Sanford Bishop: “I do rise in opposition to this misguided amendment. The amendment would eliminate research funding into novel…”

“I do rise in opposition to this misguided amendment. The amendment would eliminate research funding into novel approaches to keeping livestock healthy. Livestock disease costs hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Producers lose revenue and consumers pay higher prices as a result. An ongoing avian influenza outbreak has devastated poultry producers across the country, devastating that industry in many areas. Innovative research on methods to cost effectively protect livestock benefits both producers and consumers. Mr. Chair, I urge my colleagues to defeat this misguided amendment and let USDA work to keep livestock healthy for producers and prices low for consumers. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.”