We are writing you today to share our mounting concern over reports that certain vessel-operating common carriers (VOCCs) are declining to ship U.S. agricultural commodity exports from our ports.

I thought this was a great and insightful discussion today across the broad range of agricultural considerations and rural development considerations that are affecting America.

The story you told is repeated across the country.

We are all singularly focused on a safe and healthy and vibrant food system as well as vibrant world communities.

This is about food, food security, helping those in need, and sustaining one of the most productive aspects of American life.

I agree with the vision as well. And I think we need to tell the story loudly and clearly, as you are doing and as I am trying to do and the chairman is doing, about the power and greatness of American agriculture.

I really appreciate that.

Thank you as well, Representative Krishnamoorthi, for the insightful testimony.

We have got a huge opportunity to embrace this digital leap and to make sure that the funds available are pointed and meet their intended recipients' goals.

Clean and safe drinking water, as well as wastewater treatment, are critical parts of rural development.

Yeah, we need rural broadband, and that is very important.

I commend you for bringing up this idea of what we call placemaking or this ecosystem of livability.

Your input will be critical as Chairman Bishop and I work to responsibly fund the USDA, the Food and Drug Administration, as well as the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, and the Farm Credit Administration.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And as we have worked together for so long, you know me well, yes, sir, I do have a few opening comments, but, first of all, let me commend you for your leadership and your opening remarks as well, they are…

This is an emerging priority, bipartisan priority.

Are we thinking critically about how to identify the gap and close the gap?

That was perfectly on cue, perfectly timed.

So I think we need a simple set of statistics that is really definable around--forget the complexities.