"Thank you, Madam Chairman, and again, I thank the witnesses for being here today."
"I want to ensure that FSA is meeting the needs of young and innovative producers who can fill these gaps."
"We must continue to invest in our agricultural infrastructure to support our rural communities."
"I appreciate these opportunities to learn some substance about the issues that will be relevant for the next iteration of the farm bill."
"On one hand, the price of commodities like petroleum and oil have shot up over the past decade, so it is important for the U.S. as a nation to explore cheaper, cleaner, renewable fuel sources."
"It is important for us to find out today which programs have been implemented and are accomplishing our goal of a well-managed agency dedicated to forest stewardship."
"I want to make sure that FSA is reaching out to minority farmers with adequate and equal credit."
"Many of my constituents depend on food banks, and my food banks depend on locally grown produce."
"This hearing is a good complement to the information we gathered during the April hearing on national credit conditions."
"I represent Cleveland and many of its eastern suburbs. So there are not a lot of farms in my district."
"I think many of us believe that we made really a terrible mistake becoming so dependent upon foreign oil."
"I think it is clear that Venezuela, and Chavez in particular, has been using American money, essentially, either to bribe or influence other nations in this hemisphere."
"One of the most fundamental roles of government is to provide for the security of its citizens."
"The last thing we need is for threats from bad actors even closer to the American homeland."
"The possibility, however, of an Iranian-Venezuelan alliance is particularly concerning."
"The threat posed by Iran takes on a new and more ominous geostrategic significance when coupled with the potential of an Iran base of operations in our own hemisphere."
"Demands for all kinds of food assistance, from food banks to emergency funding for food, or SNAP, are unprecedented and the demand has grown."
"Trafficking is, in fact, the biggest threat to this program and it is so important that you double-down, if you will."
