Austin Scott

I, like Mr. Southerland, share an extreme passion... for a sport that I used to get to participate in a lot, fishing.

I think that, again, gets back to one of our primary concerns in that we want those foreign businesses doing business in the United States.

One of my primary concerns with what I see coming out is the effect on liquidity.

So the worst thing this Congress could do is react on a knee-jerk reaction to compare what Europe is going to do prior to us and then us doing it first.

The industry continues to face challenges. Pest and disease concerns are increasing.

I hope we can continue to remain receptive to the priorities of the industry and address any issues that may have arisen last summer.

As the Committee begins assembling the 2013 Farm Bill, we want to ensure our work product reflects your highest priorities.

Secretary Gensler gave an indication earlier today that he was supportive of that.

I, along with many of my colleagues, both Democrats and Republicans, have cosponsored H.R. 634.

if you are an end-user and you qualify for the clearing exemption, you would also qualify for the margin exemption

And I think that is where the real issue comes in and where we can help America's economy by making sure that the end-user is not subject to that extra cost.

I commend you, Chairman, for the statement that you made that you actually prepared for the sequester.

NOAA has chosen to actively pursue a path of severe and unwarranted closures while failing to address the severe deficiencies in its science and data collection.

The quality and quantity of science and data used by NOAA/NMFS is fatally flawed.

If NOAA continues to implement severe policies based on flawed incomplete, poorly implemented science, an adversarial relationship will continue to grow between fisheries and NOAA.

I charge NOAA/NMFS to discontinue its current practices and accept their responsibility to regulate the fishing industry with sound and adequate science.

my farmers have told me that we no longer want to be held hostage.

Let us talk about that for a second then because we hear that from pretty much every Administration official, but the President's budget was due February 4th.

Sixteen percent is what actually went to production agriculture.

You said that there was a $700 million cut. If you take $129 from $155, that is a $26 billion increase in spending over the last 4 years.

The fact of the matter is this: Spending has increased dramatically under your agency.

It is kind of baffling that you stood there or sat there and said what you all have done when the President was supposed to deliver a budget to us February 4th.

And my concern with the CFTC is they are going to do what they want to do regardless of whether this Committee says no.

Mr. Chilton, with due respect, once it becomes a rule, it is no longer a proposal.

It is better to get it right the first time.