During the hearing, Representative Walz of Minnesota noted the example of a $900,000 Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) grant on a feedlot that led to cleaner water in a nearby trout stream that generates $4 million for the…

We have to do a better job of messaging it.

Our private forestlands and National Forests provide clean water, clean air, and greatly contribute to our states' economy.

I believe in these win-win situations, biofuels has been an absolute American success story.

This is so cheap an investment to put money into our international food aid programs and the investment pays off now in saved lives and in the future in relationships that we simply can't build in any other way. It's soft diplomacy, it's…

We should continue to support the voluntary conservation efforts our forest owners make on their lands, and we should continue to support innovation through advanced forest products and fuels.

This is a critically important discussion.

For many of us in this room, we should feel proud of the last farm bill and the conservation title that was in it that was wildly heralded across the spectrum as being in the right direction.

We know how important the farm bill is. All of us have the stories. My district is proud to say it is the ninth largest agricultural district, spread amongst a lot of commodities.

We can't talk about how tools are working and what tools might be needed to address our forest health until the Forest Service has the resources and personnel to fully utilize the tools they already have.

I thank the gentleman from El Paso. I very much appreciate, always, the story and the passion that you have for that great community and look at the leadership that comes out of there. I certainly know in your work for veterans your name…

I have no further speakers on my side. I urge my colleagues to support H.R. 974. I yield back the balance of my time.