Mike Conaway: “And I rise in support of H.R. 2051, the Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2015. I want to begin by thanking my colleagues…”

“And I rise in support of H.R. 2051, the Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2015. I want to begin by thanking my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee, Ranking Member Peterson and Congressman Rouzer, for joining me in introducing this legislation. I am especially appreciative of Mr. Rouzer's work as subcommittee chairman in holding a hearing to foster discussions that led to this important legislation. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 2051 is a bill to reauthorize the Livestock Mandatory Reporting Act of 1999. This bill, like the underlying act and each subsequent reauthorization, has been the result of dialogue and consensus between livestock producers and other industry participants. I would like to extend my gratitude to our Nation's livestock producers, capably represented by their trade associations--the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, the National Pork Producers Council, and the American Sheep Industry Association--for their hard work and dedication on this effort. We fully understand that government mandates, like price reporting, can be onerous, and that not all industry participants may fully embrace this program. That said, it is apparent that over the preceding 16 years, mandatory reporting has become an essential tool that allows for greater transparency and price discovery within the livestock industry, especially as the industry continues to evolve.…”