Ted Yoho

Thank you, gentlemen, for being here. Just kind of one last comment, because, again, what I hope to get out of this is to get enough information that we can help direct some of the foreign policies.

We need to come together on an agreement.

I think it is time that we come to the table and get clarification on this so that we can make policies and get people in agreement on that.

It was peaceful in nature, non-aggressive, and non-encroaching on other nations whereas what we are seeing with the Government of China has expanded its reach.

Let's define the region. Let's define what the norms are.

I look forward to those debates.

The current unfair trade environment with Mexico has drastically harmed many specialty crop producers, including the potato industry.

When we don't have the workers we need to produce and harvest our crops, it hurts our competitiveness, our local economies, and jobs.

Our goal, and I know the Chairman's goal, is to make it pass on the first round.

Our faculty conducted about $140 million in agriculture research this past year benefitting Florida's crops, livestock, forestry, fisheries, and natural resource systems.

Florida agriculture has a $148 billion economic impact, second only to tourism in the State of Florida.

Federal research dollars also help us tackle the vital challenges that are unique to Florida's geography and climate.

Agriculture is an incredibly important and powerful economic force in our state.

Reforms need to be made. Reforms, not cuts, because what we want to make sure is that the people that truly need this, have this.

Our goal, like today in this farm bill, is to make sure that the program is there for those that need it, and that we have the integrity of the program long-term.

I feel confident that we will fix this in this Congress.

I have been in agriculture since I was about 15 years of age. And you guys have touched on everything that is important that we need to cover.

Austerity measures are coming and we need to prepare for that.

We want to get the most efficient use of these programs into the hands of the people that need them.

Austerity measures are coming, and we want to make sure that the programs that get cut that they are cut efficiently.

It is crucial that this Committee, indeed, all the Members of the House evaluate how we structure our nation's foreign aid.

The cuts that the President has proposed are very drastic.

We have to pick those governments that are willing to be adaptable.

We must focus on efficiently transitioning aid recipient countries to trading partners.

If you cut foreign aid, buy more ammunition, because you are going to need it.