Jeff Fortenberry: “I am a proud member of the Agriculture Committee. My grandfather was a county agent. My mother was an extension service…”

“I am a proud member of the Agriculture Committee. My grandfather was a county agent. My mother was an extension service agent. One out of three Nebraskans make their living in the field of agriculture. Of all the rancor and divisiveness in this House, the Agriculture Committee has been one place where cooperation and comity is the tradition. I was proud to be a part of crafting this farm bill. The farm bill passed out of committee by a voice vote. No one objected. It is not perfect. It is a huge piece of legislation with many moving parts. But I felt that it did make progress in promoting agriculture entrepreneurship, agriculture-based energy production and a renewal of conservation in land stewardship goals. But the end of this process has been seriously disappointing. The spirit of the Agriculture Committee's work has been violated. I want a vibrant agriculture system that feeds our country, helps feed the world and in turn preserves a way of life, a tradition that marks the character of our great country. Madam Chairman, I urge the majority party to get this process back on track.”