. It's a it's a waste of taxpayer dollars.
▶ 1:02:46But overall, the USDA remains extremely committed to the important research that our land grants do and partake. You'll see an extension and expansion in some of that time, but ensuring that it makes sense to be continued. Thank you, Madam Speaker. Thank you so much and look forward to to connecting with your office specifically on the specialty crops. Now, please recognize the gentleman from Tennessee, Dr. Deser, for five minutes. Thank you, Chairman, and and thank you, Secretary Rollins, for being here today.
▶ 1:03:12Uh farmers across Tennessee and the nation want America to be healthy and are a critical part of the solution, but are also very concerned about the Make America Healthy Again Commission's reports potential implications on the agriculture industry uh specifically relating to pesticides and herbicides. Uh unfortunately, the report sews seeds of doubt about our food system and the hardworking farmers who feed the planet.
▶ 1:03:39On top of that, outside USDA's participation on the commission, our boots on the ground farmers weren't included in the development of the report. Do you have plans to remedy this and make certain farmers are not only included but are at the center of the discussion and decisions moving forward? My commitment is just that and I have worked um and have been unequivocal on the record how important these crop protection programs are, pesticides specifically, uh glyphosate and others.
▶ 1:04:08more specifically and the president has as well. So, we will continue that. There's no doubt that we could um do better on the next report and uh and and my commitment is to do everything I can to ensure that our a community is better represented. Well, I know that'll make Tennessee Farm Bureau very happy as well as many other Farm Bureau and farmers. So, thank you for that. Uh I there's probably no industry with more uncertainty than agriculture, but there is one certainty in this committee.
▶ 1:04:36There will always be vigorous and lively debate over the SNAP program. And I've been trying to get answers to a question for for years now about SNAP eligibility for non-citizens. And your USDA manual has a list of of 15 criteria for uh noncitizen groups uh such as refugees, individuals granted asylum, Cuban Haitian entrance, uh all children under 18.
▶ 1:05:03Uh so we're often told that it's very difficult to be a uh recipient of SNAP if you're not a legal citizen. But according to USDA's own policy that would appear that that's not necessarily the case. Uh a number that we hear and I'm sure it's a moving target is about 42 million Americans are on SNAP. Is that still a good number? That's the correct number. Okay.
▶ 1:05:27And can you tell me roughly what percentage of citiz non-American citizens are on the SNAP program. Well, it should be zero. If it's not, we're moving that direction. About a month ago, we put out a very significant statement on this. Uh this is news to me. We are running it down right now and we'll circle back. Okay. But I'm sure that you can see the copy of the eligibility and it's uh immediate eligibility with no waiting period for the group and there's 15.
▶ 1:05:56I didn't read them all, but uh I I and I guess I just want to know where that money comes from because we have to create a farm bill. I'm an advocate of the SNAP program. When I bring this up, people think I'm anti-SNAP. That's not true. Don't want anyone to go hungry. I I I want everybody who who needs to be fed to be fed. And you know, I think one issue we've we've uh argued over during reconciliation was able-bodied people who can work work with many exceptions.
▶ 1:06:23And uh I think it was misrepresentative who those people were because we make it uh make it pretty clear that if you're disabled, if you're pregnant mother, if you have young children, if you're elderly, uh you know, this doesn't apply to you. But it's a it's an issue that is is pretty well received across all political spectrums, whether you're Democrat, independent, or Republican. Roughly about 80% of all those groups think that able-bodied people who can work should work. And I hope that that's something we can get in the farm bill.
▶ 1:06:53But I would actually like to see a number if all children under 18 that are in this country illegally and we had 20 million people cross the border in the past four years. I don't know what maybe 25% were under 18. According to these guidelines, they are eligible without a waiting period on SNAP. So I would really like to get some clarity as we write a farm bill and try to budget for the nutrition program. uh you know just what part uh of the pie that consumes.
▶ 1:07:23Sir, I'm told that that language you're reading is congressional language out of the congressional statute. So that is something that would need to be fixed by this body. Uh but we are obviously looking at it and certainly within our own USDA ensuring that uh American taxpayer dollars support Americans. And I would like to think that most people would like to see their American tax dollars go to American citizens and then if there is some other solution to deal with the immigration problem we now face, then we need to know what that is.
▶ 1:07:53But we need to know what those numbers are as we plan our farm bill. One other thing I think is important just because this is such an important conversation is that we did ask for the first time of any Republican or Democrat USDA for the exact data that you are asking for from the states because the states are are implementing this. So hopefully we will for the first time be able to answer. Thank you Madam Secretary. Gentle gentleman's time is expired. Now recognize gentleman from Massachusetts, Mr. McGovern for five minutes. Thank you.
▶ 1:08:21Uh Madam Secretary, I I have to be honest. Um, I'm deeply troubled by what this administration and this Congress are doing to so many programs uh that help vulnerable people and small farms. You know, we live in the richest country in the history of the world. We have 47 million Americans who are hungry or food insecure. Uh uh it is that's a scandal. Uh and hunger is getting worse um under this administration. Uh we actually spent a few years uh developing a roadmap for ending hunger in this country.
▶ 1:08:49The Biden Harris administration hosted the second ever bipartisan White House conference on hunger, nutrition, and health. And out of it came a national strategy that called upon every sector of society to do their part to end hunger once and for all. And now congressional Republicans are cutting food programs indiscriminately uh with apparent support from the Trump administration. I mean, the administration has already taken $500 million away from food banks.
▶ 1:09:13And President Trump's budget goes after WIC, slashing the food budgets of of pregnant women, breastfeeding moms, and young kids. Meanwhile, your department has cut farmer programs, too, like the local food for schools program, uh, local food purchase assistance program, and the Ley Farmtoschool program. Your department has frozen funds obligated to farmers, canceled signed contracts, and purged career staff who work directly with our with our farmers.
▶ 1:09:39And internationally, this administration is torching our global food security programs like food for peace and the McGovern Dole Food for Education and Child Nutrition program. They're both eliminated um in the White House budget. Uh you you you said that food security is national security. It's mindboggling that the administration would cut those programs. uh and um and China is filling the void. Uh the bottom line is that these cuts are hurting people.
▶ 1:10:04They're hurting consumers, uh hungry people, local our local economy, and hurting our farmers. And so, Madam Secretary, I'd urge you to read the national strategy that came out of the White House conference on hunger, nutrition, and health. And I hope I can persuade you to to make meaningfully combating hunger uh a priority because things are going in the wrong direction. But today I I need to talk about what small farmers in my state of Massachusetts are up against. We've been losing uh family farms in America over the last 50 years.
▶ 1:10:33And there are a lot of reasons for it and it's complicated. But what should not be complicated is whether USDA has a responsibility to do something to try to stop it. Um over the years we've heard from secretaries of agriculture like Earl Buts who said to farmers get big or get out or your predecessor Sunny Purdue who said quote in America get big. Uh, in America, the big get bigger and the small go out. I couldn't believe he said that. Um, I guess a simple yes or no question.
▶ 1:10:59Do you agree with uh with that No, sir. I do not agree with that. And in fact, we rolled out a significant small family farm program three weeks ago across the board, ensuring that these farmers can survive and thrive like never before. Well, let me just read. You know, I'm relieved to hear you say that you don't share that philosophy because right now small farmers in New England are counting on you. Right.
▶ 1:11:23Appropriations ranking member Rosa Deluro and I teamed up uh at the end of last year to craft a disastrous supplemental package specifically targeted to help small specialty crop farmers in our region, plus Alaska and Hawaii, who need to be made whole after catastrophic infrastructure and crop losses. In the last few years, we've had unprecedented floods, freezes, and storms, and our farmers are at risk of losing everything. The modern farm safety net does not catch them. It was woven uh for farms that are much bigger or only grow a few crops.
▶ 1:11:53Traditional diversified operations, meaning uh local fruit and veggie farms that feed their communities, do not have any safety net because uh the federal government has never adequately created one for them. When disaster strikes, they're on their own. That's why we created this farm recovery and support block grant to finally change that. I'm terribly concerned right now with how your department has been making decisions about the rollout of the program so far.
▶ 1:12:19Um, and I hope that you'd agree that farmers are not bureaucrats or politicians in Washington should be deciding um on on which disaster relief programs best meet their needs. I know there's ongoing conversations between state agriculture commissioners and the department, but I'd urge you to listen to the ad commissioners. And I I would just ask you to that u you not a trick question.
▶ 1:12:38I I I I hope I I I wish you will you commit to working with us and our state agriculture commissioners to make sure that our we don't leave our small farmers behind because this is a really big concern in Massachusetts and throughout New England. Yes, sir. And have had multiple conversations with uh Congresswoman Deloro and your a commissioners. We've met with your state uh eight different times on this and we'll be uh rolling that out very very quickly. Yeah.
▶ 1:13:03I think there's a concern based on some of these conversations that the USDA is not quite understanding the uniqueness of some of these smalls in New England. Um and and a lot of them are afraid that they will um not qualify for any relief. And again, we we we passed this in the supplemental bill. We put in the supplemental bill to address these needs of these small farmers. Yes, Gentleman yields back. Now recognize gentleman from California, Mr. Lalfa for five minutes.
▶ 1:13:34Thanks for joining us, Madam Secretary. Appreciate you being here and uh we've got a lot to do. Um as you know, we have very large and destructive wildfires all over the west, especially in my districts in Cal in California, the Paradise Fire, the Dixie Fire, 1 million acres, it's on and on. Uh so we know the overgrowth of fuel and the declining forest health due to the over overcrowding of the tree population is a big part of that. So where's the overgrowth of fuel come from? Lack of management.
▶ 1:14:04What we also have as an issue is unkempt roads on federal lands make it basically where you can't even enter whether private lands or forest service roads. We have the problem with these blocked roads. One of the areas I highlight or low light is a mendescino national forest in Northern California. And last couple decades 97% of that unit has burned. Think about them. 97% of a given forest has burned in a not that long period of time.
▶ 1:14:35So what the issue is is they're not maintaining their roads. So therefore, private parties can't get on their land. Forest service, if they decide they're going to do any work, can't get on the land. And they'll tell us that, well, we don't have enough money in the pot to maintain the roads, but they have the money in the rest of the pots to do other things that they can't do. So maybe they need to move the moving from the money from the other pot to getting the roads fixed first so we could even enter the lands. So that's some of the frustration there.
▶ 1:15:00Last Congress, we were told in a field hearing that u by the Forest Service, we have more money than we've ever had, I think, after some of the spending programs under the Biden administration. Yet in the same sense, say we need more money in order to process a particular uh sale that is being talked about. So do we have any idea where the money is going to be spent and overall to do uh catastrophic fire prevention in Forest Service? Do you see much happening there? Well, 100%.
▶ 1:15:29And I was in the Oval Office yesterday with the president uh talking about this very issue. You'll see something else uh coming out tomorrow from the White House on this very issue. We are 96% full on our hiring for the fire season, which again is ahead of where Biden was a year ago. So, if there's a narrative that, you know, we're we're not fully funding, it couldn't be more wrong.
▶ 1:15:50We're already have an 8% plus timber increase in production with a goal of getting to four billion acre feet over the next few years which will solve for so much of this. So this president is am very encouraged by his interest in this and I think we're going to be able to really make some real progress for the first time in 30 years. Thanks so much.
▶ 1:16:11We really really need it because we're way behind on 193 million acres that forest service has under their purview and that uh some of these units are proud of a few loads of firewood not the amount of board you need to need to be moving. Let me talk about specialty crops real quick here too. California we have lots of ammons, walnuts, prunes, peaches. Many things that are grown in California aren't grown anywhere else in the US uh or in any significant number.
▶ 1:16:35So, I'm really pleased that the market assistant for specialy crops that you're boosting that significantly, which means a lot for helping move these products since if we don't grow them in California, we're probably going to have to import them from somewhere. That's right. So, how's how's the timeline going for the continued roll out of the mask program? We are moving uh very very quickly. Of course, everything is under review uh in partnership with the White House.
▶ 1:16:59And so uh we're currently in review phase, but hopefully very soon that second trunch will begin to move understanding how important this is, especially for the smaller farms which really reflect the specialty crop industry. Well, I'm excited for that tunch. Thank you. You're welcome. One final question uh thought here on the north coast just above the Bay Area, there's this uh Point Reya Seashore National Park. I'm pretty sure you're aware what's going on.
▶ 1:17:26We had longtime multi- five or six generation farmers and ranchers there that were approached in about 1960 because the government wanted their land to form a park. They finally struck a deal. They hey, we'll sell after a lot of browbeating and threaten imminent domain. They said, "Okay, we'll sell you the land, but we would like to lease it back and farm it and ranch it for dairies, beef, and like that." And they're these are organic growers. These are very responsible growers that are taking care of that land.
▶ 1:17:53They've been over the decades worn down and finally are being kicked off the land unless folks in the administration can help prevent this from happening. And so I beg you and working with Secretary Bergam on that to help preserve these dairies and beef operations because they actually maintain the land. I've I've seen uh talk where that the park service as soon as they've accomplished kicking them off, they're going to have to hire somebody to graze the land like their own manager to graze it anyway.
▶ 1:18:23Makes no sense. So, we have uh you know them drifting out by lawsuit after lawsuit. Yes, sir. Because they have to get NEPAs and things. They used to get 20-year leases from the park service. The park service has got giant issues there. Not completely your bailey wick, but I know you want to support. Thank you for helping with that and for helping make sure agriculture can thrive as these responsible folks are doing. Yes, sir. Um I'm sorry, Mr. Chairman. Just let me say I have just become very aware of this issue in the last month and am very focused on it. I had a briefing on it yesterday.
▶ 1:18:53I would love to talk to you uh maybe tomorrow and get a full download uh as I'd like to get out to California very soon and go meet with them. Thanks so much. We'd love to have you out. Yes, sir. Thank you. Gentleman's time is expired. Now recognize Dr. Adams from North Carolina for 5 minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Madam Secretary, for being here. And uh let me just say how delighted I was to hear about your support for H.B.CU. I am H.B.CU strong.
▶ 1:19:20I'm a proud um graduate twice of North Carolina ENT State University in 1890 and the largest public H.B.CU in the nation. Uh but let me just uh move on. So, I'm happy to hear what you said about that and we'll look forward to your support. Uh, but the the House Republicans uh budget uh proposes shifting SNAP benefit and administrative costs to states. I served on in the state house North Carolina for 20 years.
▶ 1:19:49So, I know the the challenges that they have. So the CBO anticipate that these cuts could lead to states to cut all or some food assistance for for 1.3 million Americans due to the the cost shift. Is that right? Yes or no? I'm sorry, ma'am. You're talking about that that that that the shifting will might cause states to uh to cut all of some food assistance. Oh, currently under consideration.
▶ 1:20:16Well, the partnership and the idea of the states, we spend $400 million a day. what USDA and that partnership I think is really important and that's what the leadership of this committee Let me let me do this. I've got a series of questions and they're pretty much yes or no. So are you in support of of of these unfunded I am in support of the most fiscally responsible effort to ensure that we're delivering the right amount of aid to the people who need it. Okay.
▶ 1:20:43So, let me just say that the the the CBO has confirmed that this is an unfunded mandate and the states have confirmed it as well as as um our counties and and Mr. Chairman, I'd like to enter into the record a letter uh from the North Carolina Association of County Commissioners that speak to that issue. Uh Madam Secretary, without objection. Thank you. Uh, Madam Secretary, are you aware of reports uh from uh USDA that show that food insecurity has risen three years in a row?
▶ 1:21:13Yes or no? Ma'am, we have $42 million on the SNAP program at this point of of employment and unemployment. The last time we had 17 million. So, that program has exponentially Can you give me a yes or Okay. Well, my time is Let me let me just move on then. Okay.
▶ 1:21:32So, are you aware um uh that uh recent USDA reports show that grocery prices are expected to increase by 3.3% this year. Inflation has gone down for the first time since the last Trump administration was here. So, that will directly reflect. I don't suppose I'm going to get one.
▶ 1:21:52But anyway, uh we listen um we should not be taking food assistance from families, revenue from our farmers and rural rural economies and any at any time, but especially not as costs are so high and expected to rise further. SNAP is is an effective economic stabilizer during downturns with every dollar generating as high as a a dollar 80 cent economic impact during these downturns.
▶ 1:22:23So shifting costs to to the states removes that economic stabilizing impact because states will see their tax base decrease substantially at exactly the moment when more spending is is most needed. So my next question, it is a yes or no if you can do that.
▶ 1:22:42Uh are you in favor of removing this economic benefit especially for rural and small town cities and and the farmers who benefit from the sale of their produce in these towns? No one in America should go hungry. So of course I'm in support of programs that are effectively run that fill that gap. All right. I I'm not sure if you're saying yes or no, but anyway, let me just say this.
▶ 1:23:08uh states already and I've heard so many people talk about the skin in the game and states do have skin in the game already uh through the 5050 administrative cost share and the current monetary penalty that they face for a too high payment error rate. In fact, Pennsylvania was sanctioned $40 million last year for having a high error rate. So, let me ask uh one last question.
▶ 1:23:34Uh so with fewer staff what we we have suggested for example with that we know that there have been cuts right so with fewer staff and reduced resources will the USDA be able to endure timely and effective support for state agencies as they handle complex policy changes waiverss and investigations into instances of of scheming theft and technical assistance requests to this I can say yes. Okay. Thank you.
▶ 1:24:04You're welcome. So, giving ongoing unfunded and underst staffing in cases in states causing delays in SNAP application processing, is the USDA taking action to help states process applications more quickly? Can you say yes or no? Ma'am, I would need to look into that, but my assumption is yes, that we are doing everything we can to help move that quickly. Okay. Thank you very much. uh the uh the the USDA's 1890 scholars. I'm sorry, ma'am.
▶ 1:24:34Am I Why is the clock still ticking here? Okay. Yes. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chair. All right. I yield back and thank you, ma'am. Madam Secretary, thank you, ma'am. It's all good, Miss Adams. Uh Mr. Crawford, you're now recognized for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um Secretary, thank you for being here. I appreciate you joining us today. A lot of important issues, not the least of which is national security for our nation's food supply and our producers.
▶ 1:24:57Before the recent news of two Chinese nationals smuggling what many believe to be a weapon of aggro terrorism, I had a conversation with DNI Gabbard about getting USDA office opened and staffed with IC personnel to begin working with you and others to address matters like this when they when they come up and hopefully before they ever make it to our borders. I know you'll work closely with DNI Gabbard as a matter of national importance. This is a new authority that we tried to get um in place under the previous administration. It took us years to get to this point.
▶ 1:25:27So, I hope that we'll be aggressive and these incidents really underscore the need for it. Agreed. I'll do everything I can. Please feel free to call me if you think there's more I can do. Absolutely. I appreciate that. Um, recently the National Security Commission on Emerging Biotechnology issued a salient report on multitude of issues facing our A and biotech sector.
▶ 1:25:46And when you think about areas that need the most attention in our country like our supply chains, specialized subject matter expertise, bios surveillance and bioweapons and the gaps that exist at USDA, um how do you prior prioritize those personally and how can we here in Congress help you fill those gaps? I think it is of utmost importance. You'll hear from USDA in the coming week, in fact, in a coming couple of days, a renewed, elevated, and amplified focus on just that.
▶ 1:26:12how we work across this government under Donald Trump to ensure we're addressing all of this at warp speed aggressively to solve for it. It really is a national security issue and uh making sure that people understand what's at stake I think is really important. Well, and and I'm glad we had an opportunity to talk about this and make sure that you were aware of that authority that does exist in statute that was not acted on in the previous administration.
▶ 1:26:36It is most definitely a priority as we've seen in the news uh lately and we don't want to get caught flatfooted on these incidents of potential bio terrorism, agro terrorism. Uh let me shift gears on you just for in the remaining three minutes that I have. Um I'm from Arkansas. You may already know this. I represent the largest rice growing district in the country in addition to lots of you know soy, corn, wheat, etc. Rice farmers and rice mills in my district directly benefit from the bulk shipments that are part of the food for progress program.
▶ 1:27:08um and you know that ships rice, wheat, other commodities in bulk um in international aid. I know the Trump administration has taken a hard look at all foreign aid programs to ensure they are functioning as originally intended, which includes serving as a market for producers. I was pleased to see the McGovern Dole applications open up a few weeks ago for the 2025 funding. Do you have any timeline when we might see food for progress uh when that might be announced?
▶ 1:27:32I know we have 14 current active food for progress projects going on right now in 17 countries. Uh yes, you're right. May 9th was the McGovern Dole announcement. Let me find out the exact date on that, sir. Probably during the next question and I'll respond immediately. Perfect. Thank you so much. And I don't have any further questions, so I will yield back. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Thank you, sir. Chair now recognizes Miss Brown. Five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Ranking Member Craig.
▶ 1:27:59Uh, Secretary Rollins, thank you for appearing before the committee today to talk about what's been happening over at USDA for the past six months. Um, I want to start by asking you some questions about the Make America Healthy Again movement and the MAHA report that your agency alongside the Department of Health and Human Services released last month. Um, Secretary Rollins, did you personally review the MAHA report prior to its publication on May 22nd? Yes, I did. Okay.
▶ 1:28:26Since you reviewed the report before publication, did you notice the report cited non-existent studies or that there were a number of missing or broken links or that the report misrepresented underlying studies? And if so, why did you not ensure they were corrected before the report was published? And if not, do you take responsibility for the work the agency publishes on your behalf without your review? Those have all been solved, but thank you for uh the note.
▶ 1:28:53See, what I'm concerned about here is making sure that our children in our country are actually healthier. And I welcome this conversation with my colleagues and the administration. But sound policy actually follows sound science. And right now, we're not all working from the same set of facts.
▶ 1:29:09So as you move toward the August deadline for the second report, I strongly encourage you to follow the science, not to jump to conclusions and to rebuild trust by ensuring transparency, accuracy, and meaningfully engaging scientists, our agricultural and nutritional stakeholders. So turning to another area, you're welcome. Turning to another area of concern, I want to talk about the quarterly agriculture trade report. Earlier this year, you indicated the report would release be released on May 29th.
▶ 1:29:39Yet, it was ultimately published several days late and without the usual explanatory section. It had been reported that you delayed the report because it showed an increase in the trade deficit in farm goods for later this year. So, Secretary Rollins, why was the report delayed and incomplete? And was the delay related to the report showing a worsening trade deficit in farm goods? I will look into that and get back to you.
▶ 1:30:05It's my understanding that we wanted to make sure it was complete, that the citations were correct, and that the review was done in total. Of course, I've only been on the job 118 days with 100,000 employees and multiples of these reports moving all the time directly out of USDA, but uh but we'll look into that and circle back. So, did your team remove the explanatory text from the report specifically because it attributed to the growing trade deficit to the Trump administration's tariff regime?
▶ 1:30:34It is my understanding that that was not the case, but we'll look into that. Uh, I think the president has been very forwardleaning on understanding that we're in some time of uncertainty, but as these trade deals continue to get done, China announced about an hour ago, the UK two weeks ago, more coming. uh that that's going to be a really important part of the conversation moving forward. I want to make sure every piece of research we move out is the best um the best cited etc.
▶ 1:31:00And uh and so that's a big part of my portfolio right now is to ensure that I'm glad you um mentioned insert uncertainty because economists, farmers, and others rep rely on reports like this to track markets and plan for the future. When you start to insert politics into data releases, you harm the reputation of your department and erode the trust the government uh is trying to produce when it has untainted data.
▶ 1:31:24So, Secretary Robins, will you commit to publishing data and reports that are complete and free from tampering of the underlying data? We just have to make sure our internal review process is in place, but yes, we will work around the clock to ensure it is the correct data that gets out at the right time to make the most impact for our farmers and ranchers. I appreciate that. I expect my colleagues and I will continue this conversation because the stakes are simply too high for those who fuel and feed our nation.
▶ 1:31:51At a time when chaos reigns from this administration, our farmers deserve certainty and support from Washington, not uncertainty and spend. So thank you. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Jelly yields back. Now recognizes the gentleman from Mississippi, Mr. Kelly, for five minutes. Madam Secretary, thank you for your time today. and a sincere thank you to President Trump and your team at USDA for putting American farmers back at the heart of our national agriculture policy.
▶ 1:32:19Under President Trump's leadership, we no longer focused on entry rhetoric. We're advancing policies that actually deliver real results for producers like mine in Mississippi. And I hope that when you visit Mississippi in the very near future, you will uh make a chance to go to Mississippi State University, which is our great land grant university, which also has a great veterinary program and a lot of a research there. So, I hope uh we're trying to make sure we get you up there. So, I met with your president yesterday. I know. Okay.
▶ 1:32:49So, he told me I better put that in or he would uh not support me anymore. I have a cowbell to prove it. For the record, I really appreciate uh last year we fought real hard on this committee uh to get 10 billion to get it to our farmers to keep many of them from going under this year. I really appreciate your rapid response to getting that money out and having policy to make sure that our farmers and the lenders for our our farmers can actually lend. Yes.
▶ 1:33:18There's another 21 billion in economic assistance that is coming through uh the emergency disaster relief. What are your plans to quickly distribute that money because we're still in dire need in farm country? Yeah, that's going to be well, we've already started moving that. The first 1 billion moved about a week ago uh into the livestock uh through the livestock program. The block grants are moving right now. Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia will be in the next eight or so weeks.
▶ 1:33:48Uh the rest of those we're negotiating with, of course, the 220 million on the New England states, uh as our friends, uh on the Democrat side have brought up a couple of times. I'm in constant communication with those a commissioners. If you see something though, uh Congressman, that you don't believe we're moving quickly enough, you're hearing that it's too complicated, please just let me know. We're solving for that every day. And then I know you've talked plenty uh about this, but unfortunately I have another secretary in another hearing at the same time.
▶ 1:34:17Uh the Secretary of the Navy. Yes. Uh but on the screworm, what are we doing to make sure it it is going to devastate? I'm in Mississippi and especially in South Mississippi is rapidly moving. Uh what are we doing to ensure that it does not get to our shores because we need to stop it before it gets here because it will devastate herds if it gets here. No, there's no doubt.
▶ 1:34:39And as you may or may not know, but good for the entire committee to hear, we shut down the ports of entry uh about two to three weeks ago, much to the chagrin of my counterpart in Mexico, Secretary Bertigay uh and their administration. We had call after call after call of them uh really asking us to reconsider, reconsider, reconsider. But that screw had moved from within,00 miles of our border to 700 miles of our border within a matter of weeks.
▶ 1:35:05As you know, in the 1950s when it hit, it took 30 years for the livestock community to recover from that. I'll have a major announcement next week uh on the very next step on putting the resources, the time, and the effort into continuing to push it back. And I really uh you know, I always say I represent the 1enters, the 1% who serve this nation in uniform, and the 1% who feed the world, uh our farmers.
▶ 1:35:32And I truly believe that because I believe national security is farm security and our ability to produce. That being said, Madam Secretary, I really appreciate you getting uh after the fraud and abuse in the SNAP programs uh to kick people off who shouldn't be on there that are taken away from people who should be not cutting benefits, but cutting the people who shouldn't be getting to start with.
▶ 1:35:56One thing I hope that you will help us on is our H2A and our H2B workers are critical to our farms. The process makes it harder than it should be. We get them notice that they're going to get these workers long after they can use them, especially when you're talking about sweet potatoes or planting or harvesting anything.
▶ 1:36:17What are you going to do to to expedite the process so people who are legally coming here on H2AS or H2Bs can get here quicker, stay longer, and help our farmers? Uh, what are you going to do in that area? Well, and I'd say the fourth thing is the expense of it, right? I mean, in Texas, the citrus producers who even get the H2A workers are averaging $23 an hour and a mile across the border, it's $2 an hour. So, that's that's a big part of it, too. But, but listen, we talked about this a little bit earlier.
▶ 1:36:45I talked to the president about this this morning again yesterday. He is acutely aware of the challenges understanding that the leadership from this committee must continue that Congress has to move forward on a solution working with Lorie Chavez. Because I have one more comment I want to make sir. This deal where a guy who drives a pickup truck and they made a regulation that he drove a pickup truck so now he's a truck driver and gets a different wage. You need to put a stop to all these stupid regulations we got in the last administration and we got to go back. We're working on it. Thank you, sir.
▶ 1:37:15Gentleman, time is I'll be in Mississippi soon for the record. Gentleman, time's expired. Now, recognize gentle lady from Kansas, Miss Davids, for 5 minutes. Thank you, Chairman. Uh, and thank you to Secretary Rollins for being here today. Uh, the USDA plays a vital role in Kansas and across the country, supporting our rural producers, ensuring affordable food, and protecting the safety of our food systems.
▶ 1:37:40Americans rely on USDA every single day, whether they realize it or not, when they fill their grocery carts, when they grab milk from the fridge or drive past farmland that feeds their communities. And uh this is why I'm deeply alarmed by what I consider to be reckless and unjust firings carried out by Doge and the ripple effects that we are seeing in our communities. Because these firings don't just affect federal workers. They threaten food safety.
▶ 1:38:09They stall critical research in places at places like Kansas State University. And they leave farmers and ranchers without the support that they depend on. You know, we can't talk about shared values of improving government efficiency while at the simultaneously pulling the rug out from the very people who keep our food supply running. We you can't eliminate good paying skilled jobs in Kansas City at the same time that our producers are already facing droughts, volatile markets from reckless tariffs, and rising costs.
▶ 1:38:38And this is not just a policy issue. It's it's very personal to the folks uh at home. The Kansas City Metro is home to about 30,000 federal workers, including many of the USDA's Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture. These are neighbors, their families, friends, and certainly they deserve better than chaos. Meanwhile, we're seeing new emerging threats.
▶ 1:39:05Uh we have already discussed today a bit about the new world screworm, which poses a serious risk to Kansas livestock and and even to human health. And I I'm I'm very proud to co-sponsor the bipartisan stop screworms act because we definitely need to be proactive on this. And at the same time, I am deeply concerned about the USDA staffing cuts at the National Bio and Aggro Defense Facility in Manhattan, Kansas.
▶ 1:39:33It's the nation's first biosafety level four lab for livestock. It was built to protect us from the worst animal diseases. And I understand that 28 employees were fired on a single day. Then later, some of those firings were walked back. a similar situation unfolded at the Food Safety and Inspection Service. That kind of instability certainly shakes the foundation of the USDA's mission and puts it puts our food supply, our economy, and the public trust at risk.
▶ 1:40:02So, Secretary Rollins, I'm curious. Were the firings a clerical mistake or did someone have second thoughts about the initial decision to fire these specific people at the NA National Bioagra Defense uh facility? Well, there was a lot there, but let me answer that last question first. Uh, there were no firings. There was a probation period. They were all brought back. I worked with the senators from your state to ensure that was the case. So, if you're hearing differently, will you please let our office know?
▶ 1:40:31But it is my understanding that all of that was unfrozen almost immediately and put back into place. So, uh I guess the the concern is that we're we we've heard about the new world screworm already. Uh during that time, I think the bird flu was one of the bigger concerns that was being kind of mainstream talked about spreading throughout the country. There are other potential animal diseases.
▶ 1:41:00I how could the National Bio and Aggro Defense Facility or even like our food safety and inspection service even be part of the the cho chopping block in the first place? Was there not any discussion about how those decisions were going to be made?
▶ 1:41:16The fact that people were on a were at the facility on one day, told to leave and then told to come back is especially at these specific facilities that are meant to protect us from some of the worst animal diseases that could spread to humans. I'm I'm just curious how that even happened. It clearly was an imperfect process, but one that we moved to rectify within hours, if not days.
▶ 1:41:42One thing I want to make sure you understand though is when President Trump when we left in the first administration, USDA had about 90,000 employees. When we came back four years later, we had 112,000 employees. So working again to realign and refocus and understanding what the priorities are. There is no question that the priority of whether New World Screw Screworm or HPA AI keeping our food supply safe and secure for the world, ensuring our farmers are put first continues to be a priority and my commitment is to ensure that is so.
▶ 1:42:12So if you are hearing anything differently uh please reach out to me directly and we will work to rectify it as we've been doing. Thank you and Mr. Chairman I yield back. Thank you. Thank the gentle lady shields back. I recognize uh Dr. Baird for five minutes. Mr. Chairman I think check your microphone there Jim. I thought it there go. Thank you Mr. Chairman and ranking member.
▶ 1:42:41Secretary Rollins, we really appreciate you being here and it's exciting. It's really exciting to see the things you're doing for agriculture. Thank you. And I want to tell you too, it was great to see you yesterday and thank you for allowing me to be with with Secretary Kennedy and you and Governor Brawn from Indiana and Governor Huckabe Sanders from Arkansas. Uh so I I really feel the feel the work that you're doing and I appreciate uh the hard work you're doing to make America healthy again.
▶ 1:43:11But in order to get to the questions that I'm interested in uh one of the one of the areas uh that I'm going to start with and it was mentioned yesterday uh later this month your department will publish the f the fiscal year 24 SNAP payment error rates and um and I know uh for 23 billion in SNAP payments went out the door erroneously.
▶ 1:43:41uh in fact one in every $10 in SNAP that year was in an overpayment. So it's unacceptable to this body and to the taxpayers and this behavior uh should not continue. So I would like to have uh what what you are doing and what you can do to help alleviate this kind of behavior. Yeah, it was great to have you uh in my office at USDA as well. I would like to invite anyone uh Republican and Democrat to come visit anytime.
▶ 1:44:09I think that the error rate, you say one in$10 dollars, that's what we know of. We think it's probably much higher than that. Uh that is why these efforts are so important. Um we just have had I think three stings in just the last couple of weeks counting for tens of millions of dollars working in concert with the Secret Service and other key investigative agencies including our team at USDA. We will not stop until this is rooted out.
▶ 1:44:35But I think it goes to the bigger question and that is when again the last time we had 42 million uh people or the last time we had this unemployment number in America which is low the last time we had 17 million people on SNAP. Today with the same unemployment number we have 42 million people on SNAP.
▶ 1:44:54So the exponential growth of this program, especially over the last four years, a 40% increase in the last four years, is going to bring with it the fraud and the waste and the abuse that we have got to counter. So look forward to working with you, continuing to work across the US government to root that out. Well, thank you for that effort.
▶ 1:45:15And then my other area goes to another uh u area that is of interest to me in agriculture and that's aggro agricultural biotechnology and in that I include this artificial intelligence uh as well as quantum computing but uh nonetheless that's that's really the forefront of innovation. It enables farmers and ranchers to produce more uh using less resources.
▶ 1:45:41The USDA through the animal and plant health inspection service biotechnology regulatory service plays a key role in enabling the innovation to come to market. So how do we see USDA? How do you feel about helping get this kind of innovation quickly to our farmers and producers? There is no group of people that have been more innovative than our farmers and ranchers over 249 years. None.
▶ 1:46:07And as we have gone and seen this firsthand from basically feeding ourselves to now feeding the world, uh we should be so proud and continue to work so hard to to lift up and and to elevate these incredible men and women. There is no doubt. And what I've seen firsthand in terms of the innovation uh in agriculture is absolutely mindblowing.
▶ 1:46:30So, we will continue to work and uh and find partners in that across the country and uh and to ensure that our farmers and ranchers have everything they need to continue to be the leaders in agriculture around the world. Thank you very much for that perspective and that answer and you know uh I share the view that you have. Agriculture is the foundation of this country and it has been from its very beginning the 249 years you mentioned. So, I really appreciate your perspective and your work in the agricultural arena.
▶ 1:47:00Thank you, sir. Back. Uh, please recognize gentle lady from Oregon, Congresswoman Selenus, for five minutes. Thank you, Chair Thompson, and thank you, Ranking Member Craig, and thank you, Secretary Rollins, for being here today. Madam Secretary, food banks across the country are responding to consistently increasing demand, and Oregon is no exception. Right now, one in eight Oregonians and even more troubling, one in six children are experiencing food insecurity.
▶ 1:47:30Last year alone, visits to Oregon food bank sites surged to a record 2 and a.5 million. This was a 31% increase over the previous year. Despite this overwhelming need, USDA recently canceled 500 million in funding to the Emergency Food Assistance Program or TFAP. That decision led to the cancellation of about 30 full truckloads of food meant to be distributed across our state.
▶ 1:47:53I recently introduced a piece of legislation, the Farmers Feeding America Act to provide a s significant increase to TFAP. And as the title implies, it's critical to remember that federal nutrition programs also benefit our agricultural sector by providing additional revenue streams that they may not otherwise be able um to attain from producers. So this is or was true of the local food purchase assistance um program and the local food for schools and childare programs as well just as it is for SNAP.
▶ 1:48:24These are very simple questions just require a yes or no answer. First, do you acknowledge that the demand at food banks is increasing year-over-year or at least it did over last year? I haven't seen the numbers but I will take you at your word. Okay, thank you. And then do you agree that federal nutrition programs provide an important stream of revenue for America's farmers when executed correctly? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Well, I appreciate your acknowledgement of these basic realities.
▶ 1:48:51Um I am puzzled though why um this administration and my Republican colleagues still seek to cancel and defund these programs despite understanding the critical needs for both those who are hungry as well as for our agricultural sector. Um but I again I do thank you. So, we've heard a great deal from this administration about a mass deportation plans and workplace immigration raids, and we're already seeing the chaos these actions cause across the country.
▶ 1:49:19These operations have swept up not only undocumented individuals, but also legal residents, work visa holders, and even some US citizens. There have been well docu documented cases of individuals with legal protections being wrongly detained or deported sewing fear throughout farm worker and immigrant communities including those in Oregon.
▶ 1:49:38As a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, um the president of the American Farm Bureau, Zippy Duval, warned that these mass deportation plans could put farms out of business and disrupt the food supply at a scale comparable to what we saw during the CO 19 pandemic. Similarly, this committee also held a hearing earlier this year on the state of the economy, and I asked the witnesses, most of which were called to testify by the majority, whether they thought mass deportations would have the same impact that Mr. Duval outlined, and they agreed.
▶ 1:50:08In Oregon, we know how real this threat is. Our state's agricultural sector, from berries to nursery crops to wineries, relies heavily on immigrant labor. And in fact, approximately 73% of Oregon's crop farm workers, the workers who actually pick crops are foreignb born, which mirrors the national average. Further, almost half of these workers are undocumented, which is also close to the national average. Without these workers, Oregon's farms and farms across this nation simply cannot function.
▶ 1:50:38So given these realities, do you agree with the assessment by um Mr. Duval and the witnesses who testified before this committee that mass deportations could upend America's agricultural sector. The president himself uh in a cabinet meeting discussed this. I talked to him about it this morning. Uh there is a recognition that there has to be a balance.
▶ 1:50:59He remains committed to ensuring that no laws are broken, but while realizing that our agriculture community, specifically our dairy farmers, a lot of our rowcroppers, our specialty crops, there is a massive labor issue that we have to work to solve in partnership with Congress. Thank you. All right. The Rural Energy for America program commonly known and as REAp, offers grants and loan guarantees to farmers, ranchers, and rural small businesses for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems.
▶ 1:51:28Since its inception in the bipartisan farm bill in 2008, REAp has provided grants and loans that have helped more than 21,000 farms and 32,710 rural small businesses. I've personally toured multiple operations in my district that have benefited from this program. Unfortunately, these beneficiaries like Oregon Flowers, Inc. in Aurora, Oregon reported that they saw their reap grant funding delayed as part of this administration's ill-advised funding freeze.
▶ 1:51:55Fortunately, I have heard that Oregon Flowers grant has been unfrozen, as have um those for other recipients in the district. Given I've seen the impact of these projects in my districts, I do have a couple of uh questions. I know ranking member Craig and her Senate counterpart sent you a letter asking for an update on REAP funds at the end of April, but have you have yet to respond? Are any REAp grants still unfrozen or frozen? Excuse me. I I am proud to say I think we're completely caught up in all the letters, which is sort of unprecedented. So that that should be solved for.
▶ 1:52:24There should be a letter on their desks um at least as of uh last night. So it may be it may be late. But yes, we have uh fully unfrozen all of those programs again uh in a commitment to the American taxpayer to understand uh the efficiency, the efficacy of all of these programs. We undertook, you know, a lot of uh review, but it is important and those are important to local communities and and uh and worked with some of the leaders in your state specifically. I remember some phone calls and uh and and found them to be very valid. Thank you.
▶ 1:52:54I yield back. Thank you, Congresswoman. Gentle lady's time is expired. Now recognize the gentleman from Nebraska, Mr. Five minutes. I'm an equal opportunity critic of Secretary Rollins as people maybe share, but I want to commend you. You've done a great job today. I think you're doing a great job as Secretary. I think the administration made a great choice in you for Secretary of Agriculture. The first question I want to ask you is it's not you're doing uh the problem, but you can have a hand in helping us uh here. You know, Canada is Nebraska's largest trading partner.
▶ 1:53:23cornerstone of our agriculture economy and we have this agreement USMCA that the president negotiated in his first term. They were in compliance and then we talk about tariffs with dairy but that was written into the USMCA deal and then they gave us tariffs on wood. It was meant to be equal. Uh but the tariffs are hurting us uh with Canada. Also, the talk of the 51st state from the administration has angered so many Canadians.
▶ 1:53:48And I hear from our business leaders in Omaha that they're losing business from Canada that they're saying, "Hey, we don't want to do business with you right now." So, we're we're paying for this at least in Nebraska. I'm sure other states as well. Hope you can help. Hope you got a timeline that maybe we get an agreement so we get trade back going and we need to repair this relationship that's important to not just Nebraska, all all of the United States. I yield. Well, sir, I appreciate that. Clearly, as I I mentioned a little bit earlier, it is an uncertain time.
▶ 1:54:17Uh, our farmers and producers are the most affected by the uncertainty. Uh, remarkably, they have remained very committed. In fact, the um latest poll shows that the community is actually higher in support today than they were even before what we call liberation day uh when the president enacted the reciprocal tariffs. Having said that, I hear you. uh if you would send specific examples I think that would really help me fully understand as these conversations are ongoing and I am at the table.
▶ 1:54:47So really I talked to business leaders in Omaha we have Fortune 500 companies Canadians are calling them saying we don't want to do business with you right now but that but I don't really understand the reason for tariffs on Canada to begin with when they've been in compliance with a with an agreement that was negotiated by this president. It just for many of us it doesn't make sense. I want to go to question number two. You and I spoke on the phone and I really appreciate you taking my call talking about uh the regarding staffing and funding cuts with the US Meat Animal Research Center in Nebraska.
▶ 1:55:17Do you have any update uh on efforts to restore these critical research positions and sustainable funding? Uh I don't right in front of me, but I will before we conclude today. So we'll get right back to you. I'm grateful. It's important to us and we got some great universities trying to work with uh you. Yes. Thank you. You've already addressed my third question, but I just want to say thanks for your cander on the Make America Healthy Again and the impacts on farmers. I appreciate uh your feedback and your your cander. My final question is this.
▶ 1:55:46On the March 20th, the USDA's agriculture research service distributed a directive restricting the use of more than 100 terms in the evaluation agreements. Among these prohibited were ethanol, sustainable aviation fuel, water conservation, groundwater pollution. All these things are important to Nebraska. Why do we do that? because a lot of these research areas are important to the Midwest and can you provide an update or a rationale? Yeah, of course. That was that was fixed almost immediately. Okay, good.
▶ 1:56:14Uh so I unless you hear differently, I we have not heard any other issues with that. We uh we solve for that right away. Okay, thank you so much. Those are my four questions. I'll get you back on 40. Gentleman yields back. Now recognize the gentle lady from Hawaii, uh Representative Takuda for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Mr. Chair, I wanted to follow up on your response to ranking member Craig. Uh the USDA did in fact fire nearly 6,000 probationary employees as part of a governmentwide reduction in force.
▶ 1:56:44This was in addition to the deferred resignations that were received. The courts did in fact force you to reinstate these employees. Do you agree with the court's decision then and regret your initial decision to doge 6,000 of your employees? Just a simple yes or no, please. I believe that was before I was sworn in. Uh but we are undertaking. Do you believe that the administration regrets a decision then to donate? Well, I'm not going to talk for the entire administration. I think the effort to ensure that every tax dollar is really worth even if it's imperfect.
▶ 1:57:14If the courts had not stopped your administration, would you have stood by the firings and would you have pushed for more firings? If you and I had had the discussion, you would know that I have been so open to these discussions, no matter Republican or Democrat, in ensuring that we are doing everything we need to do to to basically effectuate the USDA's mission. Okay.
▶ 1:57:36So, I don't want to speculate that there were 6,000 firings of which the courts did have to then make you reverse the decision and I'm curious as to how much were actually brought back. But I do want to move on on this line. In April, Secretary Rollins, you stated that the USDA will be optimizing and reducing the size of the workforce to become more efficient. USDA employees have been told the goal is to cut back the workforce to fiscal 2019 levels, which would lead to a reduction of around 23% of the AY's workforce.
▶ 1:58:05Is this still your goal to get to FY19 staffing levels? Yes or no? Is this not unbelievable though to you that that you just said under your administration increased 25% questions,000 asked the witness to answer? Okay, so I'm going to your answer is yes. That that is in fact still your cut goal. If not, please submit it for you. Now the 15,000 who took the deferred resignation is less than 15%.
▶ 1:58:29So even as we're trying to recruit people back and we have seen this recently because we are vacant in certain areas we need, are you still trying to cut by 23%. Yes or no? Oh, I feel we are working every day on behalf of the American people to put farmers first and make sure these programs are done. Farmers need to help them answer the questions they haven't provided. They don't need 25,000 new employees based on a crazy infusion of spending from the last administration and the American people agree with that. Do you feel you're adequately staffed to meet your mission?
▶ 1:58:58We are adequately staffed to meet our mission. Okay. Well, then this is a question I think you need to talk to farmers about as to whether or not they think they've got staffing at USDA to actually support the programs they need. Secretary Rollins, you're from Texas, which currently leads the nation in rates of food insecurity and hunger in Dallas for Worth, the metropolitan area encompassing where you live. Childhood hunger, food insecurity rates are at 20.9%. One in five children go to bed hungry. You've been an adviser to Governor Rick Perry.
▶ 1:59:28Cutting the local food purchase assistance and local food for schools funding. I agree. But you have instinct and knowledge of what it's like to have to take care of a state. You cut LFP and LFS by a billion dollar. Central Texas lost 40 loads of food within weeks of the decision. That's $93,000 pounds of food or 716,000 meals. You also cut TFAP by $500 million. Texas is the top recipient of all of these particular funds.
▶ 1:59:57And with the combined cuts, the Houston Food Bank alone lost about 15% of their funding from these cuts. That's $11 million or 500 tractor trailer loads of food. My question is, just even thinking about Texas, because you have an intimate knowledge and understanding of this area, do you think Texan children and families don't need these meals? I think that a wholesale review of all of these programs is necessary.
▶ 2:00:24I don't know if you heard the last time we had this number 17 million snack program. Today we have 42 million. We spend $400 million a day. Secretary, are you million nutrition needed by the people who were going to eat them? It's a simple question. Texas has half the poverty of California by having lower taxes and less government programs.
▶ 2:00:49We are moving people into real jobs and real prosperity at a rate for these are redundant. So I will not let you denigrate my state that has become the model in the country for the American dream for prosperity. country hunger and food insecurity right now.
▶ 2:01:09And we are talking about the fact that your state alone has lost tens of millions if not more dollars worth of funding under your lead of this particular $400 million question. You must ask yourself for every dollar you cut who goes hungry throughout this country. Thank you, Mr. There will not be a hungry child. Gentle lady yields back. Now recognize the gentle lady from Illinois, Miss Miller, for five minutes. Hello. Hello, Secretary Rollins.
▶ 2:01:39It's a pleasure to have you join us today, and I'm looking forward to working with you and President Trump in making American farmers great again. As you are well aware, we are seeing taxpayer subsidized Chinese solar covering some of the best farm ground in the world. Class A and Class B farm ground.
▶ 2:02:01I was proud to introduce reintroduce the no solar panels on fertile farmland act of 2025 this Congress which bans taxpayer funding for solar panels especially those made in China from being installed on America's fertile farm ground. I want to publicly applaud your leadership in taking action to stop Chinese Communist Party from buying up American farmland.
▶ 2:02:28Hostile foreign power should never be allowed to control critical American assets like our food production. Recently, organizations like the Bezos Earth Fund have spent millions of dollars to paint the livestock and agriculture industries as drivers of climate change.
▶ 2:02:49These grants have sparked significant concerns among cattle producers because foreign countries who seek to undermine the integrity of the Angus breed and our beef industry often target cattle as major environmental culprits, but I know we are in good hands with you as our secretary.
▶ 2:03:09Secretary Rollins, what measures is the USDA taking to ensure that fertile farmland remains dedicated to food production and isn't repurposed for large-scale renewable energy projects. Well, first of all, uh thank you, Congresswoman. Can I note that three of my four kids just arrived, uh Jake Rollins, Anna Rollins, and Lily Rollins, part of the uh the the the government process here, and what a joy to have them. That's great. Uh yes. So, you and I have discussed this a lot.
▶ 2:03:39Your leadership on the solar panels and on the Chinese threat is so appreciated and so inspiring. Uh we rolled out our small family farm initiative about three weeks ago. The solar panel uh piece of that is part of it. We're actually moving regs through our system right now. So hopefully in partnership with you and with this Congress as we move this forward. I've spoken with the president about it specifically. He too is very interested in it. Uh regarding the Angus beef, I'd love more information on that.
▶ 2:04:05This is the first time I've actually heard of that, but remain acutely aware of the threats at stake and and what we need to do to begin to solve for that. Have been in a lot of meetings about that at the White House. Thank you very much. And I'd like to say the solar and wind is not only taxpayer subsidized Chinese energy, but it's unreliable and it is increasingly unaffordable. And by covering rural America with it, they are driving people out of rural America and ruining our beautiful landscape. And we know President Trump loves beautiful things.
▶ 2:04:35So, yes, he does. That's exactly right. Given the concerns about foreign entities acquiring US farmland, how is the USDA collaborating with other agencies to monitor and regulate such transactions, especially those involving nations hostile to the US? We have 400,000 acres of farmland in the last decade that has been purchased by the CCCP. 400,000.
▶ 2:05:02Uh this happened without much um because I don't think we knew it was happening. Now that we realize what a significant problem it is, we are working across the federal government. I was again in a meeting just yesterday about this issue and uh and we'll continue to build out the plan to ensure that we are addressing this extreme threat to not only our farmland and our American way of life, but to our national security. Thank you.
▶ 2:05:29And in light of the significant spending by Bezos Earth Fund and other similar groups, what is USDA doing to ensure federal dollars are not being spent to push this radical Yeah, we are obviously we've been talking about this for the last few hours, but every single dollar we're spending is under review to ensure that it is being spent uh with the taxpayers in mind, with the president's vision in mind, and what he was elected to do uh last November.
▶ 2:05:58and we're making a lot of progress. But having said that, and I ask this from both sides of the aisle, anything that you see or hear differently, please let me know. Uh we're not going to be able to do this alone with just our staff. Thank you. I'm so grateful for you, and I yield back. Thank you, Congresswoman. Julie yields back. Now, please recognize uh Mr. Vinman for five minutes. Thank you, Secretary Ellens, for um testifying today.
▶ 2:06:25Uh do you support farmers Of course. Yes. And how about the families that go to grocery stores? Do you support them as well? I do. I have four children. Three of them are here who eat groceries, too. Wonderful. Glad to see them. Um, let's talk about the trade war. Yes or no? Are you aware that farmers need inputs um that we typically uh to grow the crops? Uh, which input? Yeah. Yes, in general.
▶ 2:06:54But which one specifically are you talking about? Oh, just in general I'm talking about it and and yes is is the right answer. Um, yes or no. Will higher costs of inputs force farmers to increase prices for their goods resulting in higher costs for families at the grocery store? Uh, Mr. Vinman, under the last administration, inputs went up 30% here in America. So, that's the bigger question, not the trade. We're not talking about the the previous administration. We're talking about this administration. But that's really important.
▶ 2:07:24I mean, that's a 100 days versus four years. That's a 30% increase in inputs under the Biden administration. A$50 billion trade deficit that wasn't there when the first Trump administration left. I mean, if you want to talk about the driving cost of groceries, that's where that's coming from. Claiming my time. Yes, sir. Please continue. So, yes or no? Will higher costs of inputs force farmers to increase their prices? Yes. As evidenced under the Biden administration. I'm I'm glad you agree.
▶ 2:07:52and like I'd like to submit for the record an article titled how tariffs on steel and aluminum could show up on your grocery store bill. Without objection. Trump doubled tariffs on steel and aluminum and so the cost can uh the cost can go up to 10% more. Um how much is the SNAP benefit per person per day? $6 is I believe the latest number.
▶ 2:08:17Actually, it's 620, which when you're talking about $6, that 20 cents actually is is meaningful. Agreed. yes or no. Do you think food being more expensive makes life more difficult for families on SNAP? Well, I think that's right. That's exactly the president's bringing it down. I mean, we have a lower inflation than we've had since the last time Trump was here. The cost of eggs went up 237% under Joe Biden. They're down 65% now.
▶ 2:08:44I don't know if this is the right discussion you want to have, but but clearly we're we'reing for that. Okay. So, we we just discussed tariffs and the fact that tariffs and we already have this article that I've entered into the record are going to increase the costs. Um so, the um food being more expensive makes life more difficult. We already agreed to that.
▶ 2:09:12And for in only the first six months, it sounds like this administration is heading in the opposite direction with the tariffs. And your administration is pushing a bill that would tighten people's SNAP benefits even more. Are you aware that SNAP recipients shop at the same grocery store every other American? I am aware that we all use the same grocery stores.
▶ 2:09:36Yes, I do believe there is a food desert out there in some of rural America that we're working and I agree with that as well given that I have significant rural parts in my district. Uh yes or no. Do you know that in rural counties real retailers that have SNAP shoppers will lose income if those folks lose their benefits? Well, again 42 million versus 17 million the last time we were at this unemployment number. So it's a it's a straightforward simple question.
▶ 2:10:01Secretary, if uh in rural counties, if retailers lose SNAP shoppers, uh will uh will they lose income for these folks? Just yesterday, we signed three more SNAP waiverss of the 111 billion we spend every year on SNAP. 27 billion is on sugary drinks and junk food. We are reforming the SNAP program to allow more nutritious food. We're claiming my time. I'm sorry. I only have five minutes, so I need to I need to move through Well, hopefully I have a chance to answer the questions, but I understand.
▶ 2:10:32Yes or no? Do you know that 27,000 retailers in rural areas might have to shut down in if SNAP benefits are cut, creating even bigger food deserts, the de deserts that you just referenced in clearly that will not be happening as we continue to move away from processed foods and sugary drinks to a more nutritious menu for all of our recipients. That sounds like a no that maybe you don't know that we spend $400 million a day on these programs. $400 million a day.
▶ 2:11:02So, I'd like to submit for the record an article titled SNAP cuts are likely to harm more than 27,000 retailers nationwide from the Center for American Progress. Secretary Rollins, did you know did you or did you not say without objection, thank you that the state of the egg economy is perhaps the worst it's been in 100 years. The state of the egg economy is indeed under a massive challenge, but 30% input costs from the Biden administration, a $50 billion trade deficit that was not there. Uh that is for the farm economy.
▶ 2:11:32Gentleman's time is expired. Thank you. Are you now recognize the gentleman from Iowa, Mr. Fster, for five minutes? Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I want to thank you uh uh Secretary Rollins for being here today. I'm so impressed with what you've done in the first uh several months of of being in your administration. Uh I I I just think that you're delivering on Trump's America first farming agenda and that is so important.
▶ 2:12:00I mean, promises made, promises kept by his administration, and you're you're taking full advantage of of of what what's happening there for our families and our our communities. Um I want to talk about I you came to Iowa. Thank you very much. I did. Wonderful. I have the second largest egg district in the country. Uh and you probably saw that we are uh very very involved in in biouels, ethanol and biodiesel.
▶ 2:12:25And I would just love to uh ask where do you see that going and how can we continue to make sure ethanol and biodiesel is successful as we move forward and what can USDA do in in those arenas uh to make sure that uh we protect our farming community and and create those markets for for our farmers. Yeah, I had such a great day in Iowa and and and I mean that that part of the country is is just so uh special.
▶ 2:12:52I had a little comment coming from behind uh and uh and it was really it was really encouraging. I I will note that this president has been again resolute in his support of the industry. Uh but one thing I want to note and uh Mr. Vinman brought up the the trade war but I trade reccalibration slash um discussion but the UK deal the first deal that was just struck three weeks ago in the Oval Office uh ethanol went to a 0% tariff under that deal.
▶ 2:13:22Three days later, I was in the UK talking to the leaders there. They were so surprised, first of all, to have the secretary of a there because they hadn't seen one in a long time. Um, but secondly, the idea that we can move our ethanol around the world in an unprecedented way is so tremendously helpful to our farmers uh in the parts of the country that rely on that. So, I think the future could not be brighter uh sir, for for your constituents in that part of the country, and I'm really proud of that. Yeah. Thank you.
▶ 2:13:52I am so I am really proud of it too and and where this is going to go and how it's going to grow. I I do want to talk a little bit about SNAP benefits because I want you to answer the question uh which is wonderful. I mean what we're trying to do is simply uh reduce fraud, waste, and abuse and error rates. And some of these these uh states that have massive error rates, they don't care. Literally don't care. And that is wrong. We can't even get the data. Right. And we can't even get the data. I mean, it's shameful. And and that that's the story that's never talked about. That's right.
▶ 2:14:21And I just want to say what we're doing in the egg committee is here is just simple. It's just saying, "Hey, we want to protect the program and reduce egg fraud and abuse." That's exactly right. And again, I just I can't overstate the amount of money of taxpayer dollars that was just willy-nilly thrown into the wind in the last administration. It is stunning. And I don't say that as a political stunt.
▶ 2:14:43I'm not trying to get in a back and forth with the Democrats on this, but it is absolutely astounding without really any regard to the taxpayer and how their money is being spent and ensuring that these programs are meeting and reaching the people that really need them. And so that's what we're working to do and thank you for that. I really appreciate that. And we just got to get these error rates under control. We absolutely have to. It's fiscal responsibility to the taxpayers. The taxpayers are the ones that are funding all this. Um, just want to talk one more one more uh moment.
▶ 2:15:13uh on our export markets. We look at corn and soybeans and things like right things, you know, that go bump in the night on the pricing, commodity prices and stuff like that. What can we do to open more markets? You just talked about the UK. Thank you very much. Uh where do you see other markets providing more market access to some of these commodities? You know, I've been so far to UK and Italy. Talked about those countries, but also the EU. In two weeks, three weeks, I'm headed to Vietnam, Japan, and India. After that, I'm headed to Peru and Brazil.
▶ 2:15:42I have been really surprised but in the best way at how excited these countries are for us to be there on the ground. How they understand that the 15% average tariff put on our American agriculture products versus the on average 5% that we put on their products. They understand that is not sustainable. That we've got to do better in putting our American products forward. As I mentioned, Italy imports $75 billion in egg products every year.
▶ 2:16:12only 1.7 billion of that is from America. This is one of our best partners, more aligned with our values than than most any other country. So just being on the road, working around the clock, sending the teams out into the world, the president being the chief negotiator, not allowing Americans to take a back seat ever again. This is going to be a game changer. Well, I just want to say thank you, Secretary, and I also want to say thank you. I had the largest bird outbreak of aven bird flu uh in my district in the fourth district.
▶ 2:16:41is awful, but you stepped right up and you got it done. Thank you so much. And finally, you have to come to the Iowa State Fair and do the uh the governor's steer show. I hope you're there. Thank you. I will be there. She and I are going to show steers against each other. Gentleman's time is expired. Thank you. And now recognize the gentle lady from Illinois, Miss Benzinski for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um and I do want to thank our ranking member Craig, Secretary Rollins. Thank you for taking time to appear before the committee today.
▶ 2:17:07My district um in central and southern Illinois is home to some of the nation's most productive farmland with some of the top corns and soybean producing counties in the country as well as a wide variety of specialty crops. Um it's also home to facilities for some big names in agricultural industry. ADM, Primient, Craft, uh Tieleook, they just opened a factory in Decar, uh plants like Cortetova, Bayer, Nutrian, and a lot more.
▶ 2:17:36Um, and of course it is home to a tremendous amount of agricultural research at my alma mater at the University of Illinois, but also Southern Illinois University in Edwardsville and many great community colleges throughout my district. So, I am sure you can understand why I am so thrilled to serve on this committee because the work we do here and the work done at USDA matters so much to the district that I represent.
▶ 2:18:01Madam Secretary, um can you tell me do you agree that the primary function of the USDA is to serve farmers in our rural communities? Just yes or no? Yes. Okay. Thank you. Madam Secretary, I do have some concerns about the way things have been going just over these last six months. Just to start, the president's budget for USDA was abysmal in my opinion.
▶ 2:18:25It kneecaps agricultural research, threatens American dominance and international development, forces women, infants and children to go hungry, and decimates NRCS. Just last week in this committee, we heard directly from farmers about the importance and success of conservation programs for their operations.
▶ 2:18:45the idea that we would take away opportunities to improve farmers livelihoods and to completely eliminate conservation technical assistance which farmers have told this committee directly that they rely on I think is ridiculous. I urge you to be thoughtful about the impacts of the suggestions you have made. These are not inconsequential programs. There is no backs stop peers that you do claim to serve.
▶ 2:19:13I also want to bring to your attention some changes that have been made that have serious issues within my district. The elimination of the local food purchase assistance and the local foods for schools programs was they both were incredibly important and it is distressing to my community that they've been eliminated and across Illinois as well sharing that concern.
▶ 2:19:38This program was an incredible opportunity to connect farmers with their neighbors in need as well as local small businesses. I'm lucky to have a great relationship with Solo Gradia Farm in Urbana, a vegetable and fruit operation whose primary goal is to provide food to local residents, particularly for vulnerable populations. LFPA helped them accomplish this goal.
▶ 2:20:03They also were connected to local small businesses through LFPA like Martinelli's Market in Champagne, Illinois. And Martinelli's is also dealing with the administration's tariffs, driving up the prices of their ingredients. So, the rug was pulled out from under them when USDA cancelled the LFPA contracts, contracts which help them to buy locally and feed our communities.
▶ 2:20:28Now tariffs are driving up Martinelli's overall prices and Solo Gratia lost its purchasers. This is just an example of the many concerns I have for my district. But I want to use my time to draw your attention to Can I respond to any of that to an opportunity? Let me get through my points and if we have time then I'd welcome your comments. Okay. Um attention to an opportunity. This is an opportunity I think that could be at USDA opportunities is this administration. Yes.
▶ 2:20:57Um, so with this administration shuttering of USDA, USAD, I mean, feed the future labs across the country have closed with the exception of one at Kansas State University, the climate resilient cereals lab. One lab that was impacted and therefore closed was in my district, the soybean innovation lab or sill at the University of Illinois has been conducting critical research for over 12 years on new varieties of soybeans.
▶ 2:21:25This research not only supports developing nations but it supports domestic growers. Development of soybean genetics in the United States helps us to maintain our global dominance in the soy market which is critical for the farmers in the heartland. It also introduces brand new international markets to American products which I know is a mission of this administration.
▶ 2:21:46I understand that the ad the majority of USID activity has been moved to the state department including programming for the feed our future lab at Kansas State. Madam Secretary, I ask you to please look into the importance of the soybean innovation lab for American agriculture. Is that something that you would be willing to take a look at? Yes, I'd be very willing to do that and follow up. That would be wonderful. Thank you, Secretary. Thank you. I yield back. Gentle lady's time is expired. Now recognize gentleman from North Carolina, Mr.
▶ 2:22:16browser for 5 minutes. Thank you, uh, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Madam Secretary, for being here. We've had the occasion to meet briefly on a couple of occasions. I'm ready. There you are. Thank you. And, uh, I appreciate your work. USDA is near and dear to me, uh, during Bush 43. I was a SCES political appointee over at USDA Rural Development. Yeah, I have great appreciation for the variety of missions of of the department and appreciate your service.
▶ 2:22:44Uh first I want to begin by thanking you for your work uh with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services on their state block grant application for losses from Hurricane Helen. Uh obviously a very very devastating uh storm. And as you know uh this devastation was far beyond just crop loss affecting a broad range of our more than 111 billion dollar agriculture economy including timber infrastructure agurism and aquaculture losses.
▶ 2:23:13And now it's in my understanding that uh our staffs have been communicating and and uh I know you're working really really closely with the state to uh to address these issues and and just really uh appreciate your work in that regard. If you want to provide a little update on that. Yeah, we have been in close contact with your state and the leaders in your state. I visited North Carolina uh one of the first states I went to. I think uh we've had five formal meetings but almost daily conversations.
▶ 2:23:41Uh those funds are close to contract and should be released uh very soon. And you may have uh um mentioned this while I was out at another uh committee uh committee meeting and so my apologies if it's redundant. Uh North Carolina is third most agriculturally diverse state in the country and so we have a lot of specialty crops. Uh if you can touch base or or just bring us up to date real quickly on the u um marketing assistant specialty crop uh roll out.
▶ 2:24:11uh for economic assistance for specialty crops. I'd be most interested in that. Yeah, that's a as you may remember that's a significant investment on our end at USDA about $2.65 billion dollars uh we have announced. Those are moving but still under review. It is it's a significant number that we're working with our partners over at the White House on. But there will be the first trunch has moved. The second trunch is shortly behind. But I don't have a specific date in front of me, but we'll we'll reply back to your office and make sure you're fully aware of that. Thank you very much.
▶ 2:24:40Uh, one other quick item. Uh, the H2A program. Uh, I know the chairman made reference to this in his, uh, opening statement. Uh, I can't stress enough uh, how critical it is to have a good workable program. And that AER, the adverse effect wage rate is a real issue for our growers. In fact, uh, we had a bipartisan working group that the chairman put together.
▶ 2:25:04uh we had a a whole list of uh areas of unonymity uh between Republicans and Democrats and and one of them was the uh the need to freeze uh that a uh we've got a great secretary of labor in place and I remember during the first u uh Trump administration there were a variety of departments that were working together to make some good reforms administratively uh to the H2A program.
▶ 2:25:30Uh so I just want to underscore just how important that is and and give you an opportunity to talk about that just a minute if you can. Yeah, I I am fully aware. In fact, in Texas, I went and visited some citrus growers in South Texas and we could look across the border where the average hourly rate was $2 in Mexico to produce the same or to basically move the same produce produce through in Texas at $23 an hour. This is unsustainable.
▶ 2:25:58I've talked to Lori Chavez Derma, our secretary of labor about it. I've also spoken to the president about it. We remain fully committed to working with obviously you all are going to be the main movers and shakers for real change. But whatever we can do through the through the government, the executive branch, please, please, please let us know because we realize what a huge problem this is. Well, we look forward to working with you very closely on that because it is it's probably one of the greatest needs American agriculture has. That's right.
▶ 2:26:24you know, you you can't harvest a crop in many cases, uh, particularly specialty crops if you don't have labor. That's exactly right. And uh, in my remaining time, I want to, uh, put in a plug, uh, for our food assistance programs. Uh, you know, a lot of them are administered at USID, but they really belong under the US Department of Agriculture in my opinion. Uh, one in particular, uh, the, uh, Dole McGovern food aid program. Uh, I used to work for US Senator Elizabeth Dole in a previous life.
▶ 2:26:53uh grew very close to uh to Senator Dole from Kansas. And uh when you travel overseas and you see uh you go in these schools and the only reason why these kids are in school in these third world countries is basically because of the McGovern Dole food program.
▶ 2:27:11uh it's the only nutrition they get during the day and uh it provides not only a humanitarian uh aspect but there's also a diplomatic uh long-term America first aspect as well.
▶ 2:27:24Sir very quickly 30 of those programs are still moving and we opened up funding for the next round on May 9th just a few weeks ago understanding it is realigning around the president's vision and the countries that you know help America uh but but we are aware and tracking gentleman's time is expired now recognize the u the uh minorities requesting recognize Mr. Jackson from Illinois for five minutes. Chairman, I yield to Congresswoman Hayes. They wanted us to switch orders.
▶ 2:27:52And I don't recognize the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Jackson. Okay. Recognize the gentle lady from Connecticut, Miss Hayes, for five minutes. I'm not sure what's going on. Don't I get my own five minutes? Thank you. Uh, thank you, Secretary Rollins, for being here today. Thank you. It's no secret that I am in opposition to the Republican bill and the deep cuts to SNAP and I have been viciferous and clear about that.
▶ 2:28:23I just want to add as we are talking about the proposal, the Republican proposals uh in the Department of Agriculture. There is serious concerns that many of the actions being taken threaten the bipartisan coalition that has helped pass multiple farm bills. And we would be hardressed to get the full committee to I mean the full um Congress to pass a bill that guts uh billions of dollars from our most vulnerable communities.
▶ 2:28:49But today my questions are going to f be focused on small farms in my district. Between 2017 and 2022, Connecticut lost roughly 460 farms. Projections by the American Farmland Trust estimate that my state will lose 55,000 acres of farmland if we do not step in to preserve what remains. There are many factors contributing to the loss of farmland in New England. As we heard Mr. McGovern talk about earlier, one of the most consistent is the fail failure of farm safety net programs.
▶ 2:29:20Guardians Farms, a small first generation farm in Southbury, Connecticut in my district, began operation in 2020, and they sell dairy products at farmers markets on the weekends. Two years of heavy rain have resulted in fewer visitors to the farm and damage to the pasture, barn, and chicken coops. Earlier this year, they requested $50,000 from USDA to help make up for loss revenue and to help with repairs. As of today, they still have not received any disaster assistance.
▶ 2:29:50Last year, Congress funded two disaster relief programs and designed them to work together to ensure all impacted farms receive some type of assistance. The supplemental disaster relief program would fund larger operations and the farm recovery and support block grant would uh provide targeted relief to smaller farms in smaller states.
▶ 2:30:09Secretary Rollins, it's my understanding that USDA has directed Connecticut to choose between one of two of those programs and a small farm block grant rather than ac assessing both as Congress intended. What is the justification for denying Connecticut farmers the ability to access the relief Congress has voted to provide for them? Well, first of all, thank you. Uh that's a great question. I have been in a lot of conversations on this. In fact, my next one is with your colleague Rosa Delaro at 4:00 once I leave here.
▶ 2:30:39We are continuing to assess what this means, understanding that this $220 million block grant to New England that you all put in the relief act at the end of last year uh is different. It's different than Georgia, North Carolina, some of the bigger farming uh communities with a bigger farm. So, we are continuing to look at this. The decision has not been released yet, but will be soon.
▶ 2:31:01We remain very committed and have been working with your ad commissioner from Connecticut AC and across New England uh for the last few months and will continue to do so. Well, I appreciate you explaining what USDA is doing as a whole, but my question was about why Connecticut is being as denied access to both programs. I know that there has been concern about double dipping, but there are audit processes in place, certification processes in place, and what ends up happening is exactly what we anticipated.
▶ 2:31:29the smallest farmers are left out because they don't have access to these programs. And my fear is that Connecticut will be kept waiting for relief because the program is not being implemented properly. Um, your budget proposal would cut funding for the Farm Service Agency by an additional $250 million. I'm concerned that Connecticut farmers again will see diminished capacity from USDA to address their needs.
▶ 2:31:53How will the USDA deliver uh payments to farmers in a more efficient manner when you're cutting resources and the staff who do the work? So, ma'am, the 10 billion that moved out very quickly, the ECAP, uh y'all passed it, I think around Christmas, maybe December 20th. We moved it out, uh $10 billion in a matter of, I think, six to eight weeks. Uh the longest waiting time was three days once that was moved out. We've sent the money to 500,000 farmers across America.
▶ 2:32:21This is months and months and months ahead of where a normal USDA moves it out. So, I think our track record um hopefully speaks for itself. Well, I think again I hope that there is some consideration for the smallest farmers who don't have grant writers or access to these programs or the ability to reach out and get a response. I I appreciate the fact that money is getting out the door.
▶ 2:32:45My concern once again is that it is going to the largest farmers in the the most uh in the largest agricultural communities and leaving behind the farmers who literally have a less than 100 acres and are doing this work and it's their family business. And and Congresswoman, what I would ask is when you hear those stories and you are called to call me specifically and say the this is what's happening in my district and this is who is not getting the attention that they deserve and that will help us. I appreciate that.
▶ 2:33:13I'll follow up and make sure you have the information on Guardians Farm in South Berry, Connecticut. It's a veteranowned farm and they are struggling right now. Thank you. What What was the name again? Guardians Farm. Guardians Farm. I'll make sure you get the information. Thank you. General Lee's time is expired in uh u at request of the secretary and in consultation with the minority. We're going to do uh two more questions and then take a 20-minut break uh and then reconvene.
▶ 2:33:39and I will keep an order of those in the room that are at the time of the break. Um so that that'll be the order when we when we come back and I'll announce what time that is when we when we see when these next two individuals uh uh are done. So at this point I'm going to recognize uh uh Mr. Johnson from South Dakota and then in the direction of the minority uh Mr. Jackson from Illinois. Um so Mr. Johnson is recognized for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 2:34:08Uh, Madam Secretary, I feel like we're talking to a member of your team every week on something or other. So, I'm going to I'm going to walk through six issues and then just you can comment on any of them that you like. First off, I want to thank you for working with us to provide some relief to that South Dakota ranching couple, the mods. Just uh that it should never have gotten to the point it did and thank you for your team for seeing the wisdom forward. Common sense. Number two, um I want to affiliate myself with Mr.
▶ 2:34:35Kasa's remarks about high path aven influenza still a tremendous threat and as he said not just to poultry but also to our herds as well and then I was grateful to see your fiveprong plan had vaccines as an important part of it.
▶ 2:34:50I think there's been some concern that maybe the priority in USD shifted around a little bit and so I just want to highlight the incredible work that a number of companies including MedGene are doing in developing some really powerful vaccines that I think are the long-term solution to this problem. Not even long term. I mean just the solution here I think sooner than we realize. Number three, forestry. Uh Mr. Lamal has said it well. I mean we've got a lot we need to do out in the forest. I mean a managed forest is a healthy forest.
▶ 2:35:18We have a million acres of national forest land in the Black Hills and it's been a long time since we've been able to hit the datadriven harvest targets. We have had mills close, lots of jobs lost. When we lose that infrastructure, it's almost impossible to ever get it back, which means the forest turns into a tinder box. I've got confidence in your team. Uh I just think Mr. Schultz, Mr. French, I enjoy working with them.
▶ 2:35:47So, I just want to thank you and ask you to continue to back their efforts to approach this issue with some real urgency. I think we're making progress, but we got a ways to go yet. Number four, I want to thank your team for the incredible responsiveness they have shown in working with South Dakota State University in making some alterations to what is now known as the producers first program.
▶ 2:36:09This is going to show us the way forward on some resiliency in in how we feed and make sure that the bison and the cattle can get to market and that nutrition is a key part of of what they do because we still want to discover some research and and how to do better. Number five, I met with a few dozen dairy producers and ma'am, this is not going to come as any surprise to you. They have a real anxiety in in farm labor and some folks are not sure how they're going to hang on and I just they they view you as a huge leader.
▶ 2:36:38They view you as a critical I mean this problem will not get solved without Brooke Rollins and they believe in you ma'am and if if there's anything I can do to help in developing solutions so we can not just in dairy of course this is a bigger problem but we we've got to find a solution then finally number six and and then I'll shut up um trade you know just little old South Dakota we export almost uh six billion dollars a year overseas and a that's $6,000 a year for every single South Dakota every single here.
▶ 2:37:08Clearly, this committee, strong believers in MAP, FMD, and I know you're a strong believer, and I would just ask you to continue to be a strong voice for more trade, which will make America stronger, and I know that's where the administration's headed. Yeah, what am I missing, ma'am? I think you covered it very well. I just want to start with the last one first on the trade. Uh, and I'm not sure if you were in the room, Congressman, but but the encouragement that I have received just in these first few international trips has been remarkable.
▶ 2:37:38In fact, stunning. I think that the world is ready to recalibrate. I think that the president has been such an effective leader on this. I know the uncertain times our producers are feeling. There's no one uh who's operating more on the margins than our farmers and ranchers understand this. The president certainly understands it. But I do believe with every fiber of my being that this era of um un unlimited or unprecedented prosperity for a community is just around the corner because of these trade renegotiations.
▶ 2:38:09I'm I'm just really really sure of that. I also want to comment on the timber piece of this. I was just in the Oval Office yesterday with the president talking about timber, talking about the firefighting because they're as you know interwoven um inextricably. And I think that we're going to have another meeting tomorrow in the Oval Office on the issue. The president has been resolute in the increase of 25% in timber production, which by the way, that will be the same number we had 30 years ago in 1994.
▶ 2:38:36Since then, our entire timber industry, as you know, from your state and others, has been decimated. So, the focus, the investment, uh the putting our timber industry back at the front of the line to ensure they're able to do and thrive, but also on the back end to mitigate against more and unnecessary fires, uh is a it continues to be a priority of this administration and I'm really really proud of that. With that, Mr. Chairman, the secretary and I have solved all the problems. Uh and I would yield back here. And by the way, you're unflapable.
▶ 2:39:06I did not know that my mean comment about Iowa and Jess would be picked up by you. It was mostly for your staff's benefit, but you're unflapable. You kept rolling. So, thank you. I Thank you, sir. Thank the gentleman. This gentleman's time is expired. Now, now I recognize the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Jackson. Thank you, Honorable Chairman Thompson. Thank you, Ranking Member Craig and distinguished members of this committee. Thank you, Secretary Rollins. I look forward to working with you. Me, too. In the months and years to come.
▶ 2:39:35You're ahead of a department with a budget of hundreds of billions of dollars, over 100,000 employees, 4,500 offices. That's right. 29 different agencies. And so the job is enormous. And I come here not to fix blame, but to seek solutions.
▶ 2:39:50Madam Secretary, your department proudly announced in a May 1st press release that it has terminated over 3,500 contracts and grants totaling over 5.5 billion dollars and canceled nearly 1,000 trainings to eliminate uh quote unquote woke DEI initiatives. For the record, does the United States Department of Agriculture under your leadership have an official written definition of DEI? I'm a bit confused.
▶ 2:40:17one that withstand legal scrutiny under the Administrative Procedures Act that you used as a specific uniform standard to justify these cancellations. I believe that we do, sir, but let me check on that and and I will circle back to your office and and we can talk directly. Okay. Thank you. I've not been able to find one. I reached out to the office starting in February. Um so I would simply just assume at this point for the record that the answer would be written no.
▶ 2:40:42uh under the administrative procedures act codified as section five US code 551 agency's actions cannot be arbitrary and capriccious uh yet we see some um of the terminations of these programs without a single written guiding uh principle uh so we have to make sure that this is codified into law under the previous secretary of agriculture we had a blueprint and outline of where the department was going I hope in the weeks and months to come uh this is on the thing the
▶ 2:41:13department of agriculture has operated consistently by giving us a blueprint. The second question I would have you your department has canceled outreach and recruitment in the name of eliminating DEI. So I don't know what it is that's being eliminated that's being cut because it's DI is very vague means many things to many people.
▶ 2:41:30Um, and so if you exclude the long-standing federal hiring initiatives like the veterans recruitment appointment authority or the schedule A hiring or authority for people with disabilities, both of which are designed to create a more diverse and inclusive federal workforce, would you agree that's a a noble goal? Uh, well, the first thing I'll say and I really actually appreciate the conversation is that the president clearly uh has been very clear in his directive. We're operating under his executive order on all the above. my time.
▶ 2:41:59I appreciate that because I fundamentally disagree with the president and I can appreciate your integrity, but the president is simply wrong on this and I hope more people in the administration can speak up to him. He can make a mistake, but it seems like people get very confused and um at surround him. The federal definition of diversity explicitly includes these groups, the disabled, the rural Americans, which are all groups that have faced barriers to federal employment in the past.
▶ 2:42:26by cancing many of these programs unintentionally they become collateral damage and so I would like to make sure that we continue to broaden the workforce and pull as many people in also we've talked about now I see in this do declaration about meritocracy uh you say your department now operates on meritocracy sir are you aware that the nine merit system principles codified in section five of the US uh code 2301 already exist to ensure fair and merit-based hiring free from political influence that's already
▶ 2:42:56baked into this. I don't know why there's new emphasis on saying there's meritocracy. Does the USDA under your leadership have an official written policy defining what constitutes merit that supersedes or replaces these congressionallymandated principles? We already have them in the documents. I am not aware of that, but I'm really glad again for this conversation. I will my commitment is to look at that very closely. Obviously, I'm a big believer in the president's vision on this and the meritocracy approach, but it's a fair question. and how do we define that and what does that look like? Okay.
▶ 2:43:26And that'll be on um section five. So these terms that mean woke and so forth, there's another term that the have on your website regarding color blindness as a goal that you have. Um did someone put into the record that color blindness is a physical impairment or is there a new definition of what color blindness means? Is that an asset? Can you help me define what is color blindness and the values or merits of it?
▶ 2:43:53Uh my understanding is this is from the executive order at the president's directive and that we are looking at merit and the best uh possible choice for the American time. So color blindness are we talking about having a lack of racial equity, racial justice? Is that the code word for it? Okay. Well, the president again is wrong because you know the case of Pigford versus Glickman. It's already been his um already been documented that there's been a history of racial discrimination, prejudice, and racism.
▶ 2:44:22already had lawsuits filed and settled by farmers, African-American, Latino, and indigenous, that did not have fair access to the resources of our agency. So, I don't want to fix the blame. I want to fix the problem. But if some people are willfully blind, if he wants people going around the Department of Agriculture with mismatched clothes because he is now championing blindness, I think that's wrong and that should not be classified as single out. Mr. Chairman, I yield back and thank you for your gentlemen. I look forward to continuing time expired.
▶ 2:44:52Uh the committee will stand in recess uh for 20 minutes uh gavling back in at 12:55. Um and at that time uh the members have been in the room here. I'll share with you what I have for order. Um, man, uh, Moore, Sorenson, Harris, Vasquez, Taylor, Riley, Dela Cruz, and Manion.
▶ 2:45:22We stand in recess. Thank you, Mr. It took me about 30 minutes. We have to talk about what I mean.
▶ 2:51:09That's right.
▶ 2:53:25That's not good. You're having fun.
▶ 2:54:17I guess
▶ 2:55:57You got what you need?
▶ 2:59:28See you later.
▶ 3:01:02Yeah. Cheers.
▶ 3:02:03You're welcome.
▶ 3:02:38I like that.
▶ 3:05:22It's not
▶ 3:07:09What we got?
▶ 3:08:09So hearing
▶ 3:14:00The committee shall come to order. I note that there is a quorum present for the purposes of taking testimony and receiving evidence. I now recognize the the gentleman from Kansas, Mr. Man, for five minutes. Welcome back, uh, Madam Secretary. Thank you for being here today and thank you for your leadership in supporting farmers, ranchers, and egg producers across the country.
▶ 3:14:22It was an honor to have you visit the big first district of Kansas during your first week on the job back in February right after you were confirmed and we had a chance as you recall to participate in a roundt discussion with a producers um stakeholders. We toured Finey County feedard, the Ponderosa dairy. We even met with some local FFAs which was a huge highlight of mine. I know something that's near and dear to your heart as well.
▶ 3:14:44Um, one of my first meetings with President Trump, I distinctly remember him telling me of his love for the American farmer and and I very much appreciate that you also share that passion. Um, over the past few months, you and the president have led the way in supporting rural America and I look forward to continuing to work with you for the next four years so that we make agriculture great again and everything that it possibly can be. Amen. U, a couple questions.
▶ 3:15:08Um first one madam secretary the one big beautiful bill act is a major step forward in the future of American agriculture. We are able to strengthen crop insurance raise reference prices really help our producers. We also were able to include historic landmark investments in funding for trade promotion programs in the house version after the last administration's failure to act on expanding international markets. I've been really encouraged at your efforts to rebalance trade to support the American farmer and rancher.
▶ 3:15:39In particular, I appreciate that you'll be traveling on a trade mission to India uh here in the next few weeks where greater market access for crops like sorghum would be a gamecher for our Kansas producers and a clear win for the US and India. with the significant upgrade in trade promotion resources. Can you share what you and Ambassador Greer will be pursuing to unlock opportunities for US exports um you know commodities like sorghum as part of our discussion specifically with India?
▶ 3:16:05Yeah, specific to India and and I will absolutely congressman circle back to you with a little more detail. Uh I've got about three countries ahead of India. Yeah. So I haven't focused on India just yet even though we're headed there uh very soon. But I think that India is reflective to your point on sorghum and a lot of our row crops. There's just so much opportunity there. And I think we've talked a lot this morning about national security. Uh agricultural security is national security.
▶ 3:16:33A lot of that is opening up markets with our friends like India and moving away from other markets that clearly are not aligned with us on a values um valuebyal basis. What I have found with Ambassador Greer, with Secretary Letic, with Secretary Bessant, and the ultimate sort of dealmaker, President Donald Trump, is they are we are relentless. Relentless. And again, I think I mentioned this a couple of times, but it's worth repeating.
▶ 3:17:00the few countries I've already visited, the countries that have already visited me, everyone is so anxious to support this vision of opening up more American products and decreasing the tariffs while working on the non-tariff trade barriers. So there's a lot more to come. Would love to work with you though as we're prepping for India and other countries specific to sorghum and other road crops. Would love to. I think hu India is a huge opportunity for sorghum other commodities as well. Yeah. Um thank you for that. Um, second question.
▶ 3:17:27You know, earlier this year, I introduced legislation to move back to USDA, a program that's not only dear uh to the people of Kansas, but also vital to our a producers in the country. Food for Peace was a program that I've long supported, and it supported American agriculture and helping feed millions of people around the world. It was originally housed with the USDA when it was created over 70 years ago. McCannen came up with the idea years ago. my bill would return it back to its ris return it home to the USDA ensuring its long-term sustainability.
▶ 3:17:58I'm optimistic that Congress will soon act to codify this move realigning food for peace with USDA where it where it began if and when that transition takes place. Um can you commit that department will continue to fund and operate food for peace as robustly as it currently has been administered and welcome any thoughts about food for peace? Sure. and understanding that's moving through the system, not wanting to get ahead of President Trump uh specifically, but we stand ready if that is the congressional direction.
▶ 3:18:24We will work with you and your partners to ensure the the contained um sustainability continued, I should say, sustainability and and um and success uh and changes if necessary. And great program, right? I we're shipping commodities grown here in bags that say a free gift to the American people. It's good for our farmers, good for our shippers, good for the mouths that receive it. Um, I know I think someone asked you about food for progress earlier. Um, might loop back in with your office on that as well. But just really appreciate you being here. Thank you for all that you're doing for agriculture.
▶ 3:18:53Thank you so much. Good to see you, Congressman. Gentleman yields back and recognize gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Davis. Five minutes. Thank you so much, Mr. Chair. To our secretary, Secretary Rollins, thank you so much for being with us today. Good to see you. I was looking forward to the committee I'm sure um as we've been excited about you coming. Want to share a picture the best that I can reflect from so many conversations um what's taking place in East North Carolina back home.
▶ 3:19:23Um farmers are absolutely getting pounded. Uh these are without any doubt um tough times and they're facing many challenges between increased labor costs, low reference prices, increased input costs. so much uncertainty, double duty drawback for tobacco growers, um trade, just uncertainty. And in the midst of it all, we still, regardless of how we got here, have no farm bill.
▶ 3:19:50And let's be clear, reconciliation is no substitute for a farm bill. I agree. in in North Carolina in North Carolina, we have out west, which I traveled a little over a week ago to the western part of the state and it's a dire situation that's still on the ground there as people are trying to pick up the pieces in the aftermath of hurricane Helen.
▶ 3:20:17But then out east in which I'm honored to represent, we've had our fair share of challenges as we've been crushed with drought. Uh there's so much going on. And by the way, I would like to personally welcome you to Eastern North Carolina. No, I would love that. But what we're leaving farmers now, we're leaving farmers these options. Option A, more debt. Take on more debt.
▶ 3:20:47Or option I'mma throw my hands up in the air and call it quits. the reality. I grew up cropping tobacco and doing a lot of hard work that we enjoy doing as kids. And this is part of our heritage. And when you talk in particular, family farmers, they want to continue and pass it on to the children, the next generation.
▶ 3:21:14But how many children want to take on all of this right now? So my first question is what's the timeline for getting the disaster and economic agriculture assistance um out the door that's going to help us in North Carolina? Yeah, I appreciate the question. Uh the God bless you. Welcome. Uh the first five seconds of my time. That was a big one. That was an amazing sneeze.
▶ 3:21:44Um, the first thing I'll say is with ECAP in North Carolina, um, 6,389 of your producers received $118 million over the last month or two. So hopefully that is at least a step in the right direction on the emergency livestock relief, which we just released in the last week or two. Uh, there's significant numbers going that way. 599 producers for 23, another 423 producers for 24, a total of$ 1.4 billion dollars, I believe, on that.
▶ 3:22:13Um, and Madam Secretary, let me acknowledge the work that is taking place. I just want to really paint the picture. There's still a lot more work to be done. And if I can shift, can you speak on whether you're working with um our RMA, the risk management agency administrator Swanson to defer interest charges on crop insurance premiums for the current year? I don't have that answer, but by the end of the next question, we'll have that for you.
▶ 3:22:39Uh, I am not 100% sure, so I don't want to answer wrongly, but we'll get that to you right away. Okay, super. Thank you. And I want to really thank the chair um because we've really been kneede in the H2A program. This is so far an antiquated policy that's still out there and we just got to come together and get this done. And thank you, Mr. Chair, for you know, the task force, the working group that we advanced.
▶ 3:23:06Uh, but I want to come in particular with AWR because I hear so much about AWR and this is a real legitimate concern. My question is what's been the communication from USDA with do as well as DHS um in relation to ensuring there's enough workers available to continue to feed fuel um clothe the American people um um so they can continue to keep the operations going with
▶ 3:23:37Well, I as we discussed this morning, although sir, I don't think you were in the room, there is obviously a very a very um understandable concern in in the agriculture market on labor. Uh I spoke with the president about it this morning. Uh I had a meeting with both Secretary Gnome and Secretary Chavez Durimemer on Monday night. The president in an April 10th cabinet meeting on his own talked about it.
▶ 3:24:02Uh there is no doubt that first of all significant reform needs to happen uh to the H2A, H2B, etc. which I know you all are leading on in a bipartisan effort, but also the importance of our administration and this president, which he does, recognizing that we have a major gap in the labor market for our dairy farmers, a lot of our rowcroppers, and how you balance that obviously with his commitment to America and to the American voters, um which we don't all agree on, but to uh to address illegal immigration.
▶ 3:24:29So, please know I'm committed to working around the clock to solve for that. Thank you so much. Gentleman's time is expired. Yes. Thank you. Now recognize gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Moore, for five minutes. Over here, Secretary Rollins. How are you? Welcome. Thank you for being here today and thank you for all your work you're doing on negotiating with countries. I I uh I think reference prices, input costs have been mentioned by Mr. Davis. Obviously, that's an issue.
▶ 3:24:52We've lost a lot of farms and I think as a result of inflation obviously we printed money like drunk sailors in DC for the last four years and in some cases that's an insult to drunk sailors but inflation has really caught our producers in a tough tough spot with fuel costs and energy costs those sort of things but one of the issues I want to kind of breach with you talk a little bit about is uh this ex we recently have noticed there's been some snap fraud and card skimming and uh just a few weeks ago the DOJ
▶ 3:25:23charged a USDA employee and five others in a $66 million SNAP fraud and bribery scheme in New York. And shockingly, this criminal scheme went on for years under the prior administration. So, uh, Madam Secretary, what action is the department taking to ensure that these sort of egregious levels of fraud are being addressed? This is at the very top of the list. Uh currently we can prove one of every $10, which is about $34 million a day is paid out in taxpayer money that is fraudulently paid.
▶ 3:25:53We've got AC an across the government whole of government approach right now. The New York case that you mentioned is just one of many. Uh there was a sting operation led by our secret service. Interestingly enough, uh on the west coast uh within the last month, two many more are coming working alongside Pam Bondi at the DOJ. But part of that, sir, and we've talked about it a little bit this morning, is the reluctance or refusal of many states to turn their data over to us. So, it's hard for us to even know where that money is going and who it's being paid to.
▶ 3:26:22We are now directing it and if they're not willing to do it, we're going to start moving through litigation. So, we're going to force the issue, but but it has to stop and we can't continue to pay taxpayer dollars in such a fraudulent fraudulent way. Yeah. You said earlier it contains sustainability in some ways. I I think you you changed how you said it, but I think in many ways with SNAP, that's what we've got to do. We want we want it for the families that need it, right? But the fraud is a big issue. And my concern, and I've been on ACT committee for four years now, is uh there's a supply and demand curve.
▶ 3:26:51And you know, as SNAP, more and more money goes into the SNAP programs, yet the producers, the suppliers themselves are limited in their resources. often when that when you see that what happens at the grocery stores, the prices go up because the demand goes higher and higher with government dollars going on SNAP programs yet we're not securing producers in the market. And so ultimately the price goes up and then the tax dollars on those SNAP cards don't go nearly as far as they could have. So that's right.
▶ 3:27:16I think coupled with the fraud, increasing production certainly and getting government spending, runaway waste under control, helping with inflation, I think there's an opportunity for us to certainly help our producers. And so, and I appreciate, again, I I have the the second largest peanut producing district in the nation, and I know that my farmers would appreciate that. And we actually were peanut producers until 1980. The drought and the army worms kind of put us out. So, it's one of those things we we I think we've lost 150,000 farms.
▶ 3:27:42And so, I I I appreciate the work you're doing, the president's doing to try to help food security in this country and make sure that we are competing with other nations and certainly negotiating with other countries to buy our products. And so thank you. Thank you so much for your work on that. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I'm going to save a little time and yield back. Thank you, Congressman. Gentleman yields back now. Recognize the gentleman from Illinois, Mr. Sorenson, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I love the milk that is in front of you. Just saying. Love that it's whole milk. It's good.
▶ 3:28:11Also, let it be known that we had a lunch break. I love that. Thank you to the secretary for being with us um on um you know one of the greatest if not the greatest committee that we have on Capitol Hill. Amen. Um just over the weekend I drove through Wnebago County, Illinois. We're at the very top of Illinois. U I noticed you know being being a kid that grew up in a small town that a lot of the fields aren't planted. It is June 11th.
▶ 3:28:38Some farmers have given up on seeing any profit this year. Um you know Mr. Davis and Mr. more touched on input costs going up, just general costs going up, but it's also costing our farmers when the USDA extension services are reduced or canceled. Uh we're failing to open up foreign markets for export. The USDA is cutting uh programs like conservation, rural development, technical support, and the result, you know, our smaller hometowns are not doing better today. Um and they're losing faith.
▶ 3:29:07Uh farmers are being hit really hard. Um and and back home, you know, those family farmers, they don't want a handout from the administration. That's right. They want agriculture to work. Yeah. And I'm also struck that the administration in your testimony, you have omitted any mention of changing climate. It's no it's no uh surprise here. I've studied meteorology uh for the better part of the majority of my life.
▶ 3:29:32It's it's one of my life's loves to to communicate how our environment is changing. Um, you know, and you can't tell farmers that climate change is a hoax because they know you're lying to them. You know, I've seen the weather records on family farms. It's it's harder to farm today than it ever was before because the game is changing for them.
▶ 3:29:55So, when when you fail to acknowledge what they're dealing with and the administration says it's a too many of our farmers, they can't quit their jobs like I did to come to Congress. they quit their life. We're failing to meet their needs. And it's not politics, it's science. Um, and you can't make farmers stronger or make America healthy by slashing the very systems that produce healthy food and homegrown clean energy.
▶ 3:30:23Um, I did want to touch on and I'm very concerned uh that producers may not get their harvest to local schools and food banks through the LFPA. Um, this improves our domestic food supply chain resilience. It generates revenue for our farmers in a time when they they can't make a profit. A program that ensures healthy food gets to those who need it most. The Midwest Food Bank in the heart of Illinois provides fresh local food to 288 organizations.
▶ 3:30:49The Northern Illinois Food Bank provides more than 900,000 meals through their program. This administration's decision to cancel LFPA is a blow to local farmers, to families in need, and the institutions that serve them. In your testimony to Congress, you've mentioned repeatedly that this is COVID era. But while the pandemic is largely over, we still have this uncertainty in middle America. And now rural America has given more uncertainty as farmers see these beneficial programs go away.
▶ 3:31:19Um, you know, kids nowadays say they get the feels when something feels good. Farmers grow corn and soybeans back home. They raise cattle. Um, they're proud of their livelihood. But what gives them the feels is when they provide food for our neighbors, helping lift people out of hunger and out of poverty through the LFPA. So, Madam Secretary, yes or no?
▶ 3:31:41Will you commit to establishing a similar program that connects local farmers and local schools to food banks to provide healthier meals to students, improve food access for families, and reinvest in our economy? We are really f I know, yes or no, but forgive me. We are really focused on getting healthy produce and local farming into the schools. But but very quickly in Illinois, your local food for schools, y'all still have five.5 million out of $7 million sitting in a bank that has not been distributed.
▶ 3:32:11And that was one of the reasons why the money couldn't move fast enough into the food bank. So, let's put it let's put it into a program that works. I'm I'm all for that. Um, you know, I have heard I have deep uh concerns uh about make America healthy again. Um, as you move the president's agenda forward, will you make sure that there is a seat at the table for farmers, for ranchers? The agriculture committee wants to be able to express their um what they support, what they don't.
▶ 3:32:40We need to meet the need for food production, nutrition, access, and rural comm economies. Can we get farmers at the table? Yes. Thank you. Um also I have uh very limited time left but um uh last question. How committed are you to making sure that our research uh like the Poria A lab our a labs across the country are fulfilled and um that the money is going to them.
▶ 3:33:08Yeah of course as we have refocused and realigned but we have ensured other than a handful uh that they are continuing they are strong and that they are doing really good works. the ones that we pulled back, we had major deferred maintenance issues and a significant cost. So, if there if you're hearing differently though, please call me and let us focus on that. Thank you, Madam Secretary. I appreciate you. Thank you, gentlemen's time has expired. Now, recognize Mr. Harris for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 3:33:35And uh Madam Secretary, uh what a joy it is to have you here today and we're certainly honored to have you and uh thank you for your time and your patience and endurance uh through such a long hearing. But um Madam Secretary, the ongoing aven flu outbreak has led to the loss of over 174 million birds since 2022. It's been a plague on the industry for too long. And I frankly have heard positive feedback from the broilers and layers in my district in regards to your five-point plan.
▶ 3:34:05In fact, one of the things I've heard here uh from my colleagues uh in this being my freshman term is that you are probably the most qualified individual to serve as Secretary of Agriculture that we have had uh in the last generation. So, USDA has outlined a billion dollar plan with $500 million for farm bio security and 400 million for producer relief. Can you elaborate more on how these funds are being targeted to strengthen farm level preparedness?
▶ 3:34:34Yeah, I would really appreciate that. Thank you for those really nice words. Uh, since we rolled out the plan, we have done almost 850 biocurity assessments. So, meaning we go onto the farms and help the farmers ensure that the barns are locked down. that is uh clearly the number one and best and most effective way to stop the HPAI is the biocurity. So we have uh we've done about 830 of those.
▶ 3:34:58Uh we've spent a lot of money on indity about $70 million to repopulate the barns to get the chickens back into laying form very very quickly. Uh we have been importing some eggs while we repopulate which has allowed the prices to come down. And then of course the um hund00 million focused on a long-term solution, which hopefully we can get to in the short term.
▶ 3:35:20I'm not sure that there's been anything more heartbreaking to me in the 118 days since I was confirmed than visiting with some of these egg farmers who have lost their life. And I know there's some, you know, there's this narrative that oh, they just want the money and the depop. That's not it. these these farmers who have basically have generational egg laying farms have lost everything and so I remain committed to them.
▶ 3:35:46I've visited with a lot of them around the country over the last 100 plus days and uh and anything they're seeing that's not working we'd love to know but we're we're proud of the work so far. Great. Um can you share more about how efforts to rightsize the US agriculture trade imbalance will actually aid the industry's recovery and stabilize the egg supply we've talked about? Yeah, I think that uh the trade with specifics to trade. I was in the first Trump administration.
▶ 3:36:13I was in the West Wing with the president every day for the second, third, and fourth year. I ran the domestic policy agenda. I obviously have always believed in his vision of realigning the world and that America has been taken advantage of. What I didn't realize until this job is just how big the disparity is and how our country has been so taken advantage of year after year, decade after decade.
▶ 3:36:38And so the president's focus for us in the a community as again uncertain as this time is and as hard as it is especially on some of our rowcroppers at the end of the day just around the corner is a new day. And when we left the first Trump administration, there was a trade surplus for a after four years of Joe Biden. It was a it's a $50 billion dollar trade deficit, money directly out of our farmers pockets. Uh we are going to fix that.
▶ 3:37:03When we do, that will significantly help all of our a producers, but um certainly the ones in in your district and and the the broiler and chicken industry hopefully will be just as helped as everybody else. Gotcha. And one one final question. As you know, timely access to credit is essential for producers, especially during a downturn in the farm economy. Uh oftentimes hear from both lenders and producers about the length of time it takes to process loans.
▶ 3:37:30And um given the president's uh strong commitment to reducing the size of government and reducing regulations, can you share any efforts that the department is making to kind of speed up this process? I talk about how the 118 days have been filled with a lot of surprises, right? Uh both good and bad.
▶ 3:37:49And uh on the on the second part of that, the bad side is just how stunningly bad this agency has been at reacting, at helping, at supporting and moving out some of these programs. Um some of those loan programs are at the very top of the list.
▶ 3:38:10uh we have brought in a team of private uh formerly private very successful industry bankers etc that can help us recalibrate the whole program and I think that's really really important. We can't do our job and we can't do right by these farmers under the current situation that we inherited. Well, thank you again and and again from the 8th district of North Carolina. We hear great things and uh a lot of excitement about uh things moving forward. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. and I yield back my time.
▶ 3:38:40Thank you. Gentleman yields back now. Please recognize Mr. Riley for 5 minutes. Uh, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Secretary, for being here. I see your kids made an escape during the break. Is that right? They're so happy. I'm sure they are. I think it's time for us to go now. They looked they looked very engaged. Uh, I have a uh I will tell you 18, 17, and 15. So, mine are five and two, about to be five and two, and my 5-year-old, everybody here knows this already, uh, my 5-year-old is my most senior chief adviser.
▶ 3:39:08And when I'm new here, and when I asked him what committees uh I should get on, I read him the list of all the committees in Congress. Try explaining to a 5-year-old what Ways and Means does. Um and at the end of it, he said, "You have to get on the one with the tractors and the farm animals." And so, and so here we are. So, here you are. Congratulations. Thank you. Um you know, when I when I came here a few months ago, uh I promised that I would work with anyone from any party who wants to do right by upstate New York. And I'm going to fight anybody uh who's hurting us.
▶ 3:39:36Um, I think this committee, one of the things I do like about it, there's a lot of opportunities for bipartisanship. Earlier today, um, I was working with my friend Zack Nun on the Plant Act to crack down on uh, China. There was some conversation here about cracking down on China buying farmland. I think there's room for bipartisan agreement on that. Uh, one of the things I'd really like to work on with you is lowering uh, grocery bills and um, particularly egg prices, which I know has been a priority of yours.
▶ 3:40:03Um, back during the Obama administration, they enacted some regulations that are still on the books and they're keeping hundreds of millions of perfectly good American eggs off the market. And when you're suppressing supply, that's part of what's driving up prices. So, uh, Dusty Johnson and I have a bipartisan bill. There's 10 Republicans, six Democrats on it. I think eight of us on this committee, evenly divided, are doing that bill. We, uh, we were very creative in naming it the Lowering Egg Prices Act.
▶ 3:40:30And uh I I I was just hoping um to get your commitment that you'll work with us to get that bill done, get it to the president's desk, and do some bipartisan uh relief on grocery bills. I would love to do that. In fact, if we could maybe next week jump on the phone and you can walk me through it, that would be great. Great. I will take you up on that. What is the bill number? Uh that I don't know, but we can find we'll find it. We'll we'll Yeah. Thank you. Um I have a question, a followup on uh uh some questions I've asked you in writing previously.
▶ 3:40:55I sent you a letter uh on May 20th and in which I asked you um if you could get me a list of the farmers in my district in New York 19 and upstate New York whose contracts had been suspended uh because I want to be able to reach out to each of them individually to make sure they're getting uh what they they need. Um I followed up with you on Monday uh because I still had not received the list and then about 20 minutes before today's hearing I got a response from your office. Um it didn't answer my question.
▶ 3:41:24actually raised uh even more questions for me. And so just what do I need to do to get what I what I'm asking for is just a list of the farmers in my district whose contracts have been suspended so that I can reach out to them and make sure they're getting everything they need. It's they're confirming. It's our understanding there is no list because everything is moving at this point. Okay. So if you're hearing differently or you've got someone saying we're not moving here, would you let us know? There should be no one that's frozen. No. No.
▶ 3:41:51This is the problem is you're putting the burden on farmers who are working 20 hours a day. Let me let me finish to think to come to me to come to me and say I have a problem whereas our job should be so you haven't kept track you you've suspended there's no one that's frozen in your district. You that that's what I'm trying to get at confirm. You're telling me today every contract that had been suspended with a farmer in my district has since been unfrozen. That's our understanding. Okay. That's what I'm that's what I'm trying to get at.
▶ 3:42:20Um, and then the last thing I wanted to talk with you about, um, I would love for you to come visit Chobani with me. Uh, they're in New Berlin in Shenango County. Um, doing incredible work. Uh, it's an allnatural food company. I went, I took a tour, uh, a week or two ago. Um, they're hiring thousands of upstate New Yorkers, uh, buying millions of gallons of upstate New York milk, uh, from upstate New York farmers.
▶ 3:42:46They have this incredibly exciting uh expansion that's happening uh across upstate New York. It's really uh whether you're a Democrat or Republican, regardless of political party, it's the thing that like everybody should be excited about and I'd love to have you come with me, see it for yourself. It's incredible. I haven't been there, but I've been in contact with the CEO a couple of different times now. So, I am very aware and I I actually committed to him to come visit. I didn't realize that was in your district, but that's great. I will be there. Terrific. Well, he Well Well, he's he's above my pay grade.
▶ 3:43:14So since since you gave him the the the commitment, I'll I'll just add mine on to just follow up. Would love to host you. Yeah, that sounds great. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Now recognize Mr. Taylor from Ohio for five minutes. Thank you very much, Chairman. Thank you for holding this hearing today and thank you, Secretary Rollins, for being here. It's great to see you again. Appreciate all the hard work you're doing on uh behalf of the agriculture community.
▶ 3:43:39Um, across rural America, including in southern Ohio, solar panels are being put on some of the best farmland in the world. As you pointed out in a recent op-ed, uh, the acquisition of land for new farmers has also become increasingly difficult amid high costs and real estate development. Um, expected that 50% of all farmland will transfer hands in the next 20 years, and it's essential that that land goes to our next generation of family farmers.
▶ 3:44:06I believe farmers should have every right to do what they want with their land, but the federal government should not be incentivizing the most productive land being taken out of production. That's why I introduced the Protecting American Farmland Act to prohibit all federal funds, grants, loans, tax credits, you name it, from going towards solar panels converting prime farmland. And I've been thrilled to see your uh proactiveness on this issue.
▶ 3:44:29Um, could you talk, excuse me, a little bit about how solar panels on prime farmland are making it more difficult for the next generation of farmers to get started in the business? And for the peace of mind of new farmers, can you commit that USDA funding won't go towards putting solar panels on prime farmland in the future? 100%. Uh, I can commit to that. I will also say that I've spoken to the president about this. I will also say that we are moving regulations through USDA relative to this as much as we can within the executive branch.
▶ 3:44:58Obviously, uh, you all have the lead on that and and I'll support you in whatever way I can. The final thing I'll say is I spent my summers on our family's rowcrop farm in Minnesota. And we would fly from Texas to St. Paul every summer when I was growing up working up there. Take the hour drive from St. Paul up to Clear Lake, Minnesota through the most beautiful farmland you've ever seen.
▶ 3:45:17And in the well 53 years that I have been making that drive, watching the solar panels take over all of that farmland in that 72 mile drive is heartbreaking.
▶ 3:45:31And so, not only is it important for national security, not only is it important for the preservation of our smaller family farms, not only is it important for our rowcroppers where that land is being taken off, but it's important for the fabric of America that we're not selling away this farmland for solar panels funded by, you know, some some some interesting things. So, yes, I am 100% on board. Anything I can do to help on that, I am at your beck and call. Thank you very much.
▶ 3:45:58As I travel around southern Ohio, the most common thing I hear from farmers is the need to protect the the farm safety net, specifically crop insurance and commodity programs. That's why in the one um one big beautiful bill that the House recently passed, we included the muchneeded investment in our farm safety net. These provisions are one of the many reasons we need to put this bill on the president's desk as quickly as possible. Secretary Rollins, could you talk a little bit about the importance of including farm safety net provisions and the one big beautiful bill to our farmers and rural communities?
▶ 3:46:28I got the call for this job from President Trump on Saturday, November 23rd. I was the last cabinet, one of the the at least the the larger spots left. Um he called me Saturday morning. We were driving in our motor home from Fort Worth to Auburn, Alabama for football game and uh hung up the phone, obviously extremely honored, the honor of a lifetime. And then the very next thought in my head was how are we going to get a farm bill passed?
▶ 3:46:57And the reason is understanding the margins that these farmers have been operating under and understanding that the few times that we tried to get we I should say I wasn't part of the last four years, but it was tried to move a farm bill that was uh for a lot of reasons. A lot of people were hurting because of that, but no one hurt more by that than our farmers and and those who rely on these reference prices.
▶ 3:47:20So, I I can't say enough and have been making this case to anyone that will listen that this big, beautiful bill is important for a lot of reasons, the president's tax cuts being permanent, creating more jobs, keeping the death tax out of our family farms, etc., etc., but I'm not sure from my perspective and this job that there's anything more important than updating those reference prices. So, I'm very proud of that and hopefully goes to the finish line. Amen. Your lips to God's ears. Thank you, chairman. I yield back. Thank you, sir.
▶ 3:47:50Gentleman yields back. Now, please recognize gentleman from New Mexico, Mr. Vazquez, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh, and thank you, Secretary, for being here today. Uh, and I'm up here next to the chairman. Yes. Okay. See you. Bad eyes. Uh, Secretary, I'm glad that you've come before our committee today. I represent one of the largest and most rural districts in the country, a district that elected both me and President Trump.
▶ 3:48:13farmers, ranchers, food banks, and wildfire crews in my district rely on a properly staffed and functioning USDA, not just for support, but for survival. Uh, but right now, many of them feel that the USDA is failing them. As an example, in Silver City, New Mexico, the Frontier Food Hub, which is the only food pantry for hundreds of miles, had its community food project grant abruptly frozen halfway through its four-year terms. Frontier Food Hub isn't just feeding families.
▶ 3:48:40It's an organization that's supporting small-scale rural producers in the region. Now, they spent those funds in good faith, built partnerships, and hired local workers. But when USDA turned off their contract with no warning and no explanation and no opportunity to appeal or correct course, it put their entire operation and the food security of the region in jeopardy. Secretary Rollins, uh, as you can see, uh, this is a critical program in a place like Silver City, New Mexico.
▶ 3:49:07Uh, would you commit to upholding funding for rural communities in places like Silver City that provide these services? I are you talking about the local food um the LFPA or the local food for schools, the local food purchases? Well, there's so many. I've got a couple different thoughts, but depending on which one you're talking about. Yeah, it's the community food project. The community food project. Okay, that's okay. I understand.
▶ 3:49:31So our commitment and continues to be that we ensure that we're using taxpayer dollars that the uh producers around those areas understanding some of the food insecurity continues to be priority. What I would really appreciate and I've actually been talking to Senator Hinrich from New Mexico about a couple of other key issues is that you let us know specifics and what that looks like and how it is compromised potentially uh the goals of that community in New Mexico. Thank you, Secretary. I appreciate that. We will follow up.
▶ 3:50:00Now, I also represent the Hila and the Lincoln National Forest, and we're heading into peak wildfire season. Yes, New Mexico experienced two of its largest wildfires in just two uh two years ago. Yet, dozens of our seasoned Forest Service firefighters and trail crews have been fired and sidelined. Uh in fact, I met with a group of seven trail crew, seven members of a trail crew uh who actually are are the ones who maintain the trails and cut fire lines in the wilderness areas of the forest who are just one week away from being fired.
▶ 3:50:27Uh these are the very people that we rely on to protect our communities, to clear our trails, and to manage our forests. And without them, this wildfire season could be more dangerous, deadly, and disastrous than the one we recently saw. We're now in fire season. Has the USDA done any analysis on how these cuts impact public safety and fireprone rural communities? We have. We're 96% operational. We're way ahead, not way ahead, we are ahead of where the Biden administration was a year ago in preparation for fire season.
▶ 3:50:55and we have more firefighters on the ground and ready to go. I actually have been in conversations about this also with your senator uh from New Mexico specifically talking about the New Mexico challenges. So, we are aware and leaned in. But again, please send any information to me that you see that's different from what I am understanding for for New Mexico. Thank you, Secretary. I appreciate that. And where a lot of the work happens again is with the trail crews who have a function within the larger preventative uh uh control of these forest fires.
▶ 3:51:24And so we definitely need uh firefighters to respond to a fire incident, but we also need the the folks who are out there cutting those trails that allow those firefighters in. Um so I I'd suggest that we we continue to look at those positions as as very valuable to the entire firefighting ecosystem. I agree and we are we have invested a lot of money in the the clearing. Uh so let me get my arms around exactly what that looks like for New Mexico and we'll follow up. Thank you so much, Secretary.
▶ 3:51:49Now, uh, every member of this committee has shared similar stories, uh, involving food pantries left in the dark, trail crews cast aside, producers, uh, that the USDA, uh, has promised to support. Uh, I introduced the Honor Farmers Contracts Act, uh, which is, uh, a bill essentially that, uh, would would allow USDA to fully uh, pay those contracts that have already been executed, some dealing back all the way to last year, uh, because constituents are holding up their hand of the deal, but they feel USDA isn't.
▶ 3:52:17So, I'd love for you to take a look at that bill and see if something that uh that you would support. Now, um I listen to the people on the ground in my district and so I created an agricultural advisory group. Now, in my district, we go pecans, chili, cotton, beef, uh and so many other specialty crops as well. Uh and those local leaders that make up my a advisory committee, uh which the chairman here has has been gracious enough to to talk to uh would love the opportunity uh to talk with you and and even more so to see you in the district.
▶ 3:52:46uh and in order to understand these impacts in my local community uh would you be willing to visit the second district of New Mexico in the near future? I would. I would. Thank you so much, Secretary, and thank you chairman. I yield. Yeah. Thank you, sir. Gentlemen yields back. Now recognize the gentle lady from Texas, Miss Dela Cruz, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Secretary, for being here today.
▶ 3:53:10I sit before you with immense gratitude and a profound sense of hope for our farmers, especially in deep south Texas. We are indebted to you for not only focusing and visiting our Rio Grand Valley in our deep south Texas, but talking about was the what was the number one issue for us, which was the water deliveries that came from Mexico that they were obligated to
▶ 3:53:40give us due to the 1944 water treaty. your tireless effort in putting that at the front of the national stage and sitting in the Oval Office many times with President Trump and being the voice for South Texas farmers who had really lost hope, many of which lost their uh farms. In fact, as you know, we lost our sugarcane industry due to Mexico not delivering that water.
▶ 3:54:10So, thank you from the bottom of my heart and from all of South Texas. Not only that, but you quickly pushed forward the $280 million that went to our farms that were affected by the 1944 water treaty.
▶ 3:54:26Yesterday I had one of my farming constituents here that I took to dinner and she said, "Monica, we received our money from the the $280 million that were allocated to us and it saved our farm family. Had we waited even a moment longer, I would not be able to sit with you today as a farming family." So I know that it made a profound impact.
▶ 3:54:57Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Uh your tireless effort has been noticed and recognized and you made a difference in our family community and our farming community. That that being said, um I also want to say that the next step for us with the 1944 water treaty is that we work together with you, with the secretary um uh Rubio as well as the trade secretary to make sure that we get the 1944 water treaty
▶ 3:55:28as part of the discussion into the USMCA agreement. That will be our goal, that the treaty become part of the USMCA agreement so that it has teeth for further discussions should Mexico not comply again with the 1944 water treaty. So, can I have your commitment to work with us in getting the 1944 water treaty into the USMCA agreement? Yes. Thank you so much.
▶ 3:55:58I appreciate that. So now that we've made big strides in getting water delivered to our farmers, the next thing is the screworm. That is something that is um of of great importance to our farmers, our rancher ranchers, our cattlemen are very very worried about the screworm.
▶ 3:56:21Um, it has a it's a devastating pest that poses a severe risk to our livestock and our wildlife and is threatening generational farms and farming families. Um, it could have catastrophic consequences to our agricultural economy and to our natural ecosystem.
▶ 3:56:45Recognizing the urgency of this threat, I was proud to introduce the New World Screworm Preparedness Act of 2025 and believe that this legislation will help bolster our defenses and enhance surveillance and ensure that we have the necessary resources and infrastructure to prevent and respond to potential outbreaks.
▶ 3:57:09Uh with this in mind, I would like to encourage you to consider a new sterile fly facility that a sterile fly facility is established here in the United States, but consider more air base in Idalgo County as its potential sites. Would that be something that you would consider? Yes, and uh we will be in touch on that very soon.
▶ 3:57:35Uh but you are 100% right, Congresswoman, and uh continues to be my great honor to partner with you. You are relentless and uh just such a great advocate and and I'm just really honored uh first on the water now working together on the screworm. I know you know this. I'm in constant communication with my counterpart in Mexico, Secretary Berdigay and the Mexican government. Uh we have to move the screworm back and if we don't, we'll have another three decades of trying to recover from it.
▶ 3:58:01So, uh, we'll have an announcement very, very soon and you'll be hearing from our office on that. Excellent. Well, thank you. I hope that more airbase will be considered since it does have the infrastructure available to combat this. Yes. Thank you. I I yield back. Thank you. Time is expired. I'll be recognizing Mr. manion uh next and then that'll finish up the kind of the special order when those who are here when we recess and then we'll resume the regular order um on on the list here. So, Mr.
▶ 3:58:31Manions recognized for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Madame Secretary, thank you for appearing today and for your service to America's farmers. Uh earlier this year, I wrote a letter uh expressing deep concern about USDA's plan to close dozens of FSA and NRCS offices nationwide. Uh in May, I also joined a delegation letter about the proposed lease termination of the Syracuse, New York field office that serves my district.
▶ 3:59:03Um, I appreciate receiving USDA's response to that letter this morning and it but I remain worried uh that shutting these front door offices will leave rural producers without the help and assistance they rely on. Um, so just where are we where are you as far in terms of USDA reorganization and potential office moves? And sir, I'm sorry I missed it. Which specific offices? It was Syracuse, New York.
▶ 3:59:30the Syracuse, New York FSA office or rural development. Do you know which? It's a USDA office. Okay. Well, um we are going through the reorganization. So, for example, in some buildings, we have four different leases. Our GSA um is the one managing all of that. I am not aware of any office that is closing. We shouldn't in terms of our interfacing with the farmers, but again, if if you could get more specifics, we can dig into that. Uh and in fact, the team maybe can look at that right now. I appreciate that. Mr.
▶ 4:00:00Riley is adjacent to my district, he mentioned our dairy community and uh we have um you know in my conversations with representatives from USDA and our farmers how essential that these offices are and I uh they appreciate having that easy access and can problem solve and assist those that need it. So, I agree.
▶ 4:00:25We are I appreciate you looking into that and certainly understand that uh there's a lot going on at these points and I uh will give more details on the specific division that you had requested. We'll follow up with your team. Uh just finally, as far as dairy, we are the New York's the fifth largest dairy state in the country.
▶ 4:00:46Uh, I do not have that Chobani plant in uh my district, nor do I have uh uh the new proposed $1.2 billion Chobani district that will be in or plant that will be in Representative Stefonic's district, but I share many concerns who have been expressed in this hearing. There will need just themselves upwards of 180,000 more cows. Yeah.
▶ 4:01:13many of whom do exist or will exist in my district and neighboring. So, uh, I thank you. I ask that you, I'm sure, will continue to work with the Secretary of Labor and other members of this administration and the legislature to work towards a yearround dairy farmer visa. That's right.
▶ 4:01:32and and understanding the labor H2A needs so much work and this committee has has been done heroes work on it, but no one is more affected and needs reform more than our dairy industry and uh so working very closely and in concert to try to get that done is is of utmost priority for me. Thank you, Madam Secretary. I yield back. All right. There's a new sheriff in town, so I'm going to I'm going to recognize myself. Uh I'm so sorry.
▶ 4:02:00The lease cancellation you're talking about was rescended, so that should be solved. Syracuse, New York. You're welcome. I'm so sorry, sir. Already off the rails. Already breaking the rules. Uh Madam Secretary, it's great to have you here. Uh I just have to start out by saying you're you're a breath of fresh air. your optimism, your excitement, and the fact that you were essentially born and raised just about an hour and a half north of where my rowcrop farm is uh brings a brings a smile to my face.
▶ 4:02:30Uh I want to talk a little bit about um really the family farm and and the future of the family farm. I am a fourth generation farmer. I am a a farm kid and a product of the 80s when we had some really tough times. And the message to farm country was this is no life for you. Get off the farm. We can't make it. Interest rates are too high. Commodity prices were too risky. You know the routine.
▶ 4:02:56And now we fast forward and I am raising the fifth generation and I look at uh egg trade deficit. I look at the inputs that continue to to to us. I look at a stagnant market. And so as I look to what we were able to do in in the reconciliation package, the big beautiful bill, there's some things in it I'd like to to hear your thoughts on.
▶ 4:03:17And specifically to me, uh, you know, as I get closer to 50 and further away from 40, I start thinking about things like what what does passing the farm on look And farmers of my size really are crippled with the fact that uh if we were to gift or to uh you know, god forbid, uh hit the ply pearly gates early and our kids are left with our farm, do they sell land just to pay the tax bill? Right.
▶ 4:03:45And so in the reconciliation package, I'm really proud of the fact that we were able to take a look at the death tax, the estate tax, uh but more specifically the 199A, the 45Z, the 179 deductions, and the permanency that we were able to make in that.
▶ 4:03:59So, I'd like to hear your thoughts on on maybe the business side of farming and what we were uh able to accomplish in the uh uh big beautiful bill through the house here and and and maybe give a message of hope to my next the fifth generation of my farm uh and what it looks like to be a farmer in Minnesota, the future. Yeah, thank you for that. And and I uh the best part about my job in the last 118 days, we have been non-stop on the road.
▶ 4:04:26uh been to your amazing state been been to I think 17 or 18 states at this point two countries we'll continue but just meeting with the farmers and and hearing from them specifically everywhere I go I'll do two or three roundts so I can you know it's not one or two it's it's a it's a 15 20 25 person round table and just hearing from people just like you who are third fourth fifth sixth seventh generation farmers and the number one concern that always comes up is how do I preserve this way of life for my children and my children's
▶ 4:04:57children. And that has really struck me as perhaps when I leave hopefully in three and a half years, but perhaps when I leave, if there's one thing I could have done, it would to have been made the road smoother for the generations coming behind you and coming behind me to stay in this way of life. And so about a month ago, I told the team, I said, "We've got to come up with a I'm a policy person at heart.
▶ 4:05:22We've got to come up with a slate of policy that allows this to continue indefinitely. And as we hit year 250 for the American dream and the American birthday, a country that was founded on farming and farmers that was fought by farmers in the original revolution that the entire fabric of our nation is based on that discipline and hard work and love of country. I just can't underscore how important this is.
▶ 4:05:48And so the work that you all did in the big beautiful bill, whether it was the, you know, protecting two million family farms from the death tax, whether it was uh making sure we've got 10 billion dollars in tax cuts going to our family farmers, whether it was a 3.8 8 billion increase in income to our family farmers whether to your point the 45Z and extending that to 2031.
▶ 4:06:11These are game changers and I will do whatever I can all day every day to ensure that it moves forward in a significant way. Having said all of that, if we don't open up these world markets, if we don't bring down the cost of inputs, if we don't ensure that our family farms have a prosperous future where they're not reliant or mostly reliant on the government payout, then we won't get to the next 250 years
▶ 4:06:41and be the America that we are today. That's how seriously I take this. So, thank you for your work and thank you for the opportunity to partner on that. I appreciate that. in the few seconds that I have left. I mean, I I will just tell you that the farmers that I have the honor representing in southern Minnesota tell me all the time that they want to farm for a market. They don't want to farm for the mailbox. That's right. They they don't want the government to have to step in because they want a market that produces and they want to run their business as a business.
▶ 4:07:07So, I really appreciate your thoughts and appreciate the passion that you bring uh to this role and looking forward to your continued leadership. Oh, thank you, Congressman. You bet. All right. Uh with that, we will go to Mr. Gray. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Ranking Member Craig, Secretary Rollins, thank you for appearing here today. It's nice to see you again. We met uh I think at your first day on the job. I came over with the chairman. You were nice enough to give me your cell phone number.
▶ 4:07:38Yes. And uh so we can keep in touch. Nice to see you again. Next time we'll make sure we invite. you don't take it personally. So, my district uh lies in the uh heart of California's Central Valley, a region that feeds the nation and much of the world. We produce over 59 billion in agricultural output each year, accounting for one in every four bites of food consumed by Americans daily.
▶ 4:08:08We grow almonds, dairy, citrus, tomatoes, cotton, you name it. And we do it with less water, less margin for air, and more climate risk than just about anywhere else in the country. What keeps us competitive and what keeps us resilient is research and innovation. My district is home to both UC Merrced and Merced College, both institutions that are leading the country in that respect.
▶ 4:08:34At Merced College, the AGTech workforce initiative is redefining how we train and upskill the next generation of agricultural professionals. Complementing this effort, we have a 22,000 square foot a innovation center. UC Merrced's home to one of the most cutting edge smart farms in the country. All of this supported through federal and state investments, including the $65 million F3 award benefiting both those institutions and those programs.
▶ 4:09:04These institutions produce the science that allows agriculture in the valley to stay ahead of diseases, water scarcity, uh, global competitors. And we're not talking about the ivory tower theory here. We're talking about cutting edge, applicable, and exciting research happening every day in our universities and more importantly on our farms.
▶ 4:09:25This leads to better irrigation systems that stretch every drop of water, pest and drought resilient crop varieties, carbon smart techniques that boost soil health and reduce emissions. These are the very tools that will shape the future of agriculture, not just in California, but throughout the country. And yet, the USDA's 2025 budget proposal slashes millions in agricultural research and farmer support.
▶ 4:09:51While we are reducing our investment in American egg research, countries like China and Brazil are doubling down. They're building new research stations, funding climate resilient agriculture, dominating global markets with lower costs and higher volume. If we want American agriculture to remain the glo the global gold standard, we cannot afford to fall behind in And let's be clear, food security is national security.
▶ 4:10:20When USDA cuts research funding, it's not just scientists who lose out. It's farmers trying to manage water shortages. It's dairy producers investing in affordable feed alternatives or methane digesttors and other technologies to help them remain So, Madam Secretary, these cuts send the wrong message that rural America is expected to do more with less. That we'll figure it out without the resources or tools our competitors are using to leap ahead.
▶ 4:10:49I know budgets are tight, but cutting research is both short-sighted and fiscally irresponsible. So, Secretary Rollins, my question is two-part. One, how do you and I collaborate? And how do we collaborate here in Congress as a body to ensure that this administration starts to prioritize these critical investments that will be the foundation of agriculture and uh farming over this next hundred years?
▶ 4:11:16And two, can I get a commitment from you that you will come to my district and let me show you firsthand the innovation and breadth of production that makes up the greatest and largest farming valley in the world. Yeah. I for the fir the last question first. I I would be honored to come visit.
▶ 4:11:35Um let me just if I could provide a little context though because I do think your points are salient and they're important, but in the budget we only cut about 7% and that way we went from 2.1 billion uh with ARS to 1.9 billion. And I I understand what you're saying. That's still 7% or 7.6% I think. but that was very specific to some outdated facilities that weren't um online and weren't producing the research that was necessary.
▶ 4:12:02We remain wholly committed to the research that you mentioned um the universities that you mentioned I'm a product of a land grant Texas A&M out of Texas uh really believe in the work that is being done and to your point about national security it is more important today than ever before that we continue that. Well, Madam Secretary, I appreciate that response and I look forward to hosting you uh in Merrced and throughout the Sanwaqin Valley. It's a beautiful place and we do some incredible things there. And you know, you've said this administration supports agriculture.
▶ 4:12:32You've said you want to level the playing field for rural producers. Certainly like to work with you, but time has expired. I look forward to that. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back. Thank you. Now, please to recognize the gentleman from Texas, Mr. Jackson for Thank you, Mr. Uh thank you, Madam Secretary, for being here today. We appreciate your time. Um I just want to tell you start off by saying the uh the great state of Texas is really proud of you. You're doing a wonderful job. We really appreciate it.
▶ 4:13:01Uh I will say that, you know, during the Biden administration, uh the USDA was weaponized to push uh identity politics, green energy scams, and lots of other things that were the detriment of rural America and our agricultural producers. Once again, on behalf of myself and the hardworking farmers and ranchers of Texas 13th Congressional District, I want to thank you, Madam Secretary, for returning the USDA to its original mission of taking care of all of these uh that feed and clothe our our country.
▶ 4:13:28Uh I have the pleasure, as you know, of representing the largest um fed cattle district in the United States. Uh and my feeders rely on imports of live cattle from Mexico to supplement their feed yards and remain competitive in what they do. I understand that the restriction on live animals was not an easy choice uh and that the USDA made that to protect America's herd health. Uh but every day that imports are suspended, my constituents, their businesses are severely impacted.
▶ 4:13:54Madam Secretary, I just wanted to ask you uh as you mentioned in your testimony, the USDA is currently reviewing the import suspension every 30 days. Could you please describe to us what are the metrics the agency would like to reach before resuming entry of re-entry of live cattle and what can this committee do to enhance inspection activities at US ports of entry along the southern border once a suspension is lifted. We want to do everything we can to get this over as quickly as possible. Yeah, I I hear you.
▶ 4:14:22And realize this is a significant significant um decision with big big big consequences for not just Mexico, but for us, for Texans, and for for the industry. Uh the 30 days is our benchmark, but we're assessing every single day. Uh the metric that we're looking for is to watch the screw room retreat uh south.
▶ 4:14:42It basically moved from about,00 feet from the border, I'm sorry, 1100 miles from the border to 700 miles from the border within just a matter of weeks, which again, we hadn't seen that kind of movement in decades. Uh, I can't underscore enough what a dire situation this is. We have put tens of millions of dollars into additional sterile fly uh production south of the border. We'll have a significant announcement in a couple days to continue expanding on that.
▶ 4:15:11I'm in almost daily touch with Secretary Berdigay of Mexico. Uh the challenge is that the sophistication of their data collection, not surprisingly, south of the border is not up to our standards. So they have, I will give them credit more than ever before, at least in our team's um partnership, have been more open and more willing to allow our team on the ground to ourselves assess the situation.
▶ 4:15:37But please know, please know that every day we are on this and we understand the consequence of this decision and are working so hard to be able to open those ports back up. Thank you. I appreciate that. And obviously the the sterile fly facility is going to help with the long term, you know, dealing with this on the long term so that we don't get, like you said, in a situation where it plays for the next 30 years. But yeah, anything we can do to on the short term, that's going to be key for the folks that that I represent right now.
▶ 4:16:02Um, I also wanted to applaud your leadership in quickly and effectively delivering desperately needed economic assistance for America's farmers and ranchers. Uh, while the last administration delayed critical disaster assistance to promote identity politics, uh, which, you know, just it was, you know, unthinkable. Your agency is working to swiftly deliver support to producers that will help them remain in operation.
▶ 4:16:22uh as we continue to move towards the implementation of the supplemental disaster relief program, how are you ensuring that our farmers who suffered from indemnified losses and shallow losses are compensated in a timely fashion? We I I am really proud of this. I think relative to and not to throw the last administration completely under the bus, I think this is true of of many of the administrations before us, but we have moved more quickly than even most people thought possible. Uh the ECAP of course went out ahead of time and you send your paperwork in within three days.
▶ 4:16:52We turned the funding around. The next trunch is the the 20 billion. The 10 billion was the first trunch, the 21 billion. We've already begun to move that out. You probably are tracking the livestock piece was the first piece. Uh in Texas alone, uh 50 41,000 producers, uh 2023 losses, 13,000 producers, 2024 losses. Uh that money is moving. Um we've already begun distribution and should be finished in the next 30 to 60 days with all of it.
▶ 4:17:17There's some, you know, some hang-ups with the Northeast block grant, but for Texas and the livestock, it's moving very quickly. Well, thank you. I appreciate it. I do think you're doing a great job. It's much faster than it used to be. And, you know, it's not, it hasn't been so much the uh the ability to get the uh the relief approved, but to get it delivered to those who need it. So, thank you for what you're doing. With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Gentleman yields back. Now, would you please recognize the gentleman from Alabama, Mr. Figures, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Secretary Rollins, pleasure to meet you.
▶ 4:17:47I um my feelings are hurt that I was not one of the cool kids u that got to come over uh in the early days of We'll fix that of you coming coming on board. Um but uh but I appreciate you being here. Um also appreciate your staff getting ready for this. I've been in their shoes before and preparing an executive branch official uh a cabinet agency head for this sort of testimony. So it's a lot of work. It is. It is indeed.
▶ 4:18:14I uh I represent Alabama, the second congressional district of Alabama, which um includes Mobile, Montgomery, Tuskegee, Troy, Phoenix City, and a bunch of other places I'm sure you've never heard of. Um but um within it is is Tuskkegee, formerly the Tuskkegee Institute, now Tuskegee University, one of the land grant colleges. Uh we also have Alabama&M University in the state of Alabama, another land grant college.
▶ 4:18:38Um, and given uh USDA's history uh particularly in the state of Alabama, one of my colleagues earlier mentioned how some of the about 50% of the uh the black farmer litigation settlement money is is has come to Alabama. Um there's a sensitivity there um just given historical race relations with USDA obviously that predated uh you um and how USDA treats minority communities particularly in the state of Alabama.
▶ 4:19:03And so through that lens, the suspension of the land grant scholar program uh was something that resonated a little bit differently um I think for us uh in Alabama. And I just in looking at a timeline, look, I trust me, I want to I want to grill you on the things that I think you were fully responsible for and praise you for things uh as well, but looking at the timeline, I I kind of doubt it was you that made that full decision and pushed that full process just given when you were confirmed,
▶ 4:19:33when the suspension was announced, when the suspension was reversed. And so I want to get to a little bit of the bottom of how we got there. um because that really impacted a lot of students um across the country especially um at Tuskegee University and that that university has done a lot in terms of a we know the history of George Washington Carver and what they've meant uh so my question to you is uh first twofold uh one the 1862 schools also have the same land grant scholar program is that correct
▶ 4:20:04I believe that's correct but I I want to confirm that. All right. Thank you. And it's also my understanding that when the 1890 land grant scholar program was paused, that funding was paused, that it was not paused for the 1862 schools. Is that your understanding of it? I need to I need to research that. I'm so sorry. I don't have that off the top of my head. Got it. No problem. Um, media reports and what was uploaded on the website indicates as much.
▶ 4:20:29And so given that history that I just alluded to, it feels it it it it feels bad. We've had some people talk about identity politics, but it feels that when you have the 1862 schools, which are the Texas&M's and the LSUs, historically white, when they were established, segregated institutions, their funding is not touched. But then you have the 1890s which were all historically black colleges stood up post civil war. Their funding was stopped.
▶ 4:21:00That feels problematic based on identity. Um and that was something that we that we you know obviously took issue with and it was reversed within 5 days. But I feel like looking at that timeline that that was something that was already in motion before you were confirmed. Um and so my question is was that a product of Doge or was that the product of like how did we get there? I guess is the first question. And and I I wish I knew the the the the the answer to that um because it was before my time. But but I will say this that I was in the first Trump administration.
▶ 4:21:31We were the first administration to guarantee full funding for the HBC. And I'm not questioning your commitment to them. I just want to make sure that we don't end up there with some future funding. Yeah. No, sir. I I appreciate that and and I I take it to heart and I understand the optics. Um, I do and I think it's important to note that this administration is very committed to those universities and have been unequivocal in saying so. I appreciate it. I don't want to cut you off.
▶ 4:21:58I just want to capitalize on my last 45 seconds here, but but thank you for that and definitely want to work towards making sure that that does not happen again because it feels very racially motivated when the I promise you it was not racially motivated. I think it was just an imperfect process. Um, that was Well, I I I can appreciate that. I can appreciate that. Last thing um that I have time for and I'll follow up with you on some other things because I would love to sit down with you is rural hospitals in my district are among the worst in the country.
▶ 4:22:26We have 26 rural hospitals in the state of Alabama that have been rated at risk of closure. We have 22 that are rated at immediate risk of closure. Um we have several in my district that are monthtomonth. They have to go borrow money or get money from the city council or county commission every single month just to be able to make payroll. Yeah, we need help with that to keep these communities open. They support our farmers. They support the industries that's left in our rural communities.
▶ 4:22:49And I really want to sit down with you and figure out ways we can leverage the programs that you guys have to support uh rural hospitals to keep them open in my district and across the state in this country. I can't tell you how important I think that is. And I think we talk a lot about farming and agriculture that is the driver, but the rural piece of this and having thriving rural communities. You can't do that without the hospitals, the housing, the child care, etc. So, I am very focused on this for the long term. The gentleman's time is expired. Now recognize the gentleman from Tennessee, Mr. Rose, for five minutes.
▶ 4:23:19Thank you, Chairman Thompson, and and Ranking Member Craig for holding this vital hearing today. And and thank you, Secretary Rollins, for your testimony and joining us today. I want to begin by applauding the Trump Vance administration on the nomination of now Secretary Rollins to lead the US Department of Agriculture and guide the backbone industry of our country.
▶ 4:23:40Secretary Rollins, I appreciate your diligent work thus far, delivering on a new and empowering era for our farmers and look forward to working with you to secure a prosperous future for all of rural America. As a fellow former state FFA officer and a former commissioner of agriculture and a fierce conservative, I am confident the department will continue to thrive under your leadership.
▶ 4:24:06And I I would be remiss if I didn't say I was not excited about your de newly confirmed deputy secretary from our own state of Tennessee who's a dear friend and I know will be a capable uh ally and and yes he will assistant to you. Uh Secretary Rollins, thank you for your swift action in suspending the implementation of the previous administration's overreaching and impractical rule, the Horse Protection Act amendments.
▶ 4:24:34Uh, as the department engages with qualified individuals to restructure the rule, can you highlight details of the administration's plan to ensure a new rule has not only longevity and remains practical for equestrian industries, specifically the Tennessee walking horse industry. Well, I think the first conversation I ever had with Steven Vaden, uh, who I did not know before this process began about six months ago, was about this rule. So, you have no greater advocate.
▶ 4:25:04Uh, I would like to say I am going to be the greatest advocate. I am a a horse girl. I grew up showing horses, but I don't think I beat Stephen Vaden. So, listen, our commitment is that uh we're here for four years. We're going to do everything we can to do right by our agriculture community, including our horse community. But if it all whiplashes back, you know, the day that we leave, then it perhaps is for not. And so ensuring that we can do this in an intentional way with longevity is of utmost importance.
▶ 4:25:32So we'll really look forward to your partnership in that. Well, thank you, Secretary Rollins. And I don't want to speak too much for this for the chairman, but he has enjoyed uh riding a Tennessee walking horse himself and uh invite ranking member Craig to come down and experience that. And I think anyone who is whoever rides a Tennessee walking horse will understand what has made them so popular through the years. Yeah. Uh so thank you for that commitment.
▶ 4:25:56Uh I am proud of the investments in production agriculture Republicans secured in the House version of the one big beautiful bill act that passed recently on the House side. However, we are still on the clock, you might say, to pass a farm bill with robust provisions that strengthen rural America.
▶ 4:26:14Madam Secretary, as we turn our focus to passing a new farm bill, can you highlight some of the titles and programs Congress should prioritize from your perspective to ensure that this legislation provides the necessary tools to bolster farmers and land owners? Well, I think that a lot of that obviously is in the big beautiful bill.
▶ 4:26:35will hopefully we'll stay into the finish line but but if not or if so the continued effort on ref reference prices is so important uh for the viability and continuing um work obviously the rural prosperity part of this we'll see what that looks like but I'll be rolling something out on that very soon in partnership uh a lot of what we're already talking about of course SNAP reform is a major major issue we've talked a lot about that today of course that's 85% of the farm bill uh depending on how you how you slice the So
▶ 4:27:06there is a lot that we can prioritize, but ultimately continuing to put our farmers first, moving toward a new era of prosperity, opening up markets, bringing down uh inflation and the cost of inputs, ensuring we've got the crop protection tools that we need. All of the above is important. I'm not sure there's a frankly a more important effort once we get through this reconciliation bill and effort than than the farm bill will be in in just a just a little while. Well, thank you. And you mentioned opening markets.
▶ 4:27:32You know, in my lifetime, and we're not that far apart in age, uh thankfully for most of my lifetime, the US has enjoyed a trade surplus with respect to agricultural products. But we saw during the prior administration that change to a considerable trade deficit, and I think that is driven by a number of factors, but first among them is the lack of focus by the prior administration on opening markets.
▶ 4:27:57So in the last 20 seconds, if you could speak to what you can do as secretary and what the administration will do to open markets for US agricultural products abroad. We will be relentless and we will not sleep uh until those markets are open. And I think you see an all of government approach. And and I've mentioned this, but let me repeat quickly because I know we're out of time. Just in my first two trips, first to the UK, second to Italy, headed to Vietnam, Japan, and India in a couple of weeks, then down to Peru and Brazil and others.
▶ 4:28:27uh the encouragement, the meetings I have had, not just with the government. The important piece of this is with the private sector as well in Italy. Uh a week and a half ago, I was meeting with the soybean buyers, the Italian soybean buyers, and they are so excited. I'm meeting with them again in a week. They're coming to America to talk about this that uh the sky, I believe, is the limit for this new era uh for our farmers. Thank you, Secretary. Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Thank you. Gentleman's time is expired.
▶ 4:28:55Now, please recognize the gentle lady from Maryland, uh, Miss Mlan Delaney, for five minutes. So, thank you, Secretary Rollins. Um, I really appreciate your deep preparation today. You're diving into the figures and really having the ability and and receptivity to following up with each of our offices. It really means a difference. And I did watch your children. Um, they were very patiently waiting.
▶ 4:29:21Um, and I too have an 18-year-old daughter and she's headed to Texas for college in the fall. Oh, that's where in Texas? Uh, TCU. Oh, that's my hometown. I at least you didn't say Texas. If you said the University of Texas, that would have been tough. But no, that's great. There's that's a great place. I have four daughters. So, anyway, I grew up in a farming family in Buell, Idaho. Uh would have been a fourth generation uh farmer had I not moved to Maryland.
▶ 4:29:46Um, but I really appreciate farm count uh farm country and rural America. Um, but in I represent the sixth district of Maryland and it stretches from uh the tech hubs of Montgomery County to the orchards and farms of Frederick and Alagany and Garrett and Washington counties. And I love the conversation about the dairy farmers because we have a lot of dairy farms in Washington County. But um Maryland has over 12,000 farms and we support over 83,000 jobs and it generates billions a year.
▶ 4:30:16But when I spoke with all of our five farm bureaus and our farmers and our ranchers, they're really um very concerned about cuts to agricultural education and research, the tariffs obviously, and unstable markets. And it's a tsunami of challenges. Um I will follow up with some questions at the end because I won't get through to all of them, but I have two key concerns for my constituents. One's about rural broadband access and one is about staffing challenges at the farm services agencies.
▶ 4:30:45um and they just really want kind of a roadmap on what is what is ahead. So I did listen into your confirmation hearing and I it was um you were very articulate but you did say when farmers prosper rural America prospers and I so agree with that because you pledge to do everything in your power to help farmers, ranchers and our communities thrive. But I believe that access to affordable high-speed broadband ensures that rural America thrives.
▶ 4:31:13And um I had the privilege of serving um in the uh NTIA um and helping roll out the broadband. Um the president's budget slashes rural broadband funding at USDA and uh freezes the reconnect program entirely. And I also saw NTI budget would be cut by 19%. Um this is really concerning to me. If broadband is the backbone of economic opportunity, as I believe it it it is, how do you intend to our farmers and ranchers aren't left behind?
▶ 4:31:44And do you have a clear roadmap or strategy about coordination of USDA funds with other um funding streams? Um because it's really important that we get this done. I couldn't agree with you more. Uh I will look into I'm going to make a note to myself that specific program you mentioned, the reconnect. Uh the president has been again resolute in his commitment to ensuring that all of rural America is connected.
▶ 4:32:10In the last administration that I served with him, uh this was a big part of our uh of our effort. So let me look into that specifically and get back to you. Uh I think that's really important and the USDA freezes too. the USDA freezes specifically. And then of course, you know, as as innovation changes with satellite and others, there may be better ways for that connectivity, but uh but would really look forward to working with you and and potentially identifying what that looks like. Yeah. And I would love to follow up on that because I did a lot in the satellite and and fiber arena.
▶ 4:32:40There's a lot of challenges along that area. Um and then the second is really something that was brought up by our five bureau farm bureaus and it's a pressing problem. There's ongoing staff shortages at Maryland's Farm Service Agency and it's really risking delays in services for our farmers. Um right now the the state office lacks a state executive director and filling this leadership role is really urgent. Um Maryland already has a qualified candidate ready to step into the role and provide this assistance.
▶ 4:33:09And I think, you know, obviously with 15% of USDA, you know, um, uh, having left, um, it's really important to have expertise um, within the states and to fill these. Just wanted to know if we could follow up with you and if you had any insights into that. That would be great. I know we have moved out a lot of those state directors. Obviously, you would know if if you haven't heard we've done Maryland, then we probably haven't, but let me check on that and get back to you.
▶ 4:33:36Um, I honestly am really looking forward in this next sort of month or two to lean into this FSA question. I want to understand where all the states are, where the offices are, the 4hour wait times I keep hearing about from people calling in. They're only open Tuesday and Thursday, too. So, yeah, that would be great. Yeah, that that's unacceptable. And so, whatever we need to do, um, we will solve for that. Uh, I haven't not had the time yet to do it, but but that's next. So, okay.
▶ 4:34:03And I'll just say in closing, I'll be submitting a couple of questions for the record, including um about our Maryland University research and a innovation research, nutrition assistance, and then um your supplemental disaster relief program because we had historic flooding in Alageney County. I would I would welcome that. You got a good basketball coach from Texas A&M, by the way. I yield back. He's very good. Jill's time is expired. Now recognize Mr. Nun from Iowa. Well, thank you, Mr.
▶ 4:34:31Chairman, and thank you, Secretary Rollins, again for joining us here. You came as one of the first states to the great state of Iowa, which is a large leader in corn, soybean, hogs, and eggs. And thank you for bringing down the price of eggs. It seems like a small thing, but when you're a dad of six kids, it matters. And to this country, it matters. Your leadership made that happen. Thank you very much. While you're there, I want to say first, thanks and foremost for learning about bofuels in a really meaningful way and what this committee and this team on both sides of the aisle have done to make this a priority.
▶ 4:35:01You came to the man family farm and you saw what it means to be able to have a generational family farm. You're a a daughter of the farmland as it were and you've helped make it a priority for other families to have the same success. I also want to say thank you for your quick work. When we looked at uh you know actions here in DC having consequences, we were in danger of Iowa State losing some of those frontline folks who were providing treatments and vaccines and protection for turkey flocks that were cold by half a million.
▶ 4:35:30And because of your work, we were able to save not only those jobs that were important, but they were critical for USDA security on the front line of a agricultural health. Thank you. Lastly, I want to talk about one of the things that was a top issue for so many of our farmers when you came to our farm forums. It's about finding new markets. Yeah. Challengingly, for the last four years, the Biden administration left us with zero new trade deals.
▶ 4:35:57We went from trade equity in a to a $50 billion deficit. That's real money out of family farms and that's real hardship going forward for every one of us who enjoys paying a reasonable price at the grocery store. I'm so proud that with our chairman we were able to move forward 285 million for permanent mandatory year-over-year funding for trade promotion that this committee on both sides secured in the reconciliation bill. Now funding is critical but so is followthrough.
▶ 4:36:26You heard from farmers at our round table that they don't want a handout. They want to be able to sell their product. And I want to say thank you so much for the trade work that you've already taken because when you left Iowa, you took the leadership role to go see the world. And we've heard about trips to Europe, trips to Southeast Asia. You'll be working with India and Brazil. These are all great and important opportunities for America to not only help feed and fuel the world, but to make sure we're strong right here at home. So, a salute to you, Secretary Rollins. Thank you.
▶ 4:36:54I do want to raise a concern that we've experienced um in Iowa, we've seen Chinese theft of intellectual property, literally Chinese nationals coming into Iowa and taking corn seed out of the ground to take back to China. Now, the FBI caught them, but that was in 2011. Just this week, we have seen three different scenarios of Chinese nationals who have pledged loyalty to the Chinese government bringing pathogens into the United States, including fungus that could decimate our crops.
▶ 4:37:24Had these biological um actions been taken, it would have devastated not only our ability to grow, but potentially loss of life here in the US. That's why I'm proud to be working with Mr. Riley here from New York on a bipartisan bill. It's called the Plan Act, Prevent Lethal Agriculture and National Threats Act. The reality here is that we have a very high standard and I'm asking for USDA's help in this in making sure that our federal agents close these dangerous loopholes that allow things like this to enter our country.
▶ 4:37:53As it stands now, federal prosecutors must prove an intent to commit terrorism to bring charges and the reality is these guys are a clear threat today. Madam Secretary, would you agree that we need to strengthen our legal tools to hold these individuals accountable for the threats they're bringing into the United States? Absolutely. Yes. And as we look to release, build, implement, execute a national security plan in the agriculture world, uh this is going to be a very important part of that.
▶ 4:38:24One of the things that we'd like to do is also encourage you not only to um identify the threat that's coming in, but what they potentially could do here. We have a real scenario in which the bioteterrorism and the aggro terrorism that's coming in here will have impact far greater. So, I appreciate not only your support in that, but your leadership. Yeah. Thank you, Secretary. We just want to also say thank you so much for taking time in Iowa. I'm going to be showing cattle this year at the Iowa uh charity. I think we're going to be competitors, aren't we? I think you're going to be competitors with me.
▶ 4:38:54I I encourage you, you can take on my daughters. They're showing uh sheep and the youngest one showing a Persian cat. So, if you want to bring it to the field, you're you're welcome. You're welcome to the Iowa State Fair anytime. My my steer showers have now left, but yeah, they're all Hurford Hurford cattle cattle showers, too. Well, you we are very grateful for the work you've done on both sides of the aisle here. This is a bright future for Iowa's farm families, and they have you to really thank for opening up those new markets. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. I yield my time back. Thank you. Gentleman yields back.
▶ 4:39:23Now recognized gentleman from California, Mr. Carvajal, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Welcome, Secretary Rollins. Thank you. Uh, first of all, let me just say thank you for seeing the light and reopening the eight out of the nine USDA offices in California that you closed and then realized it was creating a lot of chaos uh for many of our farmers and would have a really negative impact. You've reopened those and I want to thank you for that.
▶ 4:39:52Uh, I represent the central coast of California where agriculture is the number one industry and a wide range of specialty crops are grown. When I meet with growers back in my district, one of the major issues they mention is the labor shortage. I'm sure you're aware the administration has intensified its deportation efforts, which have created significant fear and uncertainty within California's agriculture labor force.
▶ 4:40:17In fact, yesterday a Farm Bureau in my district publicly voiced concerns over the impact of these enforcement actions. And Mr. Chairman, I'd like to uh ask for unanimous consent to submit for the record uh the Ventura County Farm Bureau statement. Um if I may do so without objection.
▶ 4:40:37I'm going to give you Secretary, given the uncertainty of this immigration climate as it relates to agriculture labor, what specific steps is the Department of Agriculture taking to support both farmers and their workforce? Uh, well, thank you. And let me be clear, I I think it was a lease confusion with GSA. I don't think it was a USDA question, but neither here nor there. I'm glad those offices are open for our farmers. Again, uh the labor question is a significant one.
▶ 4:41:05It is uh one that is perhaps not maybe not the very top of the list, but for some they would say the very top of the list. Uh we feel it. I I mentioned earlier that in Texas uh the citrus producers on the Texas side of the border on average pay labor $23 if they can even get the labor. On the other side at the Mexican border it's $2 an hour. Uh this is unsustainable and our a community cannot continue to do what they need to do under the current uh under the current effort.
▶ 4:41:33Clearly the president has a vision that I support of ensuring that uh we've got um you know legal immigrants in this country but he also recognizes I spoke with him this morning and yesterday the shortages in the labor market especially in the agriculture community on April the 10th at our second or third cabinet meeting he spoke in front of the cameras on this and said to Lori Chavez Durimemer uh also herself from a farming background from Oregon but also California farming roots our labor secretary in concert in partnership
▶ 4:42:03with this committee and Congress, we have to fix the H2A program and ensure that we can make, you know, certain that these producers have the labor that they need to feed not only America but the world. Thank you. Well, they're creating a lot of fear and uncertainty and a lot of this limited workforce is quite frankly not showing up uh to uh harvest our farms.
▶ 4:42:28Uh just yesterday uh we had some immigration raids on some of the uh farms that are within my district. Thus the statement that I just submitted. Um secretary, I know some of my colleagues here today have brought up the issue with H2A and during your testimony before the housing house agriculture appropriation subcommittee last month, you mentioned that you were working with the department of labor and the white house to reform the H2A program.
▶ 4:42:56Can you provide an update on the progress of those efforts and would the administration support the bipartisan legislation such as the farm workforce modernization act which is one bipartisan secretary durr was one of the co-authors of that and I want to just draw that to your attention one would you support that and which of which of your awareness uh the for your awareness current secretary labor uh durr again is a co-sponsor and I would appreciate your response to Well,
▶ 4:43:26clearly the real reform has to come from Congress. I mean, I I don't mean to pass the buck. That is not it at all. But I have uh had lots of conversations. Can we do this? Can we do that? Can we do this without congressional authorization? To your point, uh I think that um the leadership currently, our administration realizes these significant challenges and are open and welcome to trying to help however we can to solve that, including the president. Uh so I will continue that effort. now within the labor department with Lori Chavez Dermer.
▶ 4:43:57Uh she is very focused on this issue. We have met about it multiples of times. I think you'll be hearing more about that very very soon. But but you have our commitment. We're doing everything we can to work to solve for that as much as we can. Thank you. Um can you explain how proposed cuts to nutrition programs like TFAP and SNAP benefit growers, especially when it's farmers who produce the fruits and vegetables for these Well, so on the one hand, you're talking about the food bank programs. On the other, you're talking about SNAP.
▶ 4:44:26So, I'll I will talk about SNAP first. Uh we spend at just USDA across 16 nutrition programs about $400 million a day uh on those nutrition programs. That's just alone. Uh by any given number up to 30% of that is fraud, waste, and abuse. Uh this is the at this time of unemployment, we were at 17 million. We're now 42 million people on the SNAP program. So, there is a lot of room to do better. And I'm out of time, but let me just say fraud is 1% or less.
▶ 4:44:55There's other that is a sir that is that is absolutely false. So I just want you to know we can't even get the satisfying information. That is not that is but please send what you have and then let me compare it to what we have because that is you could send me what you have and we'll both compare what we have. I'll be happy to do that. Gentleman's time is expired. Now recognize but 1% is Yeah. Okay. We'll do that. We'll keep the conversation. Recognize the gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. weed for 5 minutes.
▶ 4:45:21Well, Madam Secretary, thank you so much for your willingness to be here today and answer questions about the ongoings of the USDA and uh well, happy National Dairy Month as well. As you most certainly know, uh you know, as America's dairy land, it cannot be overstated how important agriculture in the entire dairy industry is to my constituents, which is Wisconsin's eighth congressional district.
▶ 4:45:42We rank fourth in the country uh in dairy production and the entirety of the industry from milk to our world famous cheeses provides a 14 billion dollar economic impact. It's a priority of me to support this strong tradition that we have in Wisconsin. So despite strong growing demand from international uh consumers, certain trading partners refuse to allow our products to compete in their markets by erecting unfounded barriers to trade. One of the worst offenders is our neighbor to the north.
▶ 4:46:11Canada has continued to ignore its obligations under the US Mexico Canada agreement to provide the dairy market access that they had agreed to in 2020. Since then, the Canadian government has administered their dairy import quotas in a manner that intentionally limits our ability to reach Canadian consumers, leaving many of the quotas largely unfilled at the end of the year. So, Wisconsin dairy exporters have an easier time exporting to countries on the other side of the world than to our next door neighbor.
▶ 4:46:40To add insult to injury, Canada continues to offload its non-fat milk solids at artificially low prices on the global market, undercutting our producers and circumventing its US MCA commitments on dairy protein exports, of course, in the process. So, Secretary Rollins, with the U USMCA review coming up next year, will you commit to working with your inter agency partners to ensure that Wisconsin dairy farmers receive the full benefits of the trade deal as the negotiators intended? Yeah, I really look forward to that.
▶ 4:47:09I think, you know, it's it's such a the the dynamic is so different in the best way this time with this administration. Uh not that we weren't getting a lot of good things done in the first Trump administration, but this cabinet is so aligned and so armed handinand glove together that my partners Lutnik, Bessant, Greer, all of the above, the president as the negotiator and chief, I think that we're going to see some really big wins. And yes, so putting cheese and our dairy farmers at at, you know, the top of the list is is is great.
▶ 4:47:39Oh, that's refreshing. Thank you. So, in Wisconsin, many multi-generational farms are at a crossroads. Aging farmers are ready to retire, but younger family members are beginning uh or beginning farmers often face steep barriers, as we know, limited access to capital, limited land availab availability, and economic uncertainty. Uh without meaningful support, farmland risks being lost to non-aggriculture uses.
▶ 4:48:03What is USDA doing to support successful farm transitions, particularly in dairy, uh, which is a big part of our district, where high capital costs, narrow margins, and labor challenges make it difficult for the next generation to take over. This is um and I I mentioned this earlier so forgive me for those who are having to hear it again but in the the 17 states that I visited so far more states coming Wisconsin being right there.
▶ 4:48:28Uh the best part but also the most challenging part has been meeting with the farmers and sitting in a barn or a warehouse at a round table with 20 or 30 hearing from them their biggest challenges and what we can do to help that. and and almost every one of them is a second or third or fourth or fifth generation. Uh some new farmers too and that's a different discussion but uh and all of them say I'm just so scared I'm not going to be able to pass this on to my kids and my kids to their kids.
▶ 4:48:57And so about a month ago, we um launched our small family farm initiative, a slate of policy uh items that we can work alongside states, a commissioners uh with you all in Congress that the executive can do himself through uh EOS, etc. to ensure that we've got just that. I think what's in the big beautiful bill is really important. I think the work that you all did is just you should be so commended.
▶ 4:49:21um the the death tax now uh not applying to the two million smaller farms, the additional tax cuts to our farmers, the 3.8 billion in additional income to our farmers. Uh these are things that make a difference. But ultimately expanding the market, bringing down the cost of inputs, protecting our crop protectants, etc., uh is just going to continue to be at the top of the list and we've just got to do better. And that's what I'm hoping to do.
▶ 4:49:45So, I know farmers and processors often have different opinions on milk pricing, but one area of agreement uh relates to having better data across the board. So, in that context, I've co-sponsored a bipartisan bill to require USDA to conduct dairy manufacturing cost surveys every two years to help make sure that all stakeholders have the same data going forward. I'm thrilled that we're able to include funding, of course, in this big beautiful bill uh in this reconciliation package to implement this process.
▶ 4:50:11So, when and if this is enacted, um, will you work with us on, you know, on this committee to help get this up and running as quickly? 100%. I'll look forward to that. Okay, great. Well, thank you again for your leadership. Thank you. I yield back. Gentleman yields back. Now, recognize gentleman from Indiana, Mr. Mesmer, for five minutes. Thank you, Chairman, and uh, thank you, Secretary Rollins, for being here this afternoon. Uh, Madam Secretary, let me start by thanking you for your timely response to the to the aven influenza and screwworm issues.
▶ 4:50:41Each have been a particular concern to to the producers in my district, and I'm pleased to see mit mitigation efforts quickly implemented. Uh, with that said, I want to pivot on our focus to the tremendous opportunity of biio-based products industries. Uh, this sector is quickly becoming a new strong market for the farmers in my district. But the as the industry continues to grow, it's important we clarify terminology.
▶ 4:51:04The inconsistent and sometimes interchangeable use of terms like biio-based, plant-based, and bioattributed creates customer confusion that can undermine innovation in these markets. Uh would your staff, you and your staff at USDA commit to partnering with me as I work to establish clear uniform uh definitions to provide clarity to farmers, biommanufacturers, and consumers along with biop-referred value chain? Yes, we look forward to doing that. Thank you. Will we will be in touch.
▶ 4:51:34Um Madam Secretary, uh farmers in my district were hit hard during 2020 and 2021 when the USDA provided emergency relief assistance. They applied and were accepted, but due to incredible delays and pro programmatic errors, the agency failed to hand up hold up its end of the deal, leaving farmers that were reliant on this lifeline high and dry without the aid they were rightfully due.
▶ 4:51:57I've spoken to your team and and if there's a solution for this particular if there's solution to that problem, but unfortunately those funds have been completely depleted. Now, that was a previous administration and I'm very pleased with the efforts you've put forth to ensure aid is going to our farmers, real farmers, in a timely manner and efficient manner.
▶ 4:52:17I know you shared success stories today, but can you specifically explain how you're working to ensure that relief distributed under your leadership is free of the flaws that plagued the last administration and that that uh the USDA holds true to the promises it makes to our farmers? I appreciate that. And while we're not going to be perfect, I do believe based on what I've seen, not just from the past administration, but previous ones as well, that we moved more quickly and with um great intentionality.
▶ 4:52:47Part of that was it was important to me to bring back uh some of the team from the first Trump administration who had lived this before under Secretary Purdue and knew what they were doing. And so as they built the ECAP program out um and moving that money again within three days within just a couple months of the of the appropriation uh from you all I think was was record speed. Uh we're now into the second trunch. I believe that is record speed as well. We've already moved a billion out uh on that second piece and we've got uh more coming in the next days.
▶ 4:53:17This this next tunch is more complicated because it requires a statebystate agreement that has to be negotiated versus ECAP was just data you plug into a formula and you move the money. Uh but I'm really proud of the team. If you hear differently, uh please let us know. But we've got the smartest people working on again both politicals and careers. I don't want to, you know, take all the credit. Our team sitting here is incredible, but we've got some amazing careers uh back at USDA, too, that are working seven days a week to move that out.
▶ 4:53:46I mentioned we had a 6 am conference call this morning. I was on the phone at 10 o'clock last night on these issues just to ensure that we're moving as quickly as we can for these farmers. Thank you. The farmers in my district will appreciate that. Thank you. Uh and pardon me for I know you've heard this many times today, but it's important to the farmers in my district and so allow me to beat the drum one more time for fixes to the uh uh a labor issue. Yes. Uh one of the issues I've been completely flooded with in my inbox since getting here is farm labor.
▶ 4:54:15Right now, hooers pay just under $20 an hour for H2A labor, and that's off the top of on top of that is housing and transportation. Yeah. Uh but the wage isn't just unworkable, it's unequitable. The only thing separating farmers in Mount Vernon, Indiana from farmers in Uniontown, Kentucky is a river that's less than a mile wide apart. and our Kentucky neighbors pay pay $3 an hour less in farm labor than those in Indiana.
▶ 4:54:43With farm c input co costs skyrocketing, margins aren't nearly wide enough to allow for for this flawed wage calculation system. Secretary, can can we look at the USDA as a partner uh with myself and the colleagues in Congress to seek a wage freeze and and that a labor rate and expan and and enact an expansive functional improvements to the H2A H2A program. I would really welcome that partnership and and look forward to hopefully solving this for our a community.
▶ 4:55:12Well, love to be it's a beast. Love to be part of th those discussions if if possible. Yeah. Um well, thank you uh Madam Secretary. Indiana. Got to get our Indiana plugs in here. Indiana ranks number one in the nation in commercial duck production, number two in tomato and pumpkin production, number three in egg production and spearmint production, number four in soybean and turkey production, and probably the bulk of that turkey production happens in in uh my my county.
▶ 4:55:40Uh number five in corn production, and number six in watermelon production. Uh each of those activities combined uh contributed $ 35 billion to the economy of Indiana. Uh but to remain an incubator for a innovations, these indust industries need reliable and affordable access to labor. And thank you, chairman. I yield back my time. Thank you. Thank you. Time is expired. Now recognize a gentleman from Wisconsin, Mr. Van Nordon, for five minutes. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Uh Madam Secretary, thank you for being here.
▶ 4:56:11Thank you. I mean, you are truly a breath of fresh air. Thank you. It's just your optimism is uh it's electric. Oh, thank you. I want to take a second before I get into this to apologize for one of my colleagues who's sitting here berating you. So, I'm just going to ask you a few questions in the vein that took place here. Are um are rocks heavy? Are trees made of wood? Is gravity real? Yeah. Okay.
▶ 4:56:37Did the radical out of control government spending by Joe Biden by who increased the massive amount of liquidity to a market with scarcity cause uh inflation to spike and input costs to spike? Yes, those are all true statements. Okay, thanks. Hey, I want to thank you. I just I'm I'm done with that. That's just silly. Badger like that in front of your kids. Kids need to know you're a baller. Tell them to watch this. A baller is a word that old people use and it means awesome. Um I will.
▶ 4:57:06Thank you for getting uh the dairy business initiative back online. Yeah, incredibly important. I know that when we got this stuff going on and there's like, you know, big hand little map taking place and we're going to we're going to skip a couple beats. I got that. But I think I I sent you a note and you got that turned back on like 94 hours later. Yeah. Thank you. Right into my farmers. They're so excited about it. Thank you. You're welcome, ma'am. Uh so I do want to talk to you about agriculture labor because I think we have an 80% solution.
▶ 4:57:33My office has been working on this uh really since we started our agriculture labor working group. And what we're we're going to do is just acknowledge reality. The fact that the the agriculture industry, the the um construction industry and hospitality industry are really being floated by a lot of people here that are here unlawfully. And we're going to just say it out loud and we're going to address it in the most meaningful way. It is not a pathway to citizenship. These people are going to have to pay a fine. They're going to have to leave the the United States of America to return to send the message across the world.
▶ 4:58:03If you're going to get a job here in the United States, you're going to enter this country legally. The employer is going to have to pay a fine and they're going to be able to come back here. And when they enter the United States again, that's their born again date. They're not skipping anybody. Doesn't matter if they're here for 50 years. And we want to make sure that our farmers have a continuous uh a continuous flow for agriculture, labor, more to follow on that. I'm not even looking at H2A because it's a broken, horrible program. Yeah. So, we're gonna put that over here.
▶ 4:58:31And if I can work with you on that, uh, I would love that. Um, the last thing that I want to talk to you about really is, uh, milk labeling. Like what is milk, right? And this is going to have a profound effect on my dairy farmers. Uh, here is what milk is according to you, Uh, milk is on my phone and I'm over 50. Okay, there you go.
▶ 4:58:58Uh milk is the lactal secretion particularly free or practically free from colostrum obtained by the complete milking of one or more healthy cows. Milk that is in its final package form for beverage use shall have been pasteurized or ultra pasteurized and shall contain not less than 8.25% milk solid uh not fat and not less than 3.25% milk fat. None of that. None of that comes from an almond or an oat.
▶ 4:59:28So yeah, go. Hey, Mesmer, I'll give you a dollar if you can milk an oat. Right. So all I'm asking is that the USDA follow their own definition. And I I spoke to Secretary Kennedy about this and he's all on board. Yeah. Milk, whole milk is one of the most nutritious things that our young people and aging people such as myself uh could consume. But if you go to the store and you buy almond milk, it ain't milk. Bunch of sugars and stuff in there and oats.
▶ 4:59:55So, I really would like to talk to you about this to get this done. We introduced a bill in last Congress. It didn't get get through the Senate. Um, but you know, I'm all for doing this through initial executive action following up with some type of uh legislation because it will have a profound effect on our dairy industry. I think I hear you and I couldn't agree more. And you know, one of the vehicles that's coming soon is the dietary guidelines. Oh, yeah. Which Secretary Kennedy and I are working on together. Yeah.
▶ 5:00:25And uh and that's not due until October, but you'll see that way before October. And hopefully we can begin continue the momentum toward the vision that you have that I agree with. Yes, ma'am. And so we we can label milk skim milk, uh 1% milk, 2% milk, and then we call it whole milk. The whole milk the fat content can excuse me. The fat content in whole milk is 3.25%. And people think they're drinking butter.
▶ 5:00:51And I asked uh the person in the previous administration who was responsible for drawing up these uh dietary guidelines. I asked her what the milk fat content of whole milk was. And she said, "I don't know, 6%. That ain't it." So, I'm super excited once again to be working with you uh hand and glove. I'm very proud of your work. Uh you kids need to know you're awesome. Thank you. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Thank you so much. Gentleman's time has expired.
▶ 5:01:18Uh before we adjourn today, I invite the ranking member to share any closing comments that she might have. Well, thank you so much, Mr. Chairman, and uh thank you, Secretary Rollins, for being here, for testifying in front of us and giving us so much of your time. There was a lot of talk today about how the Trump administration is putting America's farmers first.
▶ 5:01:43But as I go around my state and I ask many of the farmers, ranchers, and producers, I think at this point, they would say that they're a little bit less certain than that. The farmers I know and speak to talk to me about uncertainty. They say they're not sure whether they can make it another season. They're worried about handing the farm over to their children.
▶ 5:02:06something America's family farmers strive for and take pride in, but are struggling to do under these economic conditions and uncertainty. They tell me they want us to help develop markets, not more government handouts or they want no more government handouts or government income. Since January, farm country has been dealt one blow after another. Trade wars that increase cost and eliminate markets.
▶ 5:02:33USDA layoffs that impact farm program enrollment. The elimination of overs sububscribed USDA programs that farmers rely on to help their bottom lines. Contracts they have signed ignored. Catering to an HHS secretary who cites, believes, and promotes fake science. And Secretary Rollins, what my farmers would love to see is you to stand up for them and against his fake science.
▶ 5:03:02You'll have to excuse me and my colleagues if we don't quite believe the putting farmers first rhetoric. There is no doubt in my mind that you are working hard. What I just said about the problems in farm country, I heard you say over and over again today. But we shouldn't be pushing trade partners away from America's soybean farmers and toward soy grown products in Brazil and Argentina.
▶ 5:03:27We should be working to increase market access rather than watching our competitors eat into ours. You've mentioned China agreed to a trade deal a few times today, but if you look under the hood, it's not more market access. It appears we've just reaggreed to move forward with the previous tentative framework that was agreed to last month in Geneva.
▶ 5:03:54So, as we still sit here today, we still have the concepts of a plan. In addition, we shouldn't be signing on to and lending what's left of USDA's credibility to MA Commission reports that aimed to take away the tools our American farmers use to grow our food. We shouldn't be going along with the mismanagement of USDA programs and personnel that Elon Musk and his Doge kids raided uh during the agency early days.
▶ 5:04:24We've heard near silence from the cabinet during that period of time. The current course on reconciliation is threatening the farm bill coalition and we should have been here trying to pass a 5-year 12title farm bill rather than cutting SNAP by $300 billion, putting the stability and income it provides to family farmers in jeopardy. When I became the ranking member of this committee, I promised to go anywhere and talk to anyone to improve life for our family farmers.
▶ 5:04:53I've always called it like I see it. You can ask the Biden administration about that. I thought they ought to be out there looking for more trade deals. And today, as I look under the hood, this administration so far is creating the chaos that is failing them. And with that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back. Julie yields back. Um, Madam Secretary, I just want thank you. Uh, thank you for your leadership, your vision, your partnership.
▶ 5:05:24you you're the one that described our relationship as a partnership and it and it truly is. 118 days on the job and to step in when we've had four years that our our farm country was abandoned under the previous administration. Um where it two years of those four years it took until the Biden administration named two of the top trade key trade individuals for agriculture trade.
▶ 5:05:50uh assistant secretary for foreign agriculture and trade at USDA left open for two years half the term um USR at at USR you know two years where they didn't name somebody as a chief agriculture negotiator so American farmers were left in a hole uh they paid they were paid no attention to uh the the previous secretary who I worked very hard to develop a good relationship ship was
▶ 5:06:20had no use for the uh for the legislative branch um and took and used money, created programs uh that they clearly said were temporary. And now my colleagues are complaining that a temporary program created by the previous administration obviously ceases. Temporary is temporary. Now I I see value in some of that. Um, if Secretary Vilsac would have come to us and really wanted to work with the legislative branch, we could have worked on that.
▶ 5:06:50And I think we are looking at those things as we as we move forward. We can find the monies to be able to fund it. Um, we don't have jurisdiction over the farmers to schools, that's a different committee. But the farmers to the food banks makes a lot of sense to me. Um, I wish I wish he'd have come to me. We could have legislated it and then it still be in place. But that's on the previous admission. that is not on you and that is not not on President Trump. Um again that number I come back to is 118 days. I'm so impressed.
▶ 5:07:21You know in 1818 days we've uh you know we uh this this committee and it was very partisan unfortunately and I get it. Reconciliation no matter what party's in the majority it's always uh partisan. But you know, some of my colleagues missed the opportunity to vote for all the things that we put together under the Farm Food and National Security Act in terms of the safety net.
▶ 5:07:44In 118 days, we've actually incorporated into legislation the investments and title one, which is uh the reference prices, you know, uh doing that and and what we said and we just, you know, our Senate counterpart, Senate Republicans are working on this, but a 10 to 20% increase based on what they need. not exactly maybe what they wanted because there's a difference there. We we did our due diligence and looked at what they needed.
▶ 5:08:11Uh adding base acres for the first time in gener generations, uh modernizing the the dairy margin coverage program. Um making investments in crop insurance, but also includes specialty crops. Um all of that that we uh and that um some people call it the one big beautiful bill, and that is the official name of it. It's a little odd, but that's okay. I call it farm bill 1.0. 0.
▶ 5:08:34Um it really is Farm Bill 1.0, you know, uh with making crop insurance more affordable for everyone because it is the most popular program that we found, you know, traveling the country of 42 states, one one territory, about 115 listening sessions.
▶ 5:08:50That's is what we heard making investments as you heard today in in trade in research in animal health um u in secure rural schools which you know which expires for those school districts that are located within national forests. I mean when you look and and so much more that's there. So I'm really proud of what we did with Farm Bill 1.0. Um I I like what I'm hearing actually over in the uh on the Senate side.
▶ 5:09:18I also like the fact that we, you know, wherever it winds up in ter terms of state share, um the the problem has not been what Congress has passed in terms of our nutrition programs. Those are really good. The problems have been in the state's execution and administration of them. Um you know, it's the old adage, if you're spending somebody else's money, you don't care, you're reckless. Well, uh we're not asking much over there and that and that number might even go down. I we'll see.
▶ 5:09:47Um, but I I expect that results will go up. The error rates are unacceptable. They hurt the people that those programs are designed for. Um, so there's so much more I can't that I'm really excited about where we're at in 118 days. Uh, we've we've done that part with the agriculture committee. Uh, we've got a farm bill 2.0 we need to finish up. We know that that price tag will be much less. Uh, but they're important.
▶ 5:10:13uh and the pieces of legislation that are pending that didn't fit in reconciliation, most of those fit in the category of uh I mean I think that uh the farm food national security act overall had 40 measures that were just introduced by a Democrat, 140 measures that were introduced by a Republican and a Democrat and then and then a a fair amount that were introduced by just a Republican. So it's a basis for a great bipartisan very affordable U farm bill 2.0.
▶ 5:10:41And then I'm just uh so impressed with your your written testimony. Uh you know, the support for American poultry and egg producers, addressing the aven flu, bold action to respond to foreign disease outbreaks like the new world screworm, um launching that new web portal for potential victims of ongoing lawfare. U fighting for fair trade uh for our farmers and ranchers, uh unleashing American dominance.
▶ 5:11:09We know that uh which includes bofuels which is so important as a market but but even more than that because farming labor energy intensive you know the cost of that diesel fuel the cost of that propane um unleashing uh streamlining unnecessary regulations cutting used have red tape I like to we're cutting red and green tape actually so uh uh the uh working with Secretary Bergam on uh wildfire um deploying
▶ 5:11:39resources for wildfire responses. Um you know just uh just a long list of uh of the uh of the outcomes in just 118 days. So looking forward to continuing that partnership. Uh quite frankly I think we are well on our way to making agriculture great again in this country. So uh thank you so much. Before um I already did that part. Here we go.
▶ 5:12:03Uh, under the rules of the committee, the record of today's hearing will remain open for 10 calendar days to receive additional material and supplementary written responses from the witnesses to any questions posed by a member. This hearing of the committee on agriculture is adjourned. Thank you very much. Thank you. Also, I was just talking to I was