Mike Bost

Only a moral and religious people can self-govern.

A republic, madam, if you can keep it.

Bost, Hon. Mike, a Representative in Congress from Illinois, opening statement.

Legislation (H.R. 5733) was introduced in the previous Congress by Congressman Bost to raise the loan limits on guaranteed farm loans to $2.5 million to $3.5 million.

There needs to be serious consideration for increasing staff levels at FSA.

It is vital that the necessary funds are appropriated for the programs because there has been a shortage of funds for the past 3 years.

ABA has endorsed H.R. 831, the Beginning Agriculturist Lifetime Employment Act of 2017 (BALE Act), introduced by Representative Mike Bost.

The most important change that should be made to the next farm bill is an increase to the current loan limit of $1.399 million on FSA Guaranteed Loans.

The 2014 Farm Bill was very successful from a lender's perspective.

This is why the ABA has endorsed Representative Bost's BALE Act which provides a pathway for increasing the limit on FSA loans.

Farm Credit supports Rep. Mike Bost's BALE Act, H.R. 831, which among other things, would increase the FSA guaranteed loan limit to $2.5 million.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

The next question would be then, the language that we produce in the next farm bill should say some kind of stipulation based on when you first applied, and then it should cycle through based on that, correct?

While the leadership demonstrated by USDA in creating and delivering a pollinator habitat incentive is to be applauded, many of the pollinator benefits and national goals are well short of achievement.

Thank you for having conducted this hearing to receive input on how the conservation title of the Agricultural Act of 2014 has operated.

We are making investments that are for a generation or generations or hundreds of years, and we need to assess that in our calculations.

It's promising to see you undeterred from farming after the way the market's been.

As of November 2016, there have been little over 340,000 acres enrolled in pollinator habitat since the program was established in 2012.

Submitted statement on behalf of National Grain and Feed Association

The number of background checks that were not completed at the Atlanta VA Medical Center

The one thing we want to remember is how vitally important those tests are, because this disease--and it is a disease to be an addict.

We want everyone tested, because, as you described, somebody at the panel did, that everyone is at risk with this.

I think that they should be here. I think that your answers, you should get answers to those questions.

Has the VA asked each one of you what they could do to improve this, and what has been the response?

What suggestions would you have to improve this?