Mike Conaway

We have to be a strong voice to protect, not just the family farms, but all the agriculture in the United States.

The change in policies has created a real sense of fear within the immigrant community and that has begun to result in increasing problems for produce providers in being able to retain workers.

The choices, as Carrie said, about choosing between medicine and food, that is a reality for so many people.

Food aid is one of the things I would cut.

If the current situation continues or gets worse, produce providers are expecting you to ACT on their behalf, jurisdiction or no jurisdiction.

It puts organizations like us, and private universities and non-land-grant universities at a competitive disadvantage.

Federal immigration policy must balance enforcement with a humane and effective program to allow foreign-born workers to come here to do the produce harvesting and processing jobs that Americans simply won't.

The bottom line is that this program is insufficient for meeting the needs of our growers and packers.

Without the dedicated and skilled workers to harvest the fruit and vegetable crops grown here in this country, logic dictates that we as a nation will then have to source those commodities from other countries.

I encourage bold, effective action to address this issue.

The bottom line is that the H-2A Program is insufficient for meeting the needs of our growers, and it disproportionately hurts small farmers.

I believe this is a needed step in ensuring that organic practices have the widespread impact on American agriculture they deserve, while meeting ever-growing consumer demand.

The choice we make in the farm bill is whether or not we are going to lead it.

RUS loans have helped build, expand and improve the infrastructure across rural America necessary to deliver power, clean water, and other necessities.

We need to make sure that when we are involved in international trade, that it is not only free and open access, but that it is fair.

We are a great nation, the United States. We are very good at innovation.

The hallmark of U.S. trade policy and of U.S. diplomatic policy has always been that we look at agriculture as probably the most important diplomatic tool that we have.

I believe in crop insurance. It is a critical program for our country.

I strongly believe that MAP funding should be increased to $400 million annually, with the increase phased in as part of the next farm bill.

We believe the REDL&G Program is a valuable tool in offsetting population flight and job losses in rural Georgia and around the country.

The United States must lead, not be led.

The question is not whether we roll back the tide of globalization, but it is whether or not we are going to shape it or be shaped by it.

That trout stream now generates over $4 million in income to that local community from that investment.

I believe that economic activity and conservation go hand in hand and we are always looking for new, innovative conservation programs.

It's important that we keep these programs funded to safeguard their continued success, and above all else--these programs must stay voluntary.