Jeff Fortenberry

Again, more money with a good intention is not necessarily the right outcome. This has to be standards of accountability, metrics that determine, are we making progress toward the outcomes we achieve?

But the heart of the matter that came out of that meeting of not being properly informed about the hold was, what are the metrics that we are using here to determine whether or not we are being successful?

An audit doesn't have to be a pejorative term. It actually helps us understand what we are achieving.

Doesn't that undermine the very intent of the law?

Thank you, Madam Chair. I appreciate you holding this hearing.

To promote diversity and inclusion, and actually to expand...other types of diversity, regional diversity, rural Americans

The State Department is not representative of the American people

This deeper American value of care for one another and ensuring equal access, equal opportunities.

I would urge the new incoming Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security to take an audit of this.

We are all singularly focused on a safe and healthy and vibrant food system as well as vibrant world communities.

I thought this was a great and insightful discussion today across the broad range of agricultural considerations and rural development considerations that are affecting America.

The story you told is repeated across the country.

This is about food, food security, helping those in need, and sustaining one of the most productive aspects of American life.

I really appreciate that.

Thank you as well, Representative Krishnamoorthi, for the insightful testimony.

We have got a huge opportunity to embrace this digital leap and to make sure that the funds available are pointed and meet their intended recipients' goals.

Clean and safe drinking water, as well as wastewater treatment, are critical parts of rural development.

I commend you for bringing up this idea of what we call placemaking or this ecosystem of livability.

Your input will be critical as Chairman Bishop and I work to responsibly fund the USDA, the Food and Drug Administration, as well as the Commodities Futures Trading Commission, and the Farm Credit Administration.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And as we have worked together for so long, you know me well, yes, sir, I do have a few opening comments, but, first of all, let me commend you for your leadership and your opening remarks as well, they are…

This is an emerging priority, bipartisan priority.

Yeah, we need rural broadband, and that is very important.

Are we thinking critically about how to identify the gap and close the gap?

That was perfectly on cue, perfectly timed.

So I think we need a simple set of statistics that is really definable around--forget the complexities.