minutes. >> seeing a quorum, i call the meeting of the senate agriculture committee to order. i'm now going to recognize senator grassley and that he has a prior commitment for his three minutes of commentary. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i have a fairly reserved statement. don't assume i don't have some strong views on some things that might come up today. i think chairman roberts ranking members cavanaugh and commending you all for getting to this point. putting together a bill of this size and complexity is no small

task. this legislation will impact every citizen and nearly every acre of land in america. there's several pieces of this legislation that i like very much and support. the market access informed market development programs being funded. these programs are very important that they promote our products abroad and leverage private dollars. i think there's sensible and much needed reform to the conservation reserve program that should help refocus it better to its original intent. in iowa we had some landowners getting over $300 an acre to put their farms into the crp. that was making it hard for young and beginning farmers to compete for land against the government. even well established farmers had rented land taken away from them because it was enrolled in crp at these lucrative rates.

they were especially en sensed about being outbid for land by government knowing our tax national debt is 20 trillion. so i commend also my colleagues from iowa senators for her leadership in this area. and i would like to hear from other members about the adequacy of the program from these stand points whether we have enough incentive that the most fragile land go in before high yielding land would go in so we get more bang for the taxpayer's dollars and that whole farms should be giving consideration over other land. on crop insurance, i see they maintain a very strong program. the changes that clarify in the crop insurance program for cover crop termination shall not take affect -- shall not affect the

insure ability of subsequent crops are very welcome inclusion. in iowa, cover crops are becoming very popular. they help reduce runoff that hurts the environment. the commodity title of this program is very similar to the last farm bill. there is certainly improvements that can be made as a few crops have price triggers that are extremely high. when price triggers have a ten year average to determine the price of that crop, it's hard to explain how that is a safety net and not simply a guaranteed payment turning out to be a ridiculous policy. i'm happy in an amendment that i offered that encourages partnership help water and wastewater utilities find innovative and low cost solutions to meet the clean water act targets more

effectively was included in the manager's amendment instead of these utilities, buildings, expensive water treatment plants that could be given credit for programs at lower costs is something that we ought to be concentrating on. i'm also disappointed the face bill does not include common sense reforms that are offered on programs eligibility while no bill is perfectly hope to be move things in the right direction every time we take up a piece of legislation like this. i will also say that i'm dismayed that we do not have a cbo score. things are harder -- hard for farmers out in the countryside right now and passing a farm bill will provide certainty to our farmers as chairman roberts has reminded me several times over the last week. thank you. >> i thank the senator.

i want to point out, again, that i'm going to tap this gavel if we exceed three minutes. we simply have to get this bill done. about four minutes and 15 seconds. but that's -- you know, that's about your batting average. [ inaudible conversations ] [ laughing ] >> i want to welcome my colleagues today. and today's business meeting where we will consider the agriculture improvement act of 2018, the farm bill. the goal, the responsibility, the absolute requirement for this committee is to provide farmers, ranchers, growers and everyone within the agriculture and food value chain certainty and preeblt, especially during these very difficult times. this is absolutely paramount to

any other concern. i respect the long held partnerships this committee has had with farm and commodity organizations, with all of the folks who have banded together to fight for better nutrition than to abolish hunger with the research and conservation advocates. i could, we could go down all 12 titles of the farm bill and the many others who provide us with a sorely needed advice and council. still our single overriding responsibility is to the men and women in farm families in america who today are in difficult and too many in desperate times. it is not an sxaertion to addre

those priorities as possible in the draft. and we have included 66 amendments as part of a manager's amendment for the committee to consider. we are engaged in this important effort together. we are continuing to craft a farm bill that meets the needs of producers all across our country, all regions, all crops, all of agriculture is struggling, not just one or two commodities. we must have a bill that works across our entire country. and we must ensure that our voluntary conservation programs are keeping farmland in operation while protecting reso. we must focus on program integrity and common sense investments to strengthen our nutrition programs. to ensure the long-term success

of those in need of assistance. and -- and with trade policy uncertainty, we must provide certainty for our trade promotion and research programs. feeding an increasing global population is not simply an agricultural challenge, it is a national security challenge. show me a country that cannot feed itself, and i'll show you a nation in chaos. and goodness knows we have enough chaos in the world today. this means credit and proper ri management. it takes the government providing the tools and then getting out of the producer's way. we must take tough choices and be judicious with the scarce resources we have. we have asked tough questions, reexamined programs to determine their effectiveness. we must ensure programs

accomplish their fundamental purposes. agriculture and specifically the farm bill has consistently answered the call to do more or less every time. to those get this done. we must embrace the attitude of our producers, optimism and en ji new tee. a farmer just doesn't plant the seed in the ground without the faith and optimism of and together we can -- we must give them the predictability. >> first of all, i want to say as always it is a great pleasure to work with you as partners in this committee. i also want to recently.

-- where he greatly appreciate their hard work. from the start of this process, mr. chairman, you and i made a commitment to deliver a bipartisan farm bill that would work for our farm ers, our families and world communities. i'm pleased to reach an agreement that will do the 16

made the we made these critical improvements without cutting conservation. this helps our farmers be more productive and protects our land and water for outdoor recreation. by focusing on partnerships we will actually grow funding by leveraging an additional $1 billion in private investments to support locally led conservation. i want to thank senator ernst for partnering with me in the partnership program. new titles are also included. just as the farm bill supports farmers and landowners, it also supports family and communities. we work to find common ground to improve the integrity and help families find good paying stable jobs while preserving critical food access for

millions of families in need. additionally we made historic investments to support tribal communities. we also protected and expanded initiatives that create real jobs and ensure families can enjoy the high quality of life no matter where they live. one of the things really needed, and i know we all agree and this is needed in rural communities is reliable high-speed internet. my home state alone there was nearly 1 million people in rural michigan who lack access. our bill includes new opportunities that connects rural households, schools and businesses that need it most. we strengthen job opportunities in bio -based manufacturing, clean energy installation and rule small businesses. we found ways to improve. [inaudible] it will address harmful contaminants in drinking water.

additionally expanded resources provide addiction treatment to come combat the opioid epidemic that has devastated far too many small towns and families across country. on every title, on every page you can see this truly is the farm bill that meets critical priorities across our country. i want to thank all the members of the committee. we could go around this table and each member has important provisions in this bill. they have made important contributions and we thank everyone for that. you have brought valuable ideas to the table and worked hard to make sure we can get here today. again i want to thank my great partners for all of the long hours and hard work we've done together to write the farm bill. it's a bill that makes sense for our farmers, ranchers and rural communities and families. mr. chairman, let's pass the farm bill. >> and one associate myself

with the remarks you're only as good as your staff and we have the best. that goes for everybody here. having been a staffer for 14 years, i have a special feeling about that. this was a daunting task and they spent a lot of hours trying to put this together. senator boseman. >> thank you, mr. chairman. right after that i want to thank you and ranking member for their hard work over the last several months. as you mentioned, you all are great and work hard but your staff are excellent. we really do appreciate that. again, for crafting a truly bipartisan piece of legislation, especially during a time when budgets are tight and tough choices must be made. as we are all aware, the fir farming community is much different place than when we

were last around this table debating a farm bill. it's approximately half of what it was then. farm bankruptcies are up 39% over the past two years. financing is becoming more expensive, input costs are rising in the trade outlook is volatile and uncertain. farmers across the country, and regardless of which state they reside in in which crops they grow are hurting. now is not the time to be cutting the farm safety net program. as members of this committee we must provide a timely farm bill to provide to the folks who feed and close the nation and the world for which we can be very proud. i was particularly pleased to see that the chairman and ranking members marks maintain strong safety net. this also involves programs for military members and veterans to have them become involved in agriculture. i was also pleased to see my amendments were included in the managers package but i want to acknowledge that the regional conservation

partnership program is an excellent tool for bringing partnerships and additional nonfederal funding to the conservation effort. my homestead, especially the rice producers have benefited from the partnership and usa rice and arkansas rice and it is being significant and meaningful to our working lands agricultural producers. however, i have concerns regarding the changes that will allow up to 30% of the funding to be allocated as grants to these organizations. the division has always been the best of government and the best of partnerships working for the producers and the natural resources. the programs delivered in this regard but i feel we are opening the door to conservation dollar dollars, capacity building and supporting certain organization members rather than continuing to leverage private funding to the benefit of many.

new servers in a given region. my constituents at home have also reached out with concerns regarding the changes to the provisions, farmers are the biggest champions and largest constituency for these programs. i'm afraid we could harm the long-term viability by turning portions into cash base rather than commodity -based assistance. by doing so the ones who support the mission of these programs the most will be hurt. as the chairman reiterated we must provide our farmers and ranchers with predictability and ensure it predicts producers of all regions and commodities that we do not cut down one commodity or regions cut down another. again, i look forward to getting the thing passed and thanks to you all in your staff. >> thank you. senator leahy. >> thank you. you have worked together in a bipartisan way to draft this 2018 farm bill. it's actually an example of

what the senate can achieve. we focus on the real challenges we face. this committee has a long and well-deserved reputation for that. mr. chairman, i think your predecessor and dear friend both of us who was here, i remember him working closely with herbert humphrey, you have two people who oppose philosophically and they would work together and come up with good agriculture legislation. you've done the same and senator seven our house. i know in our state vermont farmers and families rely on the support and guidance of the farm bill so our farms, both large and small are productive and our children are nourished and are air, land and water is protected and this bill makes important improvement in all of these.

rural communities across vermont in every corner of america represent every single state here and will directly benefit from this bill. it's where we set our priorities, just like our spending bills. farmers everywhere face increasingly difficult times. vermont is no exception. the backbone of many of our communities have faced significant challenges in recent years and it's a very hard time for them. i see people who are working 365 days a year, enormous hours, very difficult work and i see the deaths in the despair in many of these people who have been generations of the backbone of our communities to the best of vermont. this bill is another opportunity to provide the support and security that dairy farmers deserve and higher levels of risk

coverage, also provides nutritional support for citizens as well as reduce hunger worldwide, continue programs and i like what is done in the organic industry when i first wrote that bill when i was chairman of this committee, none of us would've imagined turning it into a 50 billion-dollar industry so it's a good bill. it's a bipartisan bill. i put my whole statement on the record, but mr. chairman, the two committees i enjoy serving on, this one and appropriations because republicans and democrats work together in the way the senate should and has in the past and can work. i thank you. >> the senator from mark. senator soon.

>> thank you, mr. chairman. ranking member, thank you to you and your staff members. unlike the past three bills that i've been involved with in farm bills, they were writing a farm bill during an extended economic downturn. the egg community is clouded by the uncertain economic conditions we are facing today. mr. chairman, over the past 14 months i've introduced 11 marker bills, some with members on the other side of the aisle that i believe offer sound policy, some to improve management and flexibility and other conservation easements along with senators browning grassley we offered a bill that would more equitably distribute program payments

across all regions of the united states by adjusting reference prices that achieve one 100% of the market price average for those crops. more than 77% of all base acres are enrolled in art which not only provides price protection but also provides production loss protection. however it did not receive the changes needed to make this program an effective safety net of the next farm bill. our bill also offered savings to taxpayers by directing assistance producers with bases on land that is actually being cropped. under current policy there are thousands of acres of land with bases but have not been farmed for years yet this land is still receiving commodity title payments. i would argue that is not good policy. i spent the last two days after the release of the chairman's mark in an effort to effectively modify arc. however, we simply ran out of time to make the necessary adjustments and get them

scored by the cbo. creating good policy and savings in government programs is often painful and unpopular. is why many much-needed changes are not mad made and i feel like we could've made some popular decisions that would've resulted in better policy but there are those who chose to put those changes off for another day. the conservation title is quickly important to my home state of south dakota and several of my proposals that would improve the management of crp and other programs that have been included in the chairman's mark and management package which i appreciate we will vote on the crp amendment that will increase the ache acreage cap and improve flexibility without compromising wildlife benefits. we have all had additional policy changes we'd like to have included in this bill but in the end we have a bill that will help address the challenges of today's agricultural economy and i look forward to its considerations. thank you. >> nikki mr. chairman.

i did not prepare an opening statement. i would briefly summarize the amendments. one is to help dairy farmers. senator koba char worked very hard on the bill. our dairy farmers are not only living on poverty wages but many are going out of business and committing suicide. helping them is one of our highest priorities of the farm bill and i want to thank them for working on the amendment. giving relief to them now is crucial. when a dairy farm goes out of business the land is sold and developed and gone forever. we talk about production of food in this committee as a national security priority. if you relegate production of certain food to one part of the state and one for the country, any problem whether it's a drought in california or nuclear fallout from japan, it literally changes whether we can produce some food in that part of the country.

that's why we want make sure dairy stays in places like california and minnesota and wisconsin and new york and vermont. thank you amy for working so hard on that bill and helping us with that. another amendment i want to pull up is about pollinators. normally on the agriculture community we side with our producers and if they like a certain chemical they use in production for weed killing or blood killing we generally side with our producers. there are a class of chemicals that are killing these and you can't produce fruits and vegetables if you don't have bees to pollinate. this is amendment i don't we will get to vote on today but i might be able to call it up on the floor. i just want to highlight it for you to inform yourselves that just listening to producers and not knowing the science behind what could actually change, whether we can produce crops in this country is really important to me. the snap provisions are also important for new york state. we have a lot of families who are struggling to feed their

kids and one of my amendments is to make it possible that if you are a full-time caregiver, if you've a special needs child at home, if you have an elderly parent that you are caring for full-time, that you can still have access to food stands for the requirement is that you have to be working but if your full-time caregiver you are working. you're just not compensated. i want to talk about that in the committee long-term. last, rule jobs and investment, this is a bill that the chairman and ranking member have been working with me. it is supported by all of the advocacy groups. it's a make sense bill that i think we could perhaps including the future managers amendment. if i'm not here to talk about it, mike goal would be to offer and withdraw so we can work on it. it's a very common sense bill to help create jobs in rural america. thank you very much. thank you, mr. chairman. i would also like to thank you

and our ranking member for working so hard and being so open to everyone on this committee. certainly the staff has put so many hours into this. i commend you for putting together a strong bipartisan bill that affects the input of all the members on our committee. the fact that you were able to accomplish this in a bill that is estimated to save $60 million over the next ten years. i'm grateful to your commitment. the broad array of programs and policies will affect the overall quality of life for families such as mine across united states and many mississippians. agriculture is the number one industry.

the land will be well served by the legislation being presented from this committee. we authorize the cost loss and the commodity title to ensure producers have adequate protection when market prices are low and maintaining support structure to help larger producers to remain in business when times get very tough. the land owner will be able to set aside less protective land for the purpose of wildlife protection and water improvement. with respect to the nutrition title, i'm encouraged that annual spending over the life the bill i'm also pleased that

it seeks improvement to the snap program to increase integrity and focused on snap beneficiaries. as we move forward i hope the committee will seek further reform to provide help for those in need and the path to employment and self sustainability. in closing i would like to thank you and members of your staff for including my amendment in the package of amendments but i look forward to continue working with you on this farm bill process. >> thank you. senator brown. >> thank you mr. chairman and thank you for the shorn i work you've done. thank you both for that. i want think the staff on both sides, especially the committee staff and the work that you did. the work was outstanding.

i appreciate the bipartisan nature of this bill. i don't believe any of us got everything we wanted, but we are taking positive steps toward improving our conservation program and investing in local foods and specialty crops, maintaining a strong safety net and reducing hunger in our country. everyone in this country in the senate has heard me talk about the importance of the great lakes and the fragility of lake erie. it's the shallowest and most ecologically productive. it's also the most environmentally sensitive of the great lakes. it drained some of the most productive farmland in america. at roundtables i hear from farmers about their desire for conservation programs to reduce runoff and soil health and were easier to use.

where spending goes and how it used is essential to meeting our natural resources to make sure were getting a good return on investments. this gets us a step closer to achieving goals. i want to thank senators ernst and grassley and casey and donnelly for their work on these provisions. i also want to note that for the first time we've provided baseline funding for usda programs to promote local food production and help small growers increase their revenues and predictability into the future. senator collins and i worked on this bill, the newmarket assistance program will help strengthen this food sector and i appreciate the senators work. the incentive program has

proved so successful including in ohio since its creation in the 2014 farm bill. with this provision snap recipients will be up to increase their purchasing power when they buy fresh foods and vegetable. the program has been good for families and local farmers who now have new customers. i expect another pilot project included in this bill will soon be a nationwide model for reducing hospital and doctor visits as out at risk patients have greater access to fruits and vegetables and healthier diets. the committee accepted my amendment to create three new centers of excellence and i appreciate the commitment from the chair and ranking member to work with me on brown amendment to which deals with equity issues affecting the 1890 system. some provisions that i introduced with senator thune are included in the bill.

we want to ensure their good deal for american taxpayers and especially thank the senators for their work on this. there are dozens of other provisions in this bill that are good for ohio farmers and small towns, ensuring the integrity of organic crops, investing in wastewater programs, fighting the opioid epidemic an and a bill that's good for families and farmers and taxpayers, i'm committed to working with my colleagues. >> thank you. >> thank you. thank you german robinson for your work on the bipartisan package. i recognize this was not an easy task and i commend your efforts and hard work by your staff. agriculture is the backbone of nebraska's economy. it's a big part of my own life. in fact, one of every four jobs in nebraska is directly tied to agriculture. that's why i am thankful to

represent nebraska on this committee as we craft such an important piece of legislation. as each of us around this table is fully aware, there is a lot of anxiety in farm country. with current net farm income down by over 50% compared to five years ago and uncertainty surrounding international trade and biofuel policy, farmers and ranchers are feeling scared and their feeling vulnerable. they're looking to us, to this committee to provide the certainty and predictability they need to support their families and if yo feed the world. since my first day in congress, i worked with my colleagues to promote commonsense policies that enable our egg producers to prosper. this farm bill process gives us the opportunity to accomplish this mission. traveling around my home state , nebraskans have told me they are looking for strong farm safety net that uphold the

integrity of the crop insurance program. this important program works in my state and i appreciate that the bill before us continues it. i also appreciate the committee for recognizing the importance of our trade promotion program. our farmers and our ranchers have proven they can and will aggressively pursue global markets, consolidating the four primary programs under title iii will eliminate the anxiety of expiring baselines, providing producers with more leverage as they expand into new market. it's imperative we give the farmers and ranchers the tools and technology that enable them to maintain their competitive advantage. this package builds off congress existing package to explant broadband to the most underserved and rural areas by

prioritizing projects to provide broadband to the most rural areas to boost connectivity assisting in bringing the next generation back to the farm and enhancing productivity. providing the farmers and ranchers with the tools and certainly they need to feed our nation into feed the world. it's important to me that we remember these hard-working men and women. i look forward to working with my colleagues to improve the bill today and as it moves forward in the legislative process. thank you. >> i think senator smith.

>> thank you very much for all of your work on this incredibly good bipartisan farm bill before us today. i also want to add my thanks to everyone for all the work has been put in an time to come together. when i first came to the senate a few months ago, i have to say on this committee and i immediately went to put together a farm bill working group in the home state of minnesota so i could hear from farmers and ranchers and nutrition experts and rural leaders on what ought to be included on this farm bill. that working group provided a lot of great guidance to me and my staff all the way through this process. i want to thank them for their help. several of you have noted this farm bill touches the lives of every american and every minnesotan and is so important to our state's economy. this bill will provide important stability and predict ability to minnesota farmers and ranchers and rural communities but also sustaining tens of thousands of minnesota jobs. i'm very thankful that this bill includes many of the

proposals that i have been working to get included in this bill for minnesotans. that includes maintaining the sugar program for minnesota's sugarbeet farmers and also improving the dairy safety net. i know my colleague have worked very hard on this. the bill also includes and establishes a new national animal disease preparedness response and recovery program. we know from minnesota, having lived to the avian flu how important this is and i want to thank the senator for her work on this. the bill makes important improvements to conservation programs to help make sure our farmers have the opportunity to start conservation efforts and keep those going into the future. i am very happy that the bill provides also help for beginning farmers and traditionally disadvantaged farmers in our state of minnesota that means native american farmers and latino farmers and veteran farmers to make sure partners from

diverse backgrounds have an ability to access usda services. i want to thank senator heitkamp and senator van hollen for helping. as a ranking member of the rule development subcommittee, i'm very happy this bill include strong energy title that strengthens successful energy programs from the last farm bill like the role energy for america program. my colleague, senator, char has also provided great leadership along with senator ernst and i'm very happy to see that included. i would also just like to note chairman roberts, i'm very happy for the inclusion of our rule health liaison and the managers package. i worked on that with senator rounds and also senator jones. this will really encourage the collaboration we know we need between usda and health and human services to address the specific healthcare needs of rural communities. i'm very happy to see that included. thank you again chair roberts

and ranking member and i look forward all look forward to continuing work on this bill. with your permission i would like to recognize our leader, senator mcconnell for his three minutes and 21 seconds left bac back. >> thank you, mr. chairman. ranking member, i'm happy to be here this morning. senator, could i just say one thing. thank you for commitment not only to be here, but your commitment to everyone and also with regards to senator schumer. both leaders have committed that once we finish our business here we can finish our business on the floor of the united states senate. thank you. >> let me mention, thank you, mr. chairman, we will turn to the farm bill before the fourth of july. i am hopeful that the house

will get to theirs. it will probably look a little different from ours but i'm hoping they will get to theirs shortly which will give us a chance to get in and make them law which is what i know we are all potentially interested in doing. i want to thank both of you for the process that has led us to today. in my home state of kentucky, our agricultural heritage is a central part of our economy and our pride from poultry and beef and soybean and tobacco was 75000 plus farms in the bluegrass providing jobs in a great way of life for a lot of people i represent. i'm proud to support this bill is for us today. it will provide much-needed certainty for our farmers. one way it does so is by protecting crop insurance, and

protecting them from natural disaster that could wipe out an entire operation. the legislation also provides important reform to support kentucky's 12 million acres of forest land and their contributions to our state economy. it would boost rule communities by expanding access to high-speed internet, embedding the opioid crisis and investing in water if a structure projects. by any measure this is a good bill will come and proposal to help families and communities. i particularly want to thank the chairman and ranking member for including my help forming act in this bill. there's a lot of supporters around this table. i think it's time we took this step. i think everyone has figured it out, this is not the other plants. they had a little difficulty four years ago and putting the pallet project in the bill to explain its people that this is a totally different plants. i know there are farming communities all over the country who are interested in this. mine are particularly interested in it and the

reason for that is as all of you know our number one cash crop used to be something that is really not good for you, tobacco. that has declined significantly as it should, given the public health concerns. younger farmers in our state are particularly interested in going in this direction. i'm very excited about what you've done and a lot of people are extremely enthusiastic about the possibilities. i don't know from a perspective whether this will ever be as big as tobacco was. just to give you an idea how pervasive tobacco was, when i came to the senate we had a quota program and you fully remember it's a little bit like something out of moscow in the early 1920s, but anyway, they assigned quotas to the farm and we had at least some tobacco in 119 of a

hundred 20 counties but it was the only thing you could grow profitably that was legal. holler is an area between two tall mountains. it was literally everywhere. for obvious reasons, the public health concerns began to see the program decline. we were fortunate enough to orchestrate a buyout and the asset was attached to land when you pager property taxes the tobacco quota you had was part of the value of the land. no tax money was used in the buyout which you will remember from 2004 or 2005, but it was paid for by the industry itself. so over a ten year time period, this quota that was created by the government and added value to the land was compensated for and we always

had diverse agriculture but there was nothing as big as tobacco. all the people in rural kentucky who grew up with tobacco or are hoping this will be really something. as we all know, hemp is very diversified. it could end up in your car dashboard, it could end up in food, it could end up in certain kinds of pharmaceuticals. it's time to figure it out and see where the market will take us. i just want to conclude by thanking you all very much for your interest in this. i think it's an important new development in american arc agriculture and there's plenty of hemp around predators coming from some other country. why in the world would we want a lot of it not to come from here. >> could i just add a word to what the leader said, you

bring back a lot of memories. when i was sitting down there at the very end of the table we were the two most senior members of time and we both became chair of the committee. i remember the chairman sitting up here almost obscured by the tobacco smoke everybody was smoking. there was a strong anti-communist was burning crops and then you would hear little muttering and that was the tobacco legislation and the rest of us saying what did he say, you don't need to know. you do bring back some memories. thank you. >> thank you.

>> anyway, times have changed for the better. >> thank you for that history lesson. [laughter] i remember when i first came here and we talked about the tobacco program with president coolidge and he was known as silent cal so he just nodded his head but now we have industrial hemp and the leader has that amendment and it will be successful. >> it will be hard to follow that, although the leader talked about a holler. in kentucky, being an area between two stands of trees. in our part of the world holler mean something else. hopefully we can holler when

we pass this farm bill. thanks to both chairman and ranking member, i know you've worked long and hard and i appreciate your willingness to dialogue. as each of you have come around and worked with all the members of this committee and then gone back and worked with each other, that's what it takes to get base text to put us in position to pass a bill. that's where we are. i know we will go through amendments, hopefully not for too long, but it doesn't happen without that base that reflects the input of all the members. as a number of our members have said, we don't get everything we want but will work on that a little bit in the amendment process to try to get some additional things done. that base text is vital in terms of getting a starting point that we can bring this bill out of this committee with enough consensus to move it on the floor. i think were in position to do that and that's a tribute to you too and it doesn't happen without an incredible amount

of work on your part and a lot of experience and knowledge of what you're working on and your staff and our staff. big thanks to you and the staff. i know some have been up all night so we have to recognize and appreciate how hard they work and how committed they are to helping get this done. leader, i think it's particularly good you're here because it reflects our ability to get this done. your push behind it here in committee and on the floor. i think the priorities are in here. that's what i think this does work. our farmers are up against commodity prices are low and they face a lot of challenges. we have to try to move this bill to reduce the uncertainty. they are the most productive in the world, no question they can compete. the point i like to make is good farm policy benefits every single american, every single day because we have the highest quality, lowest-cost food supply in the world. this helps every american.

it benefits every single american every single day. not to mention the economic benefits our farmers and ranchers create whether it's jobs and trade, you name it. just mentioning the priorities, the things we laid out are vital. this lays out on the existing farm bill. were not trying to re-create the wheel, were trying to improve the bill we have. we are doing things in food,

fuel and fiber that we would never even dreamed of a few years ago. we could go back five years. we are growing crops for energy and other uses in addition to food that we can grow in regions of the country before and that's all due to research. we need them both. we cover the bases here and obviously the no-cost sugar program is very big and are part of the world. it's a huge industry and it goes to making sure our farmers have a fair opportunity to compete in global markets. programs like the vaccine ban to make sure we keep our livestock and crops, particularly our livestock healthy and our crops healthy, access to capital is one i think we will work on some more, i think we will get something done, there could be some back and forth but we have to make sure our farmers and ranchers can get that access to capital particularly in these tough times. i will wrap up there but again, thanks to all the

members of the committee for the willingness to work together. it starts with our leadership and i want to thank you and the staff for all the hard work. thank you so much. >> thank you senator heitkamp. >> i think they really outlined very well the priorities for north dakota, but while the majority leader is here, i would like to mention as one of the negotiators on the tobacco settlement, we work very hard to try to get a transition piece so they could in fact find success in other crops. i think the industry's willingness to step up will show that allow the growth of hemp in the state. we been waiting for this for almost 20 years. i'm proud to join with you in helping your farmers transition into a crop they

can be successful in. i think that's the beauty of the farm bill for all of us. the beauty is we recognize the regional differences and the commonalities and then were able to forge a coalition for our ranking member and chairman. i just want to point out a couple things. i hope we can all hang together on the floor with changes to the farm bill that will weaken the structure and coalition. we know there will be an attempt to change the foundation of the crop insurance program. limitations that i think could weaken the program. we always have a challenge with sugar. some of the colleagues don't always share that point of view but i voted for tobacco and a lot of things, cotton and rice that we don't grow in north dakota because that's in essence the quality of the coalition that's forged here.

i stand ready, much of the land is in agriculture whether it's ranching or farming. think about that. it's the bedrock of what we do in north dakota, and as the majority leader said it is part of our culture and we care deeply about the spread that's witnessed by having two senators from the dakota on the committee. we will have an assignment process here. i hope we come out united to pass the farm bill and make this process easy on the two who have done the most amount of work and that is german roberts and ranking member cavanaugh to get this across the finish line. we pledge our cooperation to getting this past before july. i yield the rest my time. >> thank you.

>> thank you ranking member and thanks for parental supervision to get us to this point in your hard work on this bill. this bill is good for montana farmers and ranchers among other things it will protect crop insurance. i hear a lot about that back home to support critical ag research and provide much-needed certainty in these turbulent times. if you look on the notepad in front of each of us, this is a committee on agriculture, nutrition and forestry. i do believe the forestry title could be stronger. while i'm grateful that includes my legislation with the senator to empower state forrester's to do cross boundary work, i do believe we could do much more to restore active management of our national forest. forest is a cro crop. you planted and harvested. i'd like to address three common misperceptions that i often encounter as we think about national forest policy. first is that the timber wars of the previous generation are still going on today. if you believe that, put on

your olivia newton john user can have your debate, but in reality, in montana and across the west we are seeing extensive collaboration and counties working together to determine substantial management forces. we should not allow extremist to obstruct their work. this leads to the second myth which is that restoring active management is just a code phrase for excessive logging. actually, active management is critical to restoring healthy forests which has widespread benefits, clean air, better fish and wildlife, the outdoor economy, clean water and wood products jobs. most important active management enhances public safety by reducing the threat of wildfire. a healthy forest is a carbon sink you wildfire is an incredible emitter of carbon. the third false impression is accelerating projects

shortchanges the process pretty currently takes 18 - 20 months to do most environmental reviews. after that's done many projects in montana are litigated which can add years of delays. right now as i sit here, 29 timber sales in montana alone are currently impacted by fringe litigation. unfortunately the french litigators and those extreme have a disproportionate views. mr. chairman, ranking member, reducing redtape and combating chronic litigation does not erode public input, it safeguards it. it does so by ensuring the feedback of the majority isn't obstructed by a few extreme dissenters. to be clear, robust science driven environmental review and public engagement would still occur under every proposal today. : :

minnesota may be knee-high. [inaudible] i'm using my time up. >> [inaudible] >> ther >> there we go. okay. so our farmers are facing a lot right now. everything from low prices to some late weather and the midwest. we had snow in april in

minnesota, a blizzard. we have trade issues and pork and steak, paltry to mexico, producers sent 7.1 of the market around the world and it makes it more important that we come together with a solid and consistent policy in the congress when they are facing this kind of headwinds. we are really glad that the chairman of the safety net is in some of the changes because our programs are good. i'm glad the work senator cornyn and i did together to lead to permanent authorization for the national animal disease preparedness response and recovery program.

this is important in the midwest and we don't know when we are going to see the next disease or what it will be or how to be prepared for that. our conservation programs are good. we got up 1 million acres and would like to see more. and a provision to the balloon -- would pull to make it as sophisticated as the technology we are using now to be able to boot with precision act allow the data to be shared but it's also partnered with our farmers because it could lead to less expensive production.

this is a scientific communities thacommunitythat we are going te consistency coming out of the senate. >> the united states is one of three great breadbasket in the world. national security is the largest industry in my state and for that reason i thought like other members to get ready for that reason. i want to thank you and the ranking member for your hard work on the farm bill producing a product that balances the need of every commodity.

this bill is good but it's not perfect. it is a common sense responsible bill and i look forward to getting it through the senate. however there is one area we need to pay attention to. i'm very concerned about the impact of the changes. keeping the trend down in the communities but to continue the conversation on how to less than the total impact.

the. they provide the background for this bill so i look forward to looking through the amendment process. >> >> i think the senator. senator casey. thank you for the work that you've done on this bipartisan farm bill. i can't imagine the number of hours that you put in and i'm grateful for that work. i live in a state where nearly 3.4 million people live in 48 rural counties. this bill makes important investments in rural pennsylvania communities as well as those around the country.

it makes important changes to the farm safety net. it makes it easier for farmers to access the senior food box program. for the specialty crops to provide mandatory baseline funding for the research and also makalso makes significant investment in conservation programs. it codifies the reserve program that's important for the state of pennsylvania and increases funding for the regional conservation partnership progr

program. i'm grateful for that priority is the are included in the bill and i want to again come into the chair and ranking member for their work and i want to thank adam and claire of my staff who did such good work. thank you. >> thank you, senator. >> thanks mr. chair and of course ranking member stabenow as well and also to the members of the committee for all of the diligent work over the past year. i know that this has taken an incredible effort to get us here today. i'm pleased we are taking this step forward in supporting our farmers and ranchers and addressing the concerns i've heard as they tour the state. farmers and communities are resilient so it does truly take a toll. with the backdrop it is critical

for the farmers and ranchers know that absolutely we have their back. the legislation maintains robust crop insurance and improves commodity programs and promotes soil, health and water quality. however, the bill is not perfect. we must do more to help the the recipients rise up out of poverty. the economy is booming right now for the first time on record the number exceeds the number of americans looking for work. we must seize this opportunity to help folks become self-sufficient. i would like to thank you and the ranking member for working with me to include a pilot for the incentives in the manager ar package. the evidence is clear that folks do lead healthier lives if they can do more milk and i know my dairy farmers will truly appreciate that. why am i amendment was struck i know the bills are forged to compromise and that's what you've done is work on that

compromise. and i think it is fair to say the committee looks for common ground where it can be found and in that spirit i appreciate the willingness to include this pilot, and i am hopeful that this is just a first step forward on this important issue. we have a bill before us that will feed hungry americans, protect our natural resources, mitigate risk and support the portal jobs. with that said let's roll up our sleeves and go back to work and give the farmers and ranchers and folks all across this great nation that certainty and predictability they need now and for many years to come. thank you very much mr. chair. >> i want to thank you and the ranking member as anybody has for this farm bill but also for your leadership over the many years when the democrats were in charge we were able to pass a bipartisan bill that was the only fiscally responsible bill

that any congress passed and we are doing it again with republican leadership. i'm so grateful that there is an oasis. thank you for being here and if you want to send everything through the committee, we might find that we could actually get some important work done on behalf of the american people. it's good to see we need certainty on trade and immigration with commodity prices where they are farmers and ranchers desperately need this bill not just to pass on the floor of the senate but to be signed by the president. i am so grateful as i say i want to tick off a few things important to colorado that are in this bill. first the fourth straight title provides the tools to help the service partners and industry and other stakeholders manage and restore the priority, watershed that is critical for us and second, we placed much

needed them as his own the innovative conservation and the conservation title and we reward producers for taking proactive steps to protect wildlife habitat. in addition to improving risk management tools we provide new economic opportunities in rural america by legalizing agricultural commodities in colorado and the state into the majority leader thank you for your leadership on the provision. of the provision. it's a testament to this crop that it is so widely supported in the community it grows everywhere in colorado coming and we have had many people who are farmers and ranchers looking at opportunities to manufacture, not just grow with manufacture products to add value and high margin goods in the rural parts of the united states which is critically important to driving the incomes. i look forward to the discussion

in this markup and the work that we will do together as republicans and democrats on the floor to preserve this big piece of legislation. thank you for your leadership. >> in the run-up to the committee developing the farm bill i visited farms across the state and held meetings with stakeholders from nearly every segment of the agricultural community. in order to collect priority is from the farmers. i view myself as hired help and i am committed to writing a farm bill in the rural communities and address sensitivity. i have heard repeatedly over the last year about the need to write a farm bill that helps manage the uncontrollable risks of farming including perfectin g the commodity programs that reflect market conditions.

i heard about the importance of that with the new market opportunities, particularly for supporting experts to the markets around the world. i heard a strong passion of many for the water health and quality. i listen to those who care deeply about the support and the local communities especially doing everything we can to fight the opioid epidemic. i talked with students and researchers and assorted benefits of investing in tomorrow's farmers and technologies and i visited with them to spend their time fighting hunger in our communities. the farm bill developed by this committee reflects those important priority is, promotes voluntary conservation, develops new market opportunities, supports the rural communities and address food insecurity. it's not perfect, and we have to work on a number of

opportunities today to improve it further, but it is a very good bill. it's a testament to the members of the committee being able to work together as advocates for agriculture. i would think the chairman and ranking member for their bipartisan efforts to get us here today i look forward to working together to get this farm bill across the finish line to get our farmers and communities tha the certainty tt they deserve. >> thank you mr. chairman. >> i want to thank all of the members for their comments. the committee will proceed out to the consideration by unanimous consent we adopt the nature of the substitute that will be considered as the original text for the amendment and without objection so ordered. next i offer both the manager's amendment that has been distributed to all members and then end up with amendments by the ranking member and myself all offices have been notified as to filed amendments in any

modifications are included in the block and the list of those amendments and modifications have been distributed to all members. all of those in favor of the amendment signify by saying i the committee will proceed by considering amendments to this bill title by title in reverse starting with title 12 and finishing with title i. once finished with a title, we will move to consider amendments to the next and in addition, we had a great without objection that i'll need to be drained and have a property file, maintain a budget neutral bill and be free from earmarks and other and the substitute amendment which is the text of the mark now in the amendment form to not include significant matter outside of the committee's jurisdiction.

i would note the relevant amendments to the title may open a different title in order to preserve an overall budget neutral bill. senator stabenow, are you in agreement? without objection, so ordered. the committee is open to any amendment on the title. >> mr. chairman. >> thank you mr. chairman. i would like to call it amendment number seven to indicate duplicate pesticide committee. this bipartisan amendment would address the duplicate of permitting of the clean water act. this duplicate of process creates unnecessary resource burdens and challenges for pesticide registrants and users including small businesses, local water authorities and the agricultural communities. pesticides are critical for maintaining the healthy and viable environment by

eliminating harmful and invasive tests and threaten the livelihood of the agricultural producers. we already required th require o ensure pesticides cause no unreasonable adverse effects to humans or the environment. the label is the law. users who do not follow the label or in violation of federal law even without a permit. with the increasing water act liability, many communities and small municipalities are being forced to reduce their control programs. this places families at risk for devastating mosquito borne diseases like west nile virus, yellow fever and malaria. it offers no additional benefits because pesticide applications

are already received and regulated through the stringent approval process. furthermore, the epa and the obama administration also agreed that they could adequately manage the pesticides and they do not need the component. again this amendment clarifies the congressional intent to clean water act permit shouldn't be required for the application already approved by the epa and authorized for sale distribution and use. i want to thank the senators for cosponsoring this amendment. i recognize there's a differenca difference of opinion in the committee on including commonsense regulatory reform measures at this time, so i will not ask for a roll call vote. however, i hope we can resolve this long-standing issue as we

look to action. i would withdraw the amendment. >> i would think my colleague and neighbor to the north for raising this issue. it should be an issue important to all of us. thank you for your leadership we will continue this discussion as it proceeds. are there any other amendments >> i would like to call it amendment number six. it may seem like it is unique to north dakota but i think that it is a critical amendment to have a discussion about these two issues. one is the states rights in the state's ability to regulate who owns farmland and it's critically important that we keep input costs down and i think that the senator grassley

talked about the prices and spend part to not allow corporations to own farmland that has helped keep it in the hands of the family and keep the long-standing policy. in spite of a consistent position from the state legislature, but consistent position from the voters of the statthisstate who have systematy voted to maintain this policy, there is a pending court case that uses the commerce clause and that is something in favor right now by this court but to argue because it would burden interstate commerce in thi intos body has enacted to prevent it that it would in fact be in violation of congressional policies regarding the control of interstate commerce and so yes there is a federal

connection if we pass the amendment with what actually happened is the court would then be sent a signal that we would respect the amendment and states rights and respect the ability of the states to make these determinations on their own, recognizing that this is barely a satiric and recognizing that i haven't yet been able to find a cosponsor for this amendment. i would withdraw its i want to help educate about how critically important it is to left the states regulate the ownership of the land within their jurisdiction. i just wanted to thank the senator for fighting for her farmers in north dakota and account of the country. we know this needs further work and we are committed to working with you on this, but we understand and appreciate how strongly you are fighting for them. >> are there any other

amendments in title 12? >> i would call up amendment number five. this would grant the discretion to improve soil moisture monitoring by increasing the number of stations by using cost-effective soil and moisture measure devices and also would require usda agencies to use consistent precipitation monitoring data and drought assessment across programs administered. for the past two years in western south dakota, pacific ocean monitoring has been inconsistent, resulting in livestock producers not being eligible for raising assistance, and i'm sure that this is a problem that is unique to south dakota and probably occurs in others in sparsely populated areas. this is something that i heard rather consistently from livestock producers in western south dakota, and who might in

some cases the adjacent farms and certainly in the adjacent counties that are created very differently because the methodology used is very inconsistent. the bill received a zero score from the congressional budget office. i think it is something that makes a lot of sense and certainly would provide some uniformity and consistency to this process in states like mine where it seems like we have recurring issues with drought. we had last year in 2017, and i'm sure that it will happen again but it's nice to have good data to work from, and i would ask for the committee's support. >> on the adoption of the amendment all in favor? all opposed. >> are there further amendments to title 12?

>> mr. chairman, one other amendments i would like to discuss and i understand there are some objections, but this would allow amendment number six this would allow the process to prove this obese to be sold across the state lines. all of the poultry products sold for consumption or inspected by the food safety inspection service and allow the states to create these programs that require the state inspection programs to be at least equal to the federal meat and poultry inspection programs currently there are 27 states with meat

and portray inspection programs however the product is processed at the state inspected facilities are not allowed to be sold across state lines. farm bureau and u.s. cattlemen support this amendment and its something similait'ssomething sf legislation offered i to my colleague of south dakota that i would be interested of moving the bill forward ask that we have an opportunity to discuss this further. is there an additional amendment? >> is the opposition that has shown up from those that don't want the competition from the in-state smaller process?

>> there are livestock groups -- >> because those are fronts for the packers? the senato senator may be onto something there >> i have something to say about a few things. >> is that a confession? >> if not, please proceed to title 11. are there any amendments to title 11?

>> [inaudible conversations] if i might just ask, i know senator klobuchar has an amendment she wants to offer and i know she may be in so if it

may be possible to put it aside and go on and then come back to it when she's here, that would be terrific. >> certainly. are there any further amendments? >> amendments to title x. >> i would like to offer to title x that i will not be asking today there is some opposition i think within the conversation to continue but i do want to highlight the importance of this amendment and look forward to working with the committee on it. the purpose is to simply codify the exclusive role of the state agencies, not the political divisions as pesticide code regulators with the epa while congress intended the states regulate the sale distribution use, courts have interpreted otherwise. this would make sure each state has one set of regulations for the pesticides rather than a

patchwork of different standards in each of the 89,000 cities and towns in the united states. they are dangerous and deadly diseases like busy to buy resource constrained by arbitrarily drawing borders of political subdivisions. let me also be clear this doesn't prevent a state lead agency for prescribing of state or does it interfere in the position of the property managers from deciding if they will safely use the management tools as authorized by the state and federal regulations and, on around public properties. it is a policy for the state lead agency to regulate, not hundreds of contradictory confusing and overlapping government relations, but because there is some controversy around this in a disagreemendisagreement around l

be withdrawing, i do with all that. >> further amendments to title x? stanek are there any amendments to title nine? >> if i may note the energy title if you would be willing to move on, that would be terrific. >> thank you mr. chairman. i would like to call up the amendment regarding funding and technical assistance. this is the to go about the initiatives that are working through their capabilities making it easier for those that want to use carvin and asked to access to government resources and also provides a modest amount of funding for the competitive grants to overcome some of the barriers of the utilization that h we have heard it is difficult to put in place cost effective systems and this

would provide competitive grants to determine the cost-effectiveness aggregating to a single biogas system. it also means i've heard that there were some concerns about the task force petition in the earlier version of this and i've since eliminated that language based on conversations i had with your staff and others spoke to the pork producers council and others this morning comfortable with the amendment now. the amendment i offered to date has addressed the concerns from the committee and i would like to thank senator smith for joining me as a cosponsor of the amendment which is supported by the farmers union carbon capture and the american biogas council and i would also like to thank you and the ranking member of your staff for working with me on this issue and i would ask for a voice vote.

>> all of those in favor of the amendment will signify by saying i. >> are there further amendments to title nine is are there any amendments to title eight? >> mr. chairman. >> i call on the amendment number one that builds on the reforms that were made in beyond this by adopting the position taken in the environmental law center for the service to clarify the consultation requirements between the u.s. fish and wildlife service after receiving new information.

the administration supports what i'm trying to do here. this helps further address that concern. they stopped doing reforms and i realize there is more discussion to be had so we look forward to working with both parties on this issue if the farm bill goes to the floor. as the senator withdrawn the amendment? does the senator wish to be recognized for any further amendments? >> i don't. are there any further amendments to title?

are any of the amendment to title vii? amendments to title vii. amendments to title six. hearing no amendments, title five. hearing no amendments, moving to title for. hearing no amendments we move to title three. >> mr. chairman. >> senator heitkamp. if you would hold for senator

holden. you want to go back to title five. senator heitkamp, introduce your amendment and then we will come back. >> i want to introduce my amendment and call up to title three, amendment number one supported by the senators this would open up the opportunity to trade into cuba using the trade promotion programs that are available to any other producer who wants to promote their product in any country that we have relationships with. i think that it is high time that we explore that market. it is somewhat ironic that i would be the person pursuing it because some of these southern crops, but this is a component of building those relationships that will help us to establish a trade relationship with a company that is only 90 miles off the shore.

so, i am hopeful that we can finally close this chapter on the relationship with cuba and open up this opportunity for the farmers and ranchers to promote their products into so. i think we can all agree that one of the great concerns we have right now is market disruption and export. we know we grow more in this country then we could possibly consume and growing markets is critically important to improving our commodity prices. as i speak to people around the country, i've consistently heard one answer to the challenging economic times that we are facing is in regards to the strong trade policies. i traveled to cuba at least three times in my memory and

witnessed first-hand the opportunities. we need a trade policy to providprovide search and stabils and at the same time we look forward to normalizing trade between the united states and cuba to take a measured and realistic approach, one that takes into account the responsible investment of taxpayer dollars and policies that encourage them to embrace the practices of free-trade enterprise and commerce. i look forward to continuing my work with colleagues to strengthen the markets for our farmers. i think we can pass this by a voice vote if the senator would agree. >> i would be thrilled if we could pass this. >> all of those in favor of the amendment, said signified, those opposed?

going back to title five. i would like to call up amendment number one. this amends the amount of the loan guarantee which is 1.39 million increases it to 2.5 million. it increases the project from 300,000 to 600,000. the reason we are changing it to those amounts is because that is what both the commodity groups and financial institutions have asked for based on the needs of the farmers and ranchers at this time. and so, i've included another amendment as well as 1.57 million which is what the house passed.

i would like the committee to consider the 2.5 million because then we are ending up in something more than the 1.75. you get 1.7 for come as a 1.75 you are not increasing it much. and again i didn't pull these out of the air. this is with the following groups have asked for. and it includes almost all of the commodity groups and national corn growers, national association of the growers, the american soybean association of national sorghum producers, national potato council, and also the financial groupscome to thin, thinkassociation, communi, national rural lender association credit counsel, credit specialists and in our state a whole litany of groups so that's why i would like us to consider the 2.5 million again remember when we go to the committee we are going to be

negotiating the 1.75 so yo whenu look at one point for something between 1.75, probably two and a half if we could pass it, given that that is what all of the groups are saying they need out there and when you look we are not going up that much in fact it is based on what it costs to form these days and that is the amendment is to increase that amount with the request we received. >> mr. chairman i first want to thank the senator. senator. we worked together on many things successfully and we are still trying to get this worked out. we came at this with the same intention and that is because of the changes of the farming in the past that we need to make the law more updated so that it accommodates that, but at the same time a countervailing force is how we make sure all of the

money isn't used up by the big farmers and there is still money for some of the smaller farmers and so that is why i am doing is against agree amendment to the amendment number one come and this amendment would increase the limits for both guaranteed operating in the cap of 1.39 million to 1.75 million. this would also increase the limits on the correct side, lifting the cap on the ownership from 300,000 to 600,000 in on the direct operating from 300,000 to 400,000. i know that this also includes important language i worked on with the senator to increase the data that we have on the participation rates and i've asked my fellow committee members to join me and again our hope is in the end that we will have a compromised. we know how important this is and we went into it with that

intention. >> further debate on the amendment. on the adoption all of those in favor. the business before the committee now is amended by the second degree amendment by senator klobuchar. all of those in favor signify. all those opposed? are there further amendments to title five? >> will take into consideration back to title 12 or is it title

11. if you wish to say anything with regards to title 12, something dealing with the farming act can i do that now? >> your recognized. this bill, part o of its own substance becausit onsubstance f industrial and i object to it being amended on several grounds, procedurally it is out of order and was first introduced in april and bypassed referral to the judiciary committee under 14 and was placed on the legislative calendar. now is being taken up in the committee and i have objected on procedural grounds my objection was ignored it is squarely within the jurisdiction and it is controlled substance subject to title 21 the controlled

substance act on the substantive grounds i disagree with how it is designed under the bill if the purpose is to legalize it for industrial use, then the build should do that, but it does not. it opens up to include derivatives from extracts. they are not used for the industrial purpose is for things like cannabis oil. it is a chemical that can be used to treat everything from anxiety to epilepsy, things i found my constituents say they got good results from the palettit ishandled is importanti have a bill that provides a regulated pathway into the effects of cbd for the process to make responsible products

that would be regulated by the fda. today's bill would allow any to market and sell any product as a dietary supplement or anything else without any regulatory control whatsoever that leaves consumers without assurances about the safety and quality of the product and would put children at risk. i had a hearing on that very subject before the committee about the quality. i have constituents with epileptic children who are desperate for answers. these folks will turn into anything to help their children even if it means taking a inordinate risks by buying products that are not tested, unproven and harmful. my bill will provide assurances that things are put on the shelves after testing is done and the necessary approvals were met. so i ask members of the

committee to work with me to modify the i'm done mr. tran. >> -- mr. chairman. we coupled with the justice department and good suggestions from the ranking member of the judiciary committee and suggestions from the chairman of the judiciary committee i appreciate their input and in fact we incorporated a number of suggestions.

the proposed plans and issuing regulations and in issuing guidance. it doesn't offer a the ability to enforce food drug. the first change we made as the tribes conduct oversight of their programs and that those who seek to participate the prograprogrammer honest and trul and haven't been convicted of a felony drug offense.

just as it was for many years. in my home state of kentucky to oversee the state and federal department of agriculture with appropriate safeguards, but not the department of justice. i ask my colleagues to support the underlining professions and i appreciate the suggestions for the chairman of the judiciary committee made. we took into account a number of those but obviously chose not to include all of this. thank you mr. chairman. >> i would think the leader and both senators. we now go back to title 11. i would like to request a voice vote as modified. we have worked on this for many

years and they were expanded in the 2014 farm bill to include states in the prairie region including minnesota, south dakota north dakota, montana and nebraska. this would maintain the states while giving governors around the country the option of opting into the program in their own state. i've asked to continue to work with senator thune to extend these two additional states as the bill moves to the floor. >> do we have your commitment to continue to work with us to? >> everyone around this table, and for that matter in farm country knows that i support maintaining crop insurance it's the number one issue that we heard from farmers, ranchers all across this country number one.

the amendment would make technical changes to the provisions passed in the 2014 farm bill by clarifying circumstances that reductions and benefits will apply. while i have concerns with expanding the requirements beyond the print states, i think it does strike a good balance by providing the expansion nationwide only if the governors approved the policy change in the state. i appreciate the senators working with us to alleviate the concerns from the producers and crop insurance industry. we will continue to work with members of this provision as we look forward to the floor office in favor signify. those opposed, no. >> mr. chairman, i would echo what the senator said. we looked at this issue for some time. >> the senators recognized. >> thank you. [laughter]

>> we appreciate the committee adopting in the base bill the position that closes the substitution loophole which the folks found a way around the provisions in the previous farm bill. so, that has been tightened up which is a good thing. we would love to see this go nation wide, but i think that the amendment has been offered and intense tuesday that and it makes sense, so we appreciate your good faith commitment to work with us as we continue to advance this and support the amendment. thanks. >> i thank the senator. i recognize senator daniels.

mister chairman this is where i will withdraw the amendment. and recent reportsot say that dozens of refinery rates have beenee there. the renewable volume obligations. but farmers across the u.s. at a time when farm income is at a low since 2006. they have deemed these razor -- waivers. two administrator pruitt in

april expressing her concerns with some of these actions. they used to be issues each year. e recent reports noted that they have already issued 25 disproportionate i will continue to work that additional actions are not taken. the second degree amendment. yesterday pruitt was in kansas. in the news report says that he has the authority. he ought to be reallocating. in november of last year.

they met with him and he gave us a november letter. and we got 15 billion gallons promised that's of the law requires. that's what the president of the united states said january 2016 to the fuel association in des moines when he was a candidate that he wanted the maximum amount that the law would allow through the uses of a waivers has a so the president's promise is not being carried out by the person he appointed my not caring that out.re

and i would like to see all of these 25 waivers that he's given get them reallocated. but right now we just are to start looking to 2019. they are working right now. we don't know what they're gonna propose. but to keep the promise. the waivers rather have a time they do not subtract from the 15 billion gallons that we allocated. i think perhaps the president heard you. thank you senator grassley for backing up my amendment.

when you're on the farmland to yell to people. i get it. i want to thank the senator from iowa. i meet him almost every morning to have a glass of ethanol. i later called the would like to called the amendment number one. it's a modification in my amendment would restore mandatory funding. that's what they were referring to an opening. the cost of the merger protected -- protection program.

i successfully pushed for a strong energy title with the funding necessary they worked with senator hogan on that. it supports thousands of jobs. the new mandatory spending would be offset by eliminating for a proposal that was recommended in the 19th budget. it saves $9 million over ten years. incentivize home-grown energy production and help provide immediate assistance-g to struggle in struggling the dairy farmers. it could go by voice vote. the amendment would provide mandatory funding with members on both sides of our committee. the refinery council.

for advanced crop assistance program. they tried using the market protection program. and again by the mark. it's clearly a priority for several senators on this committee.om i just also want to support this amendment for the treasurer for leadership terrific leadership on this. this really builds on what we did as well in the last farm bill. it's about jobs in rural america. these programs have leverage more than five dollars.

i would also indicate that the priorities is in this package to help our small dairies i that were not able to use the new program. there is a further comment on this amendment. the problem is the economic adjustment. has kept many meals across the country in business and certainly this is a jobsis situation also. currently 44 companies participate i would encourage a no vote and works you at

some point find a way to pay for it. $3billion was set aside in the last budget which is significantly more than some of these other programs and that's why given what we are facing in the midwest right now with the prices in the issues that sender grassley has identified. i think it's correct to state that $3 billion was set aside for dairy cotton was budget neutral. i will verify the record by just now there is know there is a lot in there for cuts.

again many of them is sitting on this committee. i want to say to both senators i want to keep working as we move forward and i am committed to working on behalf of better in all bettering all regions in all crops. in a situation where r suggesting that we certainly have a voice vote.

all those in favor will signify. is there any other amendment and title ix. where to go back to title v. any amendments for title v. any amendments to title iv.

they asked if i would offer an amendment that has been modified.. have the environmental the environmental quality incentives program. will provide more time for life stock and dairy producers. with the management plans. on behalf of senator leahy. t please signify by saying i. this assumed number nine. it provides several improvements this is crp and is supported by ducks

unlimited. and very simply what it would do.. the base bill has at 25. at the same time provides much needed hand raising flexibility by allowing one third of a contract holders acres to be grazed each year on a rotational basis. they keeps it at 88 and a half percent for all continuous crp contracts. i work closely with bold production agriculture's. to craft the changes. without damaging the conservation wildlife. that's pretty much it.

it allows as i said an increase. not only those that identify directly with it. also the other groups that are also on the wildlife production corners in environmental groups. i would ask the committee to approve it. i appreciate what the senator is center is trying to achieve at this a point.

i know there is a number of concerns out there about that at this time. i would stand with you and the balance agreement we have on funding for the conservation title.on it's not just the increase in acres which again as something that we think makes a lot of sense. i am not for the time i had been involved in this program been able to figure out why why they have required that thishi cover be harvested or destroyed.

begging for emergency authority. which we did eventually get both in 2012 and 2017. that authority was granted. without any adverse effects. this is an amendment that bring some or to graze those acres in the same way. it's something we find at least and are in our part of the country. under the mid- contract management practices they have to destroy this. it's a valuable commodity.

it gets rid of the meat need for the drought years. this is an amendment i think is not only going to be very popular it is popular with producers but also as i said supported. i would ask that members of this committee that the reduction in the rate on regular crp acres. it is something i think you all wanted us to do. we think the groups are supportive of having this rental rate at 85 percent. in order to get the increase in the acreage.

i want to thank you for offering this amendment. was there a program back in the day. i am concerned about the effect of such drastic changes. having said that i'm going to recognize senator seven out for a suggestion. i would suggest that we work together on the four -- on the floor. it will change the balance of what we are trying to do but

there are importantou provisions. in terms of how this has been operating. and so,s i don't know if you want to go ahead with the vote at this point but certainly we can work together. you have the commitment. to get this amendment worked out. the only thing i would say based on my observations about the floor these days is it's unlikely working to get to a lot of amendment. the only way i do can get would get adopted on the floor is in the form of a managers at agenda. i'm not sure that's can happen. the groups out there who would thisst impacted by

support this. the number in the house bill is 29 million acres in the rental rate goes out 80% in addition to raising the capital little bit which only goes partway to where the house is. as the changes in then management practices which i think our long overdue. i'm not sure a commitment to allow us to offer on the floor is something either of you are in a position to offer up. we don't know exactly how the process will be on the floor certainly. f

but i would say just for the record the wildlife organizations are not uniformly for this. there's differences are of opinion i would like to see workout. as it is written. we can continue to see if their pieces of it. that we can include. as want to clarify there is a middle ground here.s the dairy number was not t3 billion. we will continue to work with you. thank you. do you wish to proceed again,

i'm not sure which wildlife organization they are referring to. we work closely in the past. with the wildlife federation. those groups are supportive of what we're trying to accomplish year with respect to the changes in the management practices. we have recently received indication from the national wildlife federation. that is what is raising concerns for me. let me just say this by our best efforts we can't guarantee certainty on the floor but it is our intention to work with you to see if we can continue to address the concerns that the senator has

mentioned. i want to say again i'm concerned about the effectt with regards to the rental rate reduction. i think most of his legislation is certainly monitory. if you are willing to when we get to the floor on this consider some of these changes that we can make. the wildlife federation has been supportive of most things we try to do. to get the flexibility.

and particularly in years when it has great value for people that need it. to me it is the limit or the cap is one issue. the flexibility is the other. at if the chairman is willing to work with us. i would say they experienced a white -- a wildfire now or in the middle of the drought. i'm certainly willing to do exactly that. i would like to express my support for the amendment and certainly hope that something can be worked out on the floor with that assurance and commitment i will withdraw the amendment here.

is there any other amendment entitled to. title i. title i. i'm sure you're tired of hearing from me on this. i think as you guys now note we had been trying for some time to find a wife and i've been working with senator

brown on legislation that would make the art program workable i'm disappointed that we haven't been able to do that as i express in my y opening statement. if you look at the entire nation after the 2014 farm bill. 77% of farmers in this country adopted the art program. i think the reason for that was because it provides boldon price protection we will not had going forward a program in title i provides revenue protection we tried was recently as last night on several proposals that we have to try to make it workable.gr

we've not been able at this point to come up with an amendment that we think gets the job done. i want to continue to revisit this issue. make sense to target funds where they really need to go. to those actually farming the land. to the get get scores of the cbo. to offer an amendment that we

think could pass i'm not going to offer the amendment. i say that to withdraw. and expressed my disappointment that we were unable in the base belts to get something adopted that would be able to be chosen by 77 percent of the farmers in this country in place because i think it's can be something they will miss. in the interest of time i will just associate myself. we need to continue these reforms and help you can move forward with the discussionhe i

been working very hard to improve the agriculture of this program. i in kansas 75% of our farmers have a feeling that since i was during the good times agriculture farmers might want to consider the poc program i've heard the calls to improve these programs from both senators we try to work together to promote that. it requires the use of trend adjusted yields.

i share your concern in that regard. two commodity programs that provide producers more certainty and predictability.ms i would only add in the current form they would lose that in their acreage base. in the same thing would happen in oklahoma and other areas of the high plains. i think texas is over a million.

he gets back to one of my original comments that i hope we can improve all programs but not at the expense of others. i look forward to working withwa the senator's to senators to see what we can she. if there is no further debate or amendment move that as 3042b amendment. does anybody wish a roll call vote. given this situation why don't we ask the clerk to call the role.

the vote is on final passage. senator grassley i think your amendment was not in final form at least that is my understanding. to make we have to rewrite the amendment a little bit this morning to satisfy well have the 45 there is no further debate or amendment roll call

please.

twenty yeses and one know. one more change. i ask unanimous consent. the staff be authorized to make such technical changes that are appropriate. i really want to think my colleagues and for for joining in this important process today. i ask unanimous consent to submit to that. in support for the substitute amendment as well as the member statements for the

record. i would simply add this is not the best possible bill but this is the best bill possible. i'm proud and sealed by the work conducted here i stink -- i think the distinguished member. thank you for utilizing the process in a bipartisan manner. this hearing is now adjourned. [inaudible conversations]

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