Political Quotes

“I thank my colleague from Oklahoma. H.R. 2 Mr. President, I want to thank Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow for their hard work in putting together the 2018 farm bill. It was a long and difficult process, and they negotiated in good faith. I also want to thank my friend and colleague from Iowa, Senator Joni Ernst, for her dedication to reforming the Conservation Reform Program. In the Midwest, we refer to that as the CRP. The program's intent is to reduce land erosion, improve water quality, and help wildlife populations. Over the years, it has strayed from its intended focus. Some landowners have been receiving more than $300 per acre to enroll their entire farms in the CRP. That puts young and beginning farmers at a competitive disadvantage. In fact, even well-established farmers have had rented land taken away from them because it was enrolled in the CRP at lucrative rates paid by the government that the individual farmer could not compete with. Farmers can't and shouldn't have to compete with the government, especially with the current debt our country has. Senator Ernst has been an advocate for these reforms, and these reforms have been accomplished as a result of her efforts. Unfortunately, the 2018 farm bill did not include another critical reform that would help young and beginning farmers, that is my payment limitations amendment.…”