Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. I rise in support of S. 2107, the Protecting America's Food and Agriculture Act of 2019. As we know, much of the food and agricultural goods we consume come from all over the world, whether it be fruit, vegetables, herbs, or cut flowers. As food and other agricultural goods arrive at our ports of entry, U.S. Customs and Border Protection agricultural specialists have a tremendous responsibility. They inspect those products to safeguard the U.S. food supply, the economy, and agriculture from potentially harmful or dangerous pests, pathogens, invasive plants, and agroterrorism. CBP has advised Congress that there are hundreds of agriculture- related position vacancies at the agency on top of thousands of Border Patrol, customs officer, and other law enforcement vacancies. S. 2107 encourages CBP to hire, train, and assign agriculture specialists and associated support staff, technicians, and K-9 teams, and authorizes appropriations to do so. The bill requires CBP to consider quantifiable inspection data, seasonal surge volumes, and projected changes in commercial forecasts at each port of entry when determining staffing needs. The bill also directs the Comptroller General to conduct a review of Federal efforts to address risks to the agricultural supply that analyzes interagency coordination, effectiveness of inspections, and training and working conditions.…”