I fear the consequences should the Department not take urgent and drastic action to improve employee morale.

Chairwoman Torres Small, Ranking Member Crenshaw, and Members of the subcommittee, on behalf of the American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO (AFGE), which represents more than 700,000 Federal and District of Columbia employees…

I thank all the witnesses for their valuable testimony and the Members for their questions.

The timing of this hearing coincides with the recently released 'Best Places to Work in the Federal Government' rankings.

This entire country was once Indian Country... Federal recognition is a process that has been established because of colonialism.

Thank you for your persistence and integrity in the face of opposition for the higher purposes of equality and justice.

I have written to Ambassador Lighthizer requesting lower tariffs on pecans sold to India.

I am grateful for the work this Committee has done to pass and oversee the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill.

These crops and livestock are key to our economy and our culture, and it is my honor to work every day for these important programs.

I am excited to work with the Committee on this important legislation.

But please know, any time I meet dairy farmers and agricultural producers, one of the most frequent items I hear is the need for a reliable, legal labor workforce.

This unfairly increases the burden on our ranchers.

It's clear that we'll need to do more.

We're famous for our green and red chilies and pecans, but we're also the proud home of thriving dairy and ranching industries.

Any time I meet with dairy farmers and agricultural producers one of the most frequent issues I hear is the need for a reliable, legal labor force.

I fought for the inclusion of an amendment authorizing the military to treat or provide fresh water for agricultural producers who face PFAS contamination from military sites.

I know I speak for so many members of the agricultural sector when I say that we must urgently stabilize our trade agreements.

I deeply appreciate the opportunity to speak about the importance of agriculture in New Mexico's second Congressional district.