Jim Baird

I am very proud to have Title IV, the nutrition title, in the farm bill.

I don't know how you balance any budget whatsoever off of that, but I did need to interject that we felt like that was really where all the fat was, with trying to feed hungry people in this country to the tune of $6 a day.

Any cuts to these lifesaving benefits would disproportionately affect the folks who make up the majority of my district, which is Black and Latino Americans.

I am personally committed to ensure that we pass a farm bill that both supports our farmers and producers, and also protects food security for America's households.

I think we could do things in production agriculture that really would contribute to human health.

I want to thank the witnesses for being here. Your input is extremely important to us to try to make decisions.

Thank you for holding a hearing on 'Conservation in the Farm Bill: Making Conservation Programs Work for Farmers and Ranchers.'

Legislation such as Chairman Baird's and Ranking Member Spanberger's Increased TSP Access Act of 2023 are critical to addressing this issue.

We need to encourage innovative solutions throughout the conservation title.

Finally, as we look at the farm bill's conservation programs, we must ensure that Title II programs will always be voluntary, incentive-based, producer-first, and locally-led.

I believe that as we conduct our review of the 2018 Farm Bill's conservation title, we must examine this enormous influx in funding.

We are writing to you to express our gratitude for holding a hearing on 'Conservation in the Farm Bill: Making Conservation Programs Work for Farmers and Ranchers'

I am also interested in hearing more about what producers do not want in the next farm bill, as time has taught us, even if well intended, more legislation and regulation is often not the answer.

I am especially concerned with the Biden Administration's false narrative about the protein sector's contribution to the skyrocketing cost of food in America.

It is very hard to replicate the number of people in China, and we need to consume all the products we grow every year.

I have always maintained the idea that the demand for U.S. commodities and products are really because our farmers and ranchers are able to produce such quality products.

I want to make sure that our chips program is ahead of China or any other adversary we might have.

This provision gives universities the tools they need to protect sensitive research from cyber theft.

I think agriculture and ranchers and agribusiness do need that, so I am glad to hear your comments and your perspective in that regard.

I really appreciate the focus on biotechnology. I want to say that again because I really feel that it is going to be important as we move to try to find plants and animals that can adapt to environmental change.

What is really important is that there is a regulatory framework, that it supports innovation and safety, and that it provides certainty for developers.

I really appreciate this hearing, and I appreciate the witness being here.

I always appreciate the expert witnesses that we have for these Committee meetings and the value that you add for sharing with us what you think is important.

They served our country, and now it is time to serve them.

This bill is one more step toward fulfilling that promise.