we don't have enough people to harvest the right fruit that we have spent all this money investing in to grow.

it is so important today that we talk about how we reduce costs, but also how do we provide that important safety net.

the nutrition programs are critical in helping people get back on their feet in these difficult times, and so I do believe that these programs cannot be a bargaining chip that gets subjected to partisan politics.

Maine has been a little bit ahead of the curve on testing for PFAS contamination.

I know there have been some concerns raised about insufficient access in rural communities, which is kind of ironic, since it is in the rural communities that we are producing so much of the food.

We recommend raising the threshold for the lower tier to $50,000.

I appreciate some of the conversations people have been having about streamlining the process.

This is a devastating problem, and we have to support it much more.

Consumers, including farmers, need reliable information on energy equipment to make informed choices.

we also have some creative ideas that may require some support from the Committee in the next farm bill.

I am a little concerned about in the Meat and Poultry Processing Expansion Program, $150 million investment for projects up to $25 million.

We encourage Congress to substantially increase REAP mandatory funding from $50 million to, at least, $500 million per year.

I want to thank you for all your strong leadership and support on helping get that Origin of Livestock rule across the finish line.

We are talking so much about the convergence between climate change and agriculture.

Increased funding is something obviously that we are advocating for.

I can't thank you enough.

climate-smart is the new buzz but organic has always been soil-smart, and that is built into what the production practices are all about.

I just want to follow up a little bit because it is an issue I have brought up previously.