We thank the Honorable David Scott, Glenn `GT' Thompson, Abigail Spanberger, and Doug LaMalfa for holding this hearing to discuss impacts of and opportunities for improving farm bill conservation programs.

I am very excited that that program is, in part, based on the Butcher Block Act (H.R. 4140), which I co-led alongside Dusty Johnson.

I could not agree with him more. And certainly, I have heard from producers in my district the challenge that they sometimes feel like they are positioned to seem like, to use Mr. DesJarlais' term, climate criminals.

These challenges in rural communities... have ranged from broadband infrastructure challenges to supply chain bottlenecks.

I have been a strong supporter of the REAP program, and I was very proud when provisions from my REAP Improvement Act were included in legislation that recently passed.

So when we are talking about REAP, Under Secretary, it is consistently oversubscribed and under-funded, leaving many producers and agribusinesses to be pretty frustrated with the backlogs in the program.

FACA supports the Agriculture Environmental Stewardship Act, a bill that provides an important tool to incentivize investments in climate-smart technologies.

If farmers are to be part of solving climate challenges, they need to rely on proven science, accurate data, and standardization.

I am grateful to the witnesses for being here, and Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

Thank you for holding this important hearing on our Energy Title programs in the farm bill.

Spanberger's bipartisan REAP Improvement Act strengthens REAP resources and advances key concepts we need now for a significant REAP upgrade.