Robert Aderholt

The USDA is making improvements but still has problems with accurate reporting of improper payments as we have discussed.

We are going to need to move on.

I think there is a recognition at the Department that this is a significant issue.

We are partnering with them to work with State and local administrative agencies as well as law enforcement to really get at some of the root causes for vulnerabilities and fraud in the program.

The audits and investigations conducted by the Office of the Inspector General are key to the subcommittee's effort to ensure the proper use of funds, to detect and reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, and to strengthen the management of USDA's…

I would like to approach our fiscal year 2015 bills with basically three things in mind: number one, ensuring the proper use of funds for robust oversight; second, ensuring the appropriate level of regulation to protect producers and the…

What I find unacceptable is that in this $11.3 billion appropriation that the IRS received this year that you can't find the money to answer more than half the phone calls...

It seems to me that that might be a slap in the face to the taxpayers, because their customer services... are going down.

At this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Burgess), one of our physicians here in the House.

At this time I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Kelly).

At this time, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Michigan (Mrs. Miller), the chair of the House Administration Committee.

At this time I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from California (Mr. Valadao), one of the members of our Subcommittee on Agriculture Appropriations.

Again, this wraps up our last hearing for the budget for fiscal year 2014. I want to thank all the staff on both sides of the aisle for their work during this hearing process.

I hope we can remedy that.

I know our Temporary Worker Program is very important to agriculture. We do need policies in place to encourage the flow of labor in and out of the country that is legal.

I along with many of my other colleagues believe there is far greater potential for growth of U.S. exports simply because 95 percent of the world's consumers live outside the United States of America.

Thank you, Mr. Under Secretary, and for those announcements, we appreciate your testimony here this morning and for your work at your agency and what you do.

Not only is this industry a vital part of our national economy...

This program helps the most vulnerable in rural America achieve the dream of homeownership.

Let me associate myself with Ms. Pingree's remarks on fairness for American producers.

What role does the MRP mission area have in the technical support of the two ongoing free-trade agreements?

USDA has proposed a decrease in funding for trade and technical assistance but proposed an increase of $725,000 for Lacey Act activities.

I suggest that this program is really of not very much use in terms of what we need to do.

Dr. Clark, let me turn to you for just a minute on the Census for Agriculture.

That is a good example. I have actually been able to see that firsthand, and it is very impressive.