Jim Costa

We need to make sure that anyone who needs modest food assistance benefits has access to them.

We should at least do a hearing on the ABAWD issue before making the lives of millions of Americans more miserable.

I quite strongly disagree with that approach.

Part of the problem is not only the issue of the 3 year conversion, but also of being able to obtain a secure feed supply for your dairy cows.

We know the problems with Canada, as they have become very predatory. It is not a level playing field, in my view.

The whole dairy industry has been so volatile over the last 15 years, and the amount of equity that we have lost out of dairy farms across American has been significant.

The Margin Protection Program just hasn't worked, in my view, and it is one of the things we have to look at.

It is appropriate that you and the Ranking Member paid tribute to Kika de la Garza, who was a real force not only in American agriculture.

Depending on how we approach that, retaliatory issues could take place by Mexico and Canada.

Mexico is our number one export market, taking about 1/4 of our exports, which is a little over $1 billion.

I just want to say thank you. Thank you. Thank you all.

We hear about the importance that animal health plays in stabilization of markets globally, and the effect regulations can have on the livestock industry.

Our livestock producers, all of you represented here, from beef to poultry, to the other commodities, represent 42 percent of our domestic and global markets.

At a time when there are many voices that are calling to increase the production of American products, we have before us today representatives that are very capable at increasing that production.

We understand the important role you play every day in putting dinner on America's dinner table.

The next farm bill, obviously, is what we are focused on, and livestock producer perspectives are an interest to the entirety of this Subcommittee.

If it is I win and you lose, then you are not going to be a part of the deal.

Did all of your associations support the TPP agreement that we had been working on?

It is vitally important that we have those funds to keep opening markets because that is the future.

I am very proud of that. Although, perhaps we should readdress the title because specialty crops are not just special, but a part of every day good nutrition on America's dinner table.

I would hope that the specialty crop organizations would come together, and as we are putting the farm bill, that you provide suggestions on how we can improve upon it.

This Subcommittee's efforts to enact meaningful specialty crop programs in the farm bill has not gone unnoticed.

As I stated before, reforms to our nation's immigration system to provide a steady and reliable stream of guest workers has the power to make or break our industry.

In California, 70 percent of our workforce in agriculture is undocumented.

I would like comments on improving the H-2A Program, along with comprehensive immigration reform, which is badly needed.