Jeff Fortenberry: “First of all, let me say how much I appreciate the counsel, guidance, and partnership of Chairman Bishop of the…”

“First of all, let me say how much I appreciate the counsel, guidance, and partnership of Chairman Bishop of the Agriculture Committee, as well as Chair Lowey and Ranking Member Granger, as well as the entire staff for crafting what is substantially a very important and good bill for all of America. Agriculture is essential to America's well-being, and I want to commend, again, Chairman Bishop not only for his earlier generous comments, but for his willingness to work hard to find a reasonable path forward to accommodate as many bipartisan requests as were feasible. Chairman Bishop and I had a number of very lengthy and considered conversations in crafting this bill, and I am grateful for his leadership. Before I delve into the substantial pluses and a few minuses of this bill, Madam Chair, I want to provide a little bit of additional context of the bigger agricultural picture across America. Where I live in Nebraska--and I am sure it is safe to say where Chairman Bishop lives in Georgia--agriculture is essential to our way of life and essential to our culture. It really does define who we are as a people, and production agriculture--corn, soybeans, and livestock--cover much of our landscape. These products are an important driver of America's export prowess.…”