Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank Chairman Lucas for his extraordinary leadership throughout this trying process. I'm pleased to say we're one step closer to providing our ag producers the certainty that they need to accomplish their goals through a 5-year farm bill. This bill is a product of our extensive outreach to farmers, ranchers, and stakeholders across the country, and reflects the critical input we received from our rural constituents in the farm bill process that allowed producers to be heard. The Ag Committee held more than 40 farm bill hearings in Washington and across the countryside. Through this rigorous audit hearing process, we scrutinized every dollar authorized in the legislation we're offered today. What's more, the bill is the result of an open process that allowed for consideration of the ideas of anyone and everyone in the House. Ag is the number one industry in my district and the State of Arkansas; and according to the University of Arkansas, it accounts for over 250,000 direct jobs in my State. But, Mr. Speaker, it is more important for everyone to know what's at stake. This legislation may be crafted to address the U.S. ag economy, but it's not just important to our rural constituents. It's important to everyone. I have always said that if you eat, you're involved in agriculture; and I would ask my colleagues to think about that. Even if you don't have ag interests or production in your district, every single one of our constituents depends on it.”