Glenn Thompson

Despite decades of effort and billions of dollars spent, too many communities are still on the wrong side of the divide.

I have always said the best policies come when we work together, and I look forward to continuing to work with the Ranking Member.

I am also interested in a long-term solution to ensure the backlog never reaches this level again.

Today the deferred maintenance backlog, as we heard from a number of our witnesses, is estimated to be over $11.5 billion.

I appreciate the witnesses joining us here today and look forward to hearing about the great work they are doing.

I am proud to represent State College--home of Pennsylvania's only land-grant university.

Today's hearing is an opportunity to review programs authorized in the research title of the farm bill to ensure our universities are equipped to solve the challenges facing agriculture now, and well into the future.

American farmers, ranchers, and foresters have increased agriculture outputs nearly threefold with little to no change in inputs.

We need to do is make sure we are creating a platform for the future, for what is over the horizon.

The farm bill that we are working on will obviously serve those in America's number one industry, agriculture, from 2023, when we get this done, to 2028.

I would like to thank Ranking Member Spanberger for her comments and questions, and for her strong support of agricultural research.

We cannot forget about the importance of agricultural research in ensuring the United States continues to have the safest, most abundant, and most affordable food and fiber supply in the world.

I want to reiterate my continued support for making strong investments in research.

As I often say, rural America is essential America, and without our rural producers, America would wake up in the cold, dark, and hungry.

Today's diverse set of panelists brings valuable knowledge and insight on how rural development programs work on the ground, and how they can be improved to better serve our rural communities.

I know the importance of investing in the bioeconomy, which relies on our farmers and ranchers.

I am advocating for those hardworking families, including on solutions to support mental health in rural communities, and ensuring that rural families have more reliable access to childcare.

The farm bill is an opportunity to address these issues that rural communities face every day and help ensure our rural neighbors have access to affordable, high quality health care--particularly important to me as a pediatrician.

As USDA's Rural Development agency is the only Federal agency with the sole focus of serving rural communities like the ones I represent, it is critical that we are providing these communities with the tools and resources they need to…

Nutrition education programs provide individuals who participate in assistance programs with strategies to meet nutrient needs.

I use the word job opportunities: almost 1/4 of all SNAP recipients today are working.

I think we have an obligation to do that.

I hope it will keep a principled approach.

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

Helping people reach a new rung on the ladder of opportunity.