Jim Costa

I think we have had a good hearing, and I think we have--my sense is--have a lot of bipartisan support for a number of the issues that we have discussed this morning affecting--well, California, but America's dairy industry that is so…

I think the $5 million cap, frankly--and, again, one size doesn't fit all, but it is really discriminatory to California.

The challenges we have, especially among those who live in food deserts.

America's safety net to ensure that in fact all Americans have quality and affordable food.

Food, food that we grow in America is a national security issue.

I think it is very important, for the 2023 reauthorization bill, that we examine the safety net provisions.

Clearly, we understand that the dairy industry is such an important component of American agriculture.

We are going to have hunger issues not only in this country but around the world.

SNAP in my district contributed to the local economy last year, benefitting 174,000 participants.

SNAP and the access to food is critical for lives in America but also to change lives.

I have always said food is a national security issue.

I think it is critical that we focus.

We have a crisis that we are dealing with as a result of world events, and the situation in Ukraine, the horrific invasion of Ukraine by Russia is having a ripple effect across the world.

The American Soybean Association thanks the House Agriculture Committee's Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee for the opportunity to provide written testimony.

These programs are important for multiple reasons: they open and grow new markets for high quality, American food and agriculture products, they save lives, they build local agriculture and food systems in developing economies, and they…

Provide a living wage.

I think more funding is needed.

We have to start raising the limits on eligibility for a lot of these programs on population, and we have also got to stop using this antiquated rural versus metropolitan.

If we want our farmers to be able to deal with extreme weather and avoid additional regulations, we have to create incentive programs that really have some meat on the bones.

I think they need to cover all of the aspects of what American agriculture is doing.

The pariah Putin has invaded Ukraine, and in my view, he is a war criminal and we have to support Ukraine.

This is something Congressman Costa has long supported

Farmers are price takers, not price makers.

Farmers are risk takers.

Food is a national security issue, and I think everyone on this Committee agrees that our responsibility is to ensure that American agriculture remains strong and vibrant.