Sanford Bishop: “USDA's climate hubs were created to promote robust and healthy agricultural production and natural resources under…”

“USDA's climate hubs were created to promote robust and healthy agricultural production and natural resources under increasing climate variability and climate change. Climate hubs develop and deliver science-based, region-specific information and technologies to USDA agencies and its partners, including Federal and State agencies, extensions, and Tribes to make our communities and our Nation more resilient to climate change. They provide outreach and education to farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners on the effects of climate change on their working lands. We are all witnessing drought, extreme weather events, and changing growing seasons, so why would we want to prohibit aiding farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners understand and respond to climate change on their working lands? Why would we want to prohibit these 10 regional climate hubs from providing usable regional data and forecasts to underserved and vulnerable communities, Tribes, and individuals that can help their land be more productive? This amendment does not save the American taxpayer money. In fact, it jeopardizes our food security, our economy, and the lives and livelihoods of many across the Nation. I urge my colleagues to reject this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.”