"It is, as I think many of you have heard me say time and time again, a national security issue."
"I think you have to be an optimist if you are a farmer, a rancher, or a dairyman or -woman."
"I think the panel that we have here is an impressive caliber of knowledge on what is being done to build sustainability in our livestock system."
"A better, more sustainable future will not come from the harsh, scolding voices of the naysayers."
"Agriculture is the solution; it is not the problem."
"I fear that the opposite approach, burdensome top-down regulations and costly complicated policies will harm rural economies."
"Thank you, Chairman Costa, and thank you for having this hearing today."
"I have switched to Jersey breeds on one of my farms, and one of the things I noticed is the tolerance that they have to heat is much greater than a Holstein."
"I think it is critical that we come up with more measurable ways to assess progress on the farm."
"We need to ensure that our producers are not punished for adapting."
"We must look forward to market-based solutions, any ways to incentify sustainable practices."
"The divisions aren't good, and they are not helpful toward reaching common solutions."