Jimmy Panetta: “I thank Chairman Conaway and Ranking Member Peterson for their leadership during my time on the Agriculture Committee…”

“I thank Chairman Conaway and Ranking Member Peterson for their leadership during my time on the Agriculture Committee, during our time putting this farm bill together. As a proud member of the Agriculture Committee, as a proud member who represents the salad bowl of the world, I am very proud to support H.R. 2, this farm bill, in 2018. In my district on the central coast of California, this farm bill will benefit our specialty crop industry by investing in mechanization technology and expanding research opportunities. It will help our organics industry with the certification process and research by incorporating the OREI Act. This bill invests in our future farmers, our young ranchers, and veterans getting into agriculture. It doesn't make any changes to SNAP without any evidence supporting such changes for the people who need food the most. Mr. Speaker, I am at the end of my first term in Congress, and I can tell you this is the best job I have ever had, mainly because of the Members of Congress I work with, mainly because of the Democrats and Republicans I have worked with on this Agriculture Committee, including its excellent staff. So despite the fact that there were differences over this farm bill at the beginning, and even though we are on the verge of a possible shutdown, what gives me confidence in this job, what gives me confidence in this body is this final version of this farm bill.…”