Abigail Spanberger

I stand ready to do whatever I can as Chair of this Subcommittee to ensure that the Forest Service has the resources, the personnel, and the tools they need to prepare for future fires.

This bill will support America's farmers, ranchers, and foresters who want to adopt innovative practices that combat climate change while continuing to provide the world with food, feed, and fiber.

I have been so enthusiastic so far that I have little time for questions.

And that is why I am so excited to work with my colleague, Congressman Don Bacon, to reintroduce the Growing Climate Solutions Act this Congress.

That means money for the farmers and producers who choose to participate in voluntary, again, voluntary carbon markets.

I am just so excited because what we have heard today from our witnesses is that climate-smart agricultural and forestry practices can really help reduce the risks posed by climate change while creating valuable revenue streams.

Unfortunately, these existing private markets are often challenging to navigate for companies and for small farmers alike.

We must always plan for the worst case scenario, because I think we saw a confluence of worst case scenarios come to fruition.

I just want to reiterate the importance of really ensuring that the interagency team engages and communicates with local government.

I saw thousands of Afghan children, women, and men who made it out of Afghanistan.

I represent many, many in the veterans community who have focused exclusively on ensuring that those who helped keep them alive... would have a chance at a better life in the future.

Virginia became the first State in the Nation to stand offshore wind turbines in Federal waters and our State is expected to be one of the Nation's leaders in terms of megawatts produced.

It is clear that offshore wind energy can be a job and clean energy creator and it presents a real opportunity for transatlantic cooperation.

I am hopeful that controlled environment agriculture can help increase supply chain resiliency, and decrease dependence on foreign growers.

I am excited to have the opportunity to discuss the positive impact of controlled environment agriculture on our domestic food supply.

NLBMDA supports legislation recently introduced in the House of Representatives which would take proactive and meaningful actions to improve the health of our nation's forests.

NLBMDA believes these solutions will strengthen the wood product supply chain moving forward and provide necessary relief to businesses in our industry.

Our forests--as well as the wood products they support--are critical green infrastructure that help sequester carbon while growing our economy.

I was thrilled to see USDA announce that applications for these funds would go live July 22nd.

I am excited to hear from our witnesses about how Congress can support infrastructure policy that protects our forestlands.

I must acknowledge the raging forest fires bringing devastation to much of the western United States.

In my home of Virginia, we have 16 million acres of forested land and forest-related businesses contribute $156 million to our state's economy each year.

The U.S. wood products industry directly employs about one million people and contributes more than $5 billion in state and local taxes.

The president did the honorable thing when he promised to get those who helped us out of harm’s way.

I do hope that we can be really leading the charge, echoing the president's comments in Geneva related to the need to be on the offensive in the space.