Kristi Noem

That was real help that was desperately needed, especially since we have been hit with the drought of 2012 as well.

I want to really tell you how much I appreciate the fact that when we had signup for the Livestock Indemnity Program on April 15, my producers came back telling me that within 6 to 7 days, they had checks in their hands.

So that gave them a little hope that they would be able to stay on their ranches and maybe someday see cattle back in their pastures.

In South Dakota we have had ongoing problems with NRCS with inconsistent policy from county to county, a backlog of problems, some producers waiting months, if not years, for determinations, so it hasn't always been a good experience.

I firmly believe that this activity should be rethought by your agency, your department and get into consultation with the agriculture industry.

We want to make it easy for them to participate and we want to make it so that they want to be involved.

If this rule provides that kind of certainty for the agriculture industry, I am baffled because none of the agriculture industry wants this.

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the following: Sec. __. None of the funds made available by this Act…

If we can focus on northeastern South Dakota, and make sure that that district within NRCS is complying with the direction that you have given to them, that would be great.

I need some help with that.

I believe that law says driving miles, and I hope that that is followed when you look at this list, in trying to become more efficient, and better serving the producers.

I have another problem. And, as far as when it comes to FSA closures in the past, what we have seen in South Dakota is that an FSA office will be listed for closure, where the NRCS office that is right in the same building, located next to…

You know what South Dakota has kind of gone through the last couple of years, with the drought in 2012, the devastating blizzard we had in October of last year, and tens of thousands of cattle that we lost.

This is an important provision.

I want to thank you for making livestock disaster programs a priority, and getting those implemented.

I shared the same concerns that Mr. Wittman did as well with the B-1s.

I wanted to just do a little follow-up with Dr. LaPlante on the question that Mr. McIntyre brought up about the cost of the Next-Generation Bomber.

You were very clear in the statement that we faced risks around the world, and we could use those bombers in the air when necessary.

Well, that would be my hope, that as we recertify, that we would also look at modernization at the same time so it is streamlined and there could be some savings then.

But you do have some plans for modernization in fiscal year 2020, correct?

Well, recertification is to begin in fiscal year 2019. Is that correct?

We need to work to make sure the awareness is out there.

We need all the tools we can possibly get to stop them and to prosecute them to the highest extent possible.

It breaks my heart, and I think we need to do all that we can to do, to stop this deplorable industry.

I never would have dreamed that when I sent them out the door to go to school, or to the mall, or to a store that they were in jeopardy of being trafficked.