he is interviewed by syndicated columnist. >> who was one of the most persuasive guess that you can? >> john mccain. >> on what subject quest. >> just about everything. he was such a maverick and he was also brutally honest and he was willing to take on his own party and i wrote a book critical about barack obama called byers or morse which i got a lot of crap for from my fellow democrats but i felt i thought he let the progressive side down. john mccain felt his party was not living up to what he believed the republican party should be and he was willing to say so. >> watch "after words" on c-span2, but to be.

>> on wednesday the senate agriculture committee reviewed the pending 2018 farmville. the legislation which comes before congress every five years includes food programs for low income families, crop insurance, conservation this is to half hours. >> seeing a quorum i callum this meeting to order. i'm now goingng 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 have

strong views on something that might come up today. i think chairman roberts and ranking member stevan oh in commending you all for getting to this point and putting together of will of the size and complexity is no small tax and this legislation will impact every citizen in every acre of land in america and there are several pieces of thiss legislation that i like and these programs are important that they a promote our products abroad and leverage private dollars. i think there are very sensible and much-needed reforms to the conservation river program that should help refocus it better to its original intent.

and i what we had landowners getting over hundred dollars an acre to put their farms into the crp and that was making it hard for young and beginning farmers to compete for land against the government even well-established farmers had land taken away from them because it was enrolled in the crp at these lucrative rates. they were especially incensed about being outbid for land by government knowing our national debt is 20 trillion. i commend also my colleague from iowa, senator ernst, for her leadership in this area would like to hear from other members about the adequacy of the program from the standpoints whether we have enough incentive in the frederick land before high yielding land would go in before we get more bang for the taxpayers dollars and that whole farms should be given consideration over othersi land. on crop insurance i'm happy to

see that we maintained a strong program and the changes that clarify in the crop insurance program for cover crop termination shall not take effect or shall not affect the insurability of subsequent crops and are very welcoming inclusin in iowa cover crops are becoming very popular and they c help reduce runoff with the environment. the commodity title of this program is similar to the last farm bill and they are certainly improvements that can be made as a few crops have price triggers that are extremely high that when price triggers have a ten year average to determine the price of the crop is hard to explain how and that is a safety net and notan simply a guarantee

payment turning out to be a ridiculous policy. i'm happy that the amendment i've offered encourages partnership water and waste utilities with low-cost solutions to meet the clean water act targets actively was included in the managers include meant rather than the water treatment plants that can be given credit for programs and lower cost is something we ought to be country on. i'm also disappointed that the baseball does not include -- we hope to 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 and things are harder

and harder for families in the country 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 think the senator and i will point out again that i will tap this gavel if we see three minutes we simply have to get this bill done. about four minutes and 15 seconds but that is about your batting average. [laughter] i want to welcome my colleagues today in today's business meeting where we will consider the agricultural act of 2018, the farm bill. the goal and responsibility in the absolute requirement for

this committee is to provide armorers, ranchers, growers within the agriculture and food value chain certainty and predictability. especially during these difficult times it is absolutely paramount to any other concern. i respect the long-held partnerships this committee has had with farm and community and the folks were banded together to fight for better nutrition and to abolish hunger with the research and conservation advocates and we could go down all 12 titles of the farm bill and the many others provide us with sorely needed advice and counsel. still, our single overriding responsible the is to the men and women in farm who are in difficult into many desperate times. it is not an exaggeration to say

that our nations food and fiber production capability hang in balance with all we do here today. let us begin and let us get this done. many of you have introduced legislation of last year and it addresses your priorities and those of stakeholders in your states. ranking member and i have tried to address those parties as possible in the draft and we have included 66 amendments as part of a manager amendment for the many tont consider but we ae engaged in this important effort together. we are continuing to craft a farm bill that meets the needs of producers all across the country and all regions and all crops and all of agriculture is struggling. not just one or two commodities but we must have a bill that works across our entire country and he must ensure that our

conservation programs are keeping farmland in operation of protecting our agricultural lands, forests and other natural resources. we must focus on program integrity and common sense. investment to strengthen our nutrition programs. to ensure the long-term success of those in need of assistance and with trade policy uncertainty we must provide certainty for trade promotion and research programs. increasing population is not just an agricultural challenge but a national security challenge. show me a country that cannot be itself and i'll show you a nation in chaos and we have enough chaos in the world today. this means weos need to grow moe and raise more with fewer resources. that will take investment in research and new technology, lines of credit and proper risk management. it takes the government providing the tools and then

getting out of the producers w way. we must take tough choices and be judicious with our scarce resources that we have and ask tough questions and re-examine programs to determine their effectiveness. we must ensure programs accomplish their fundamental purposes, agricultural and specifically the farm bill has consistently answer to the call to dons moreo or less every tim. to those who say passing a farm bill in this environment is a daunting task i say together we can get this done. must embrace the attitude of our producers, optimism and ingenuity. a farmer just is not plant a seed in the ground without faith and optimism that harvest a good crop together we can, we must,

pass a bill that provides the same many women the much-needed certainty and picked ability they so deserve. i now turn to my colleague, my partner in this process, senator stevan out for her opening remarks. >> thank you very much mr. chairman. i want to say it'say always a great pleasure to work with you as partners as committee and i want to say thank you to our staff may not have a lot of sleep recently but have worked as partners and skilled professionals both of our teams to produce a product for us and we appreciate their hard work. to start this process you and i made a commitment to deliver a bipartisan farm bill that would work for our farmers, our families and our rural communities. i'm pleased to stay true to our work and reach an agreement that will support our diverse agricultural economy and the 16 millionth jobs that it sport.

this bill represents important improvements for michigan, kansas, for the states represented on this urgent community and for every part of the farm bill coalition in every region of the country. over the past year and a half we put our political differences aside and focused on listening to people who have a stake in the farm bill. from farmers and rural leaders to conservationist in food advocates we have heard loud and clear that they need the certainty of a five-year farm bill. america's farmers and ranchers especially need a reliable safety net to protect them from the risk they face everyday as the chairman spoke about. when a years worth of work can be raised by a single day of bad weather or a sudden turn in the market farmers rely on the strong risk management tools. making appointments for our commerce was of our top priorities for many members on our side and certainly i know this has been a passion for

senator jill a brand and certain senator leahy and i appreciate you working together with us. in addition to the $1.1 billion be secured in the bipartisan budget act and i have to say thank you to senator leahy for his incredible leadership. replace the margin protection program with risk coverage and invested in a to portability and flexibility and while it is true we face a tight budget we were still able to work together to protect one of the most important part of the farm bill and continue to expand the coalition engaged in our food and farm system. new sport for veterans in addition to permanent investment for beginning farmers and associate disadvantage producers. it helps the bench the next generation of agriculture for years to come. permanent mandatory funding for both international trade and

investment in farmer markets and local food systems help producers sell their products both at home and abroad. incentives for healthy food mean more nutritious food families and higher sales for local farmers, investments in cutting-edge agricultural research and help producers be more productive and more profitable. we made these critical investments without cutting key programs conservation. this bill has no overall cuts to the conservation title which helps our farmers be more productive impacts our lands and water for outdoor recreation. by focusing on innovative public, private partnerships you will actually grow funding by leveraging an additional $1 billion in private investment to t support locally led conservation and i like to think senator ernst for partnering with me in improvements. new titles to drive, duration on

a national floor are also included in just as the farm bill sports farmers and landowners it also supports families and communities. we work to find common ground to improve the integrity of a nutrition assistance. it helps families to find good pain, stable jobs while preserving critical food access for millions of families in need. additionally we made historic investmentntly to support tribal communities. we also protected and expanded initiatives to create world jobs and ensure families can enjoy high quality of life where they live. one of the things sorely needed and i know wey all agree that this is needed in rural w communities is reliable, high-speed internet. in my home state alone there are nearly 1 million people in rural michigan lack. access. our bill includes new opportunities that will connect rural households, schools and

businesses that need it most. we strengthen job opportunities and by continuing strong investments in manufacturing and clean energy insulation and businesses and we found ways to improve the health of rural families. new prioritized support will instruct harmful contaminants in a tricky water in additionally expanded resources will provide addiction resources fort the opioid academic that has devastated far too many small towns and families across country. in every title in on every page you can see it is truly a farm bill that meets critical priorities across our country. again, i want to thank all the members of the committee and we could go around the table and

each of us has important provisions in this bill and has made important contributions and we thank everyone for that. you brought valuable ideas to the table and youhoar worked hao make sure that we can get here today. i want to think my great partners, senator roberts, for all the hard work we've done together to write the farmfo bil that makes sense forti our farmers, ranchers, rural communities and families and mr. chairman, let's pass the farm bill. >> i think the senator [inaudible] we are only as good as our staff and we have the best. that goes for everyone here and having been a staffer for 14 years i have a special feeling about that but this was a daunting task and they spent a lot of hours way into the evening, early mornings, still trying to put this together. >> thank you, mr. chairman. right off the bat i'd like to thank you and the ranking member of their hard work over the last several months. as you mentioned, you all were a great and work hard but your

staff is excellent. we do appreciate that. again, crafting a truly bipartisan piece of legislation especially during a time when budgets are tight and tough choices must be made and as we are all aware the farm economy is much a to different place the last time we were at the stable debating farm bill. farm income is a possibly half of what it was then and farm bankruptcies are up [inaudible] and financing has become more expensive in it but cost are rising and it's a volatile and uncertain. farmers across the country and regardless of which state they reside in it which crops to grow are hearty. those of the time to be cutting the farm safety net program.

as members of this committee we must provide a timely farm bill to provide certainty to the folks who feed and clothe the nation in the world for which we can be proud. most particularly i wasam pleasd to see the chairman and ranking members mark maintain strong safety nets i and this bill encourages programs towards our military and veterans often become involved in agriculture. i was also pleased to see my amendments were included in the management practice and i want to acknowledge the partnership program is an excellent tool for bringing partnerships and additional nonfederal funding to the conservation efforts and my home state especially has benefited from the rise bill. [inaudible] it has been significant in meaningful to our working lands agricultural producers. however, i have concerns regarding the changes to rcp allow 30% of the funding to be allocated as grants to these organizations. the vision of our cpp has always been the best of government in the best of partnerships working for the producers and natural

resources but the programs delivered in this regard but i fear we are opening the door to conservation dollars be diverted to organizations to building and certain organization members rather than continuing to leverage private funding to the benefit of many producers in a given region. my constituents at home also reached out with concerns regarding the changes to the food provisions and farmers of the biggest champions largest constituency for theseset w pro. afraid we can harm the liability of this program when it's cast base rather than commodity base. it alienates one to support the mission of these programs most.

as the chairman has reiterated we must provide our farmers and ranchers a certain predictability we must ensure that this bill predicts producers of all regions and commodities that we do not attack or cut down one commodity were region to pop up another. i look forward to getting this thing past and thank you again for your work. >> thank you, senator. senator lee. >> today. thank you senator stevan now. we have worked together in a bipartisan way to draft this 2018 farm bill. it's an example of what the senate can achieve when we cast aside rank and rhetoric and focus on the real challenges we face in this committee has a long well-deserved reputation forut that and i think of the predecessor a dear friend of both of us bob dole and i remember working closely with hubert humphrey and they were two opposite poles philosophically but they would work together and come up with good agriculture -- i know in

our state, vermont farmers and families, rely on the farm bill so that our farms both large and small productive so that their children are nourished, air, land and water protected and this bill makes an important improvement in all of these. rural communities across vermont in every corner of america represented in every state will directly benefit fromfi this bi. set ourere we priorities like our spending bills. farmers everywhere face increasingly difficult times and vermont is no exception and a dairy farm is the backbone of many of our communities and they have faced significant challenges in recent years and it's a hard time and we see the working 365 days a year and enormous hours in difficult work and i see the deaths in hundred

depth in despair who have been in generations who have been the backbone of our committee and the best of vermont. this is another opportunity to provide support and security that the dairy farmers deserve with higher risk coverage and it provides nutritional support for our citizens as well as reduce hunger worldwide and [inaudible] i like what is done in the organic industry and when i first wrote that bill when i was chairman of this committee on of us would have imagined it would turn into a $50.000000000 industry. it is a good bill. it's a bipartisan bill. i will put my whole statement in ntthe record. one of the two committees i

enjoy serving on this one in the appropriations is republicans and democrats work together in the ways the senate should and has in the past and can work. i thank you. >> thank you. senator soon. >> thank you. it's been mentioned for the past weeks and months of hard work to draft a bipartisan bill that we are marking up today and unlike the past three bills that i have been involved with in farm bill's they were writing a farm bill during an extended economic downturn and the agricultural community is a future qualify the uncertain economic conditions that we are facing today. mr. chairman, over the past 40 months of introduced 11 markery. bills some with members on the

other side of the aisle that i believe offer sound policy, some to improve flexibility for land enrolled in crp and other improvements along with senators brown and senator grassley we offered a bill that would have commodity program payments across all regions of the united states and across alls commodities by adjusting prices that [inaudible] more than 77% of all acres in the united states are enrolled inh art whh not only provides price protection but also provides production loss protection but however, art did not receive the changes need to make thisf an effective safety net for the next farm bill. the ark bill offered savings to taxpayers by bases on land that is being cropped under current policy there are thousands of acres that have not been farmed

for years and it's receiving commodity title payments. i would argue that is not good policy and i spent the last two days at thech release of the chairman's marks in an effort to effectively modify arc. we simply iran out of time to make the necessary adjustments and get them scored by the cbo. creating good policy and savings and government programs is often painful and unpopular which is why many changes are not made and i'm think we made unpopular decisions that would meet in better policy but there are those who chose too put those changes off for another day. the conservation title is critically important to my home state of south dakota and some of my proposals that would

improve the management have been included in the chairman's mark in management package which i appreciate. we will vote on the crp a moment that will increase the acreage gap without compromising conservation wildlife benefits. mr. chairman, we have all have additional policy changes like to have included in the bill but in the end we have a bill that will address the challenges of today's agricultural economy and i look forward to its consideration. thank you. >> senator jill the brand. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i did not prepare an opening statement that i will briefly summarize the amendments that i hope you get stuck today. one is to help dairy finders. in new york state today are dairy farmers are not only living on poverty wages at this point but many of them are going out of business and committing suicide.ie helping the dairy farmers at this time is one of my highest priorities i want to thank the chairman and remember for helping me work on that amendment because giving relief to the mouth is crucial. when a dairy farm goes out of t business land gets old and

developed in it's gone forever. we talked about production of food as a national security priority and if you relegate certain foods to one part of the state or one part of the country any problem whether drought in california whether it's nuclear fallout from the pan it is changing whether we can produce some food in that part of the country. that is why want to make sure dairy stays in places like california and minnesota in wisconsin and new york and vermont. thank you, amy, for working so hard on the bill. another amendment i want to pull up is about pollinators. normally on the agriculture committee we side with our producers and if they like a certain chemicals that they use in production t for weed killing or bug killing we generally side with our producers but there are a class of chemicals that are killing these and you can't produce fruits and vegetables in this country if you don't have bees to pollinate.

it's a moment i don't think we can vote on today but maybe we can call it up on the floor. want to highlight to inform yourself that just listening to producers and not knowing theel science behind what could actually change whether we can produce crops in this country is important to me. the snap provisions also are super important for new york state. we have a lot of families who are struggling to just be there kids in one of my amendments is to make possible if you are a full-time caregiver and special needs childos and help or eldery parent you're caring for the could still have access to food stamps because the requirement now is you have to be working but if your full-time caregiver you are working does not might city.come last, a rural job investment bill. this is a bill that the chairman and the ranking member have been working on with me and supported by all the advocacy groups they care deeply about agriculture in this country. it is a make sense bill that we could perhaps include any future management amendment so i'm not

here to talk about it my goal would be to offer and withdraw so that we can work on it because there is no opposition to that bill. it's a common sense bill to create jobs in rural america. thank you so much. >> thank you,erh. senator. >> thank you, mr. chairman. i like to thank you in a ranking member for working so hard and being sork open. thank you for putting in 70 hours tony this. i commend you for putting together strong bipartisan bill that reflects the input and priorities of all the members on the committee and more o importantly, we feel specific needs of all the farmers, ranchers and producers in all the regions of the country. the fact that you are able to, sat in a bill that is estimated to say $60 million over the next ten years is very impressive. i'm grateful for your commitment to our response ability as being

good stewards of taxpayer dollars and the broad array of programs and policies authorized by the farm bill will affect the overall quality of life like mine across the state. agriculture is the number one industry in mississippi employed 30% of the workforce directly or indirectly. i'm confident that mississippi's approximately 36000 farms, 11 million acres of farmland and 20 million acres will be well served by the legislation being presented in this committee today. we authorizing the price lost coverage program in the commodity title will ensure that producers have adequate protection when market prices are low and maintaining the current level of support structure will help our larger producers remain in business when times get veryet tough. the conservation title will allow farmers to continue producing on the highly productive lands while minimizing the environmental footprint in the easement

programs will allow landowners to set aside less productive lands for the purpose of wildlife habitat and water quality improvement. with respect to the nutrition title i am encouraged that the annual spending over the life of the bill is estimated to be roughly $12 billion below the 2014 farm bill levels and i'm pleased that it seeks improvement to the supplemental nutrition assistance program to increase program and focuses on working for snap beneficiaries. as we move forward in the farm bill process i hope the committee will further reform and improve the nutrition title to serve a trait ensure our food assistance program and provide help for those in need and a path toward employment and self sustainability. in closing, i would like to thank you, ranking member devon now and for putting my amendment

in the managers pregnant. i look forward to continue working with you on this farm bill process. >> senator brown. >> thank you for the extremely work you did. i want to thank the staff on both sides, especially the committee staff and the work you did in my office. the work was outstanding. i appreciate the bipartisan nature of this bill and i don't believe any of us got everything we wanted but we are taking a positive steps toward improving our consummation of programs in investing in local foods and crops and maintaining a strong safety net, reducing hungry in our country. ... 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 taking short taxpayers are getting a good return on their investment whether it is promoting crops, production or prioritizing water quality this bill gets us a step closer to achieve those goals. i want to thank the senators burns and grassley and casey and finally further work on this position and for the first time we provided a baseline funding to promote food production and hope small growers increase

their revenues. senator collins and i worked onn this bill the new market assistance program to strengthen this food sector and i appreciatere senator stabenow. it was increased in this bill because it is so successful since its creation in the bill with a disposition this provisis will be able to increase theirr purchasing power when they buy fresh fruits and vegetables. the program has been good for families and local farmers who now have new customers. another program will soon debate could soon be for hospital and doctor visits and that they have greater access to fruits and vegetables and healthier diets. the committee also accepted the amendment for three centers of excellence in the universities i appreciate the commitment from the ranking member to work with

me on the amendment ideals with equity issues affecting the provisions of the coverage included in this build is more of the senate should do to improve the programs to ensure there is a good deal for american taxpayers and i especially thank senators thune and grassley. there's other provisions that are good for ohio farmers and small towns to ensure the integrity helping small dairies investing in wastewater programs fighting the opioid epidemic is a bill that is good for farmers and families and taxpayers, jobs and lake erie. i'm committed to working with my colleagues. >> thank you senator fisher. >> thank you chairman roberts and stabenow for your work on the bipartisan package before us. i recognize this wasn't an easy task and i commend your efforts

agriculture is the backbone of nebraska's economy and a big part of my own life. they are directly tied to agriculture and that's why i'm thanul to represent nebraska as we craft such an important piece of legislation. as each of us around this table is aware there is a lot of anxiety with current farm income down by over 50% compared to five years ago and uncertainty surrounding international trade and biofuel policy farmers and ranchers are feeling the scared and vulnerable. they are looking to us, to this committee to provide the certainty and predictability they need to support their families and to feed the world. since my first day in congress i worked with colleagues to

promote commonsense policies that enable our producers to prosper. this bill 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 upholds the integrity of the crop insurance program. this important program works in my state and i appreciate the bill before us continues it. i also appreciate the committee for recognizing the importance of the trade promotion programs our farmers and ranchers have proven they can and will aggressively pursue global markets consolidating the primary programs under title iii will eliminate the anxiety of expiring baselines providing producers with more leverage as they look to expand. it's also an imperative we give the farmers and ranchers the

tools and technologies that enable them to maintain theirs competitive advantage. this package builds off of the existing commitment to expand broadband deployment to the most underserved and rural areas by prioritizing projects that provide broadband to the most rural areas we can boost the activity and bring in the next t generation to the farm and enhance productivity. mr. chairman and ranking member i commend the committee for crafting a bipartisan bill that looks to provide our farmers and ranchers the tools and certainty they need to feed the nation and the world. it is 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. >> senator smith. >> thank you very much ran roberts and ranking member stabenow for all of your work on this bipartisan farm bill before us today and i also want to add my thanks to everybody for the work that's been put in and lots of time to make this come together. when i first came to the senate a few months ago i asked to sit on this committee and i put together a farm bill working group in my home state of minnesota to hear from farmers andf ranchers and nutrition experts and leaders on what ought to be included in this farm bill. it touches the lives of every american and it's so important

to the states economy this bill will provide important stability and predictability to the minnesota farmers and ranchers while also sustaining tens of thousandss of jobs and i'm thankful it includes many of the proposals that i've been working to get included including the sugarnc program for others and including the dairyy safety net. i know that my colleagues worked very hard on this. the bill also establishes a new animal disease prepared us response and recovery program. we know having listed the avian flfluflu how important this is i want thank the senator. the bill makes important improvements to conservation programs to make sure farmers have the opportunity to start conservation efforts and keep them going into the future and

i'm happy the bill provides also help for beginning farmers and disadvantaged farmers in our state of minnesota that meansrm native american and latino and better in to make sure producers from diverse backgrounds have an ability to access usda services and i want to thank senator heitkamp and senator van hollen for helping in that work. as the ranking member of the development subcommittee i am happy that this bill also includes programs from the last build like the little energy america program and my colleague senator klobuchar also provided leadership on this along with senator and i'm very happy to see that included. i also would like to note i am very happy for the inclusion of our health liaison package today

i worked on that with senator jones and this will encourage the collaboration we know we need between the usda and health and human services to address the specific needs of the rural communities. i'm happy to see that included. rthank you again chair roberts and ranking member stabenow. i look forward to continuing work on this bill. >> with your permission i would like to recognize our leaders senator mcconnell for his three minutes and 21 seconds. >> thank you mr. chairman, ranking member. i'm happy to be here this morning. >> a. i say one other thing thank you for your commitment not only too be here but your commitment and i want to make this clear to everybody with regards to senator schumer both

committed once we finish our business here we can finish our business on the floor of the united states senate. >> let me mention, thank you mr. chairman.ch we will turn to the bill before the fourth of july, and i'm hopeful that the house will get to bears. there will probably look different from ours but hopefully it will give us a chance to get into conference and make a difference in the law which i know we are all interested w in doing. i want to thank both of you for the process that led us to today. in my home state of kentucky, agricultural heritage is a central partom of our economy ad soybeans into tobacco 75,000 plus forms in the bluegrass provides jobs and a great way of life for a lot of people they represent. i'm proui am proud to support tl

to deliver much-needed certainty for farmers. one way is by protecting crop insurance such as natural disasters or inclement weather that could wipe out. to boost the communities by extending access to high-speed internet and combating the opioid crisis and investingee ia water infrastructure projects. this is a good bill with a commonsense proposal to help families and communities. i want to thank the chairma chad ranking memberor for including e act in this bill and a lo if of supporters around this table. i think it is time that we took this step everybody has figured out this isn't thehe other plan, we hav had a little difficulty r

years ago putting the pilot projects in explaining to people ithat was a totally different planet. there are farming communities across the country interested in this and the reason for that is as welnow so if you know, our nr one cash used to be something that is really not good for you, tobacco and has declined significantly as it should come even the public health concern and the younger farmers in our state are particularly interested in going this direction so i think it is time for america and we are excited about what he'd done. there's a lot of people in my state who were enthusiastic about the possibilities. i don't know from a kentucky perspective to give you a perspective how pervasive it was when i came to the senate, we had a program to a little bit

like something out of moscow in the 1920s but they were assigned a quota and we have at least some tobacco. it is the only thing you could grow profitably that was legal. a hauler is an area between two mountains and it was literally everywhere, but obviously the public health concerns the program began to decline. fortunately to orchestrate a buyout created by the government attached to the land and when you paint you pay your propertye tobacco quota you had was a part of the value of your land, and though tax money was used which

you will remember probably from 2004, 2005 but it was paid for essentially by the industry itself so over a ten year period this quota that added value to the land was compensated for. there was nothing as big as tobacco so all the people in rural kentucky that grew up with tobacco were hoping this would be something and as we all know it could end up in your dashboard, it could end up in food, 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 for your effort on this.

i think it's an important new development in agriculture and i hope there's plenty of help coming around it's just coming from other parts of the country. why would we not want it to come from here. >> can i just add to what the leader said. you bring back a lot of memories, but when i was sitting down at the very end of the table, we were the most junior members of bathtime and they remembered the chairman and the senator sitting up here almost obscure, they were smoking cigars burning cash to the crops

and your dearou little muttering and that was the tobacco legislation o. >> anyway, times have changed. [laughter] thank you for that history lesson. i remember when i first came here and we talked about the tobacco program with president coolidge. he was known as silent cow so he just nodded his head but now we have industrial hemp and it will be successful. senator hogan.

>> it's going to be hard to follow that although the leader talked aboutut a howler in kentucky being an area between two stands of trees in our part of the world it means something else so hopefully we will be able to hauler when we pass this farm bill but thanks to both the chairman and the ranking member. i know you work long and hard wd and we appreciate you're willing us toon dialogue because as each of you have come around and worked with all the members of the committee and gone back and worked with each other that's what it takes to get the base type and that's where we are. i know we are going to go through amendments, hopefully not for too long. but it doesn't happen without the text that reflects the input of all the members and as a member of our members simply don't get everythinge we want. we will try to get some additional things done but that

is vital we can bring them out of the committee to move and that is a tribute to you and it doesn't happen without incredible work on your part of incredible experience and knowledge anknowledge and your r staff so a big thanks to you and your staff i know some have been all night so we have to recognize and appreciate how hard they work and how committed they are to helping get this done. it is particularly good that you are here because it reflects our ability to get this done in your push behind it and on the floor. i thinknk the priority is our he and that's why this does work. our farmers against it right now our farmers and ranchers. they'rthey are the most productn the world no question they can

compete. the point i'd like to make is good farm policy benefits every single american every single day because th we have highest-qualy lowest-cost food supply in the world sohe it doesn't just help farmers and ranchers, it helps every american because every single day every single american benefits from what we do here. highest quality, best cost food supply in the world benefiting every single american every single day not to mention all the economic benefits to farmers and ranchers create whether it ise jobs, you name it absolutely leaving the world. just to mention real quick things we laid out their vital and this builds on the existing farm bill they are not trying to re-create the world we are trying t to improve the farm bil that we had and that is a good thing so it starts out with crop

insurance john thune and others have talked about how we all work to improve those things. the agricultural research we are doing things in agriculture, food fuel and fiber we wouldn't have even dreamed of a few years ago we wouldn't have to go back to those we could go back five years we are growing crops for energy and other uses in addition to food we couldn't grow and reaches of the country before and had to take university-based we need them both and we cover those b pieces here obviously the no-cost sugar program is big in our part of the world as a huge industry and it goes back to making sure there's a fair opportunity to compete in global markets. programs like the vaccine link bank to make sure we keep them

healthy and access to capital is one we are going to work on some more we will get something done there may be back and forth but we've got to make sure farmers and ranchers can get that access rticully in the east of times. i will wrap up again thanks to alln, the members willingness to work together but it starts with our leadership and i want to thank you and again the staff for all the hard work. >> thank you mr. chairman. i think the senator outlined the priorities for north dakota but isle the majority leader here i would like to mention as one of the negotiators on the netobacco settlement we worked hard to get a transition piece for your farmers so that they could not find success growing other crops. the industries have been encouraged a little bit by this settlement but north dakota in 1990 passed a bill allowing for

the growth in our state we have been waiting for this for almost 20 years so i'm proud to join with you to help transition into a crop that they can be successful. that is the beauty of the farm bill for all of us. we recognize that regional differences and commonalities and then we are able to forge a coalition andhe great bill as or ranking member and chair men have done. i just want to point out a couple of things i hope we can all in together on the floor against changes to the farm bill that will begin this structure andd coalition. we know there will be attempts to change the foundation of the crop insurance program, limitations that i thin think cd weaken the program. we always have a challenge with sugar as you know some of the colleagues here don't always

share that point of view but i voted for catfish and tobacco and a lot of things that we don't grow in nort growing norta because that his innocence the quality of the coalition forged here so i stand ready 90% of north dakota this land is engaged in production agriculture whether it is ranching or farming. it is 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 this witnessed by having two senators from north dakota on the committee. we are going to have an amendment process here and i hope w we can have united to pas the bill and make this process easy on the two that have been the most amount of work and that hiss chairman roberts and rankig member stabenow to get this across the finish line we pledge

our propagation and i pledge my cooperation in helping us achieve a farm bill before the fourth of july. thankpe you mr. chairman and i will submit other comments for the record that i want to get the pitch for the unity coming out of m the committee. >> thank you for the parental supervision to get to this point and your hard work on this bill. it's good for the montana farmers and ranchers and will protect crop insurance. i hear a lot about that back home to support critical researcho and provide much-needd certainty in these turbulent times in the economy if you look at the notepad in front of u us this is the committee on agriculture nutrition and forestry. i do believe the forestry title couldd be stronger. i'm grateful to include legislation with senator klobuchar to enable foresters to do cross boundary work i do believe we could do more to restore active management.

it is a crop is planted and harvested. i would like to address three common misperceptions i often encounter a we think about the national forests policy first. the timber wars of the previous generation are still going on today. if you believe that come up york olivia newton john music and have the debate. between montana and the west we are speaking to the preceding extensive collaboration between wildlife and stakeholders in the county ithecounties working togo determine responsible management practices. we shouldn't allow extremists to obstructs. their work. the second comin, restoring acte management is a code phrase for excessive i mourning today thror logging. to restore forest widespread benefits, clean air, better fish and wildlife habitat and food producproduct job since most imt

active management enhancing public safety by reducing the threat of wildfire. it is a carbon sink a wildfire is an incredible emitter of carbon. accelerating th the projects shortchanges the public process it correctly takes 18 to 24 months to do the environmental review and after that is done many projects in montana are litigated that could add years of delays and right now as i sit here this morning, 29 timber sales in montana alone or in tactic by litigation and the fringe litigators in those environments have a disproportionate voice repeated in the city that stop him of common sense management reforms. mr. chairman, reducing the red tape and combating the chronic litigation doesn't hold a public inputon its a safeguard that by ensuring the feedback the majority isn't obstructed by a few and to be clear, robust

review and public engagement wouldd still occur under every proposal laboring up today with that i will yield back my 152nd mr. chairman. >> i appreciate that. thank you and more especially for your comments with regards to the management. thank you for the work that you do as the chair of the subcommittee. senator klobuchar. >> thank you for what could have been a difficult thing. we saw what happened over in the house and you rose above it all and got this bill done. senator mcconnell, we are excited about the prevision and most excited that this bill will go to the floor by the fourth of july where my friend from iowa knows it is knee-high by the fourth of july. inin minnesota it would be. [laughter] i'm using my time up.

our farmers are facing a lot right now. everything from low price is too late weather in the midwest we have snow in april in minnesota. we haveot trade issues and workk that goes to canada, beef to south korea, corn and poultry to mexico. our producer sent 7.1 billion of the product markets around the world, and it makes it even more important that we come together with a solid and consistent foreign policy out of the congress when they are facing those kind of headwinds. we are glad with some of the changes in the program. i'm glad senator cornyn and i did together to lead the permanent authorization for the

national animal disease preparedness response and program into this vaccine bank that everyone has referred to. we lost 9 million in 23 minnesota counties. as senator smith noted into this is important in the midwest. we don't see when we are going to see the next disease or whether it will be. we have to be prepared for that. our conservation programs are good. we got 1 million acres and would like to see more. in my prevision to fix the loophole included, and then all the work done to make this bill as sophisticated as the farmers and the kind of technology we are using now for the day that we are collecting to allow the data to be shared which will lead to better conservation practices but it is also by the farmers because it can lead to less expensive production if we

figured out how best to plan and use blogger. i want to thank also the senator for the work that we've done together on the forestry. we got a big tractor forests in minnesota where my dad's hometown is up in northern minnesota. all in all this has been a great effort assigned to the rural communities that we are going ta have some consistency coming out of the senate when it is knee-high or sugar high -- shoulder high. >> the united states today is one of the three great bread baskets in the world and the national security industry and i thought like other members to get on the committee. i want to thank you and ranking member for your hard work on the

bill producing a product that balances the need of every commodity in the region is not an easy task and i'm happy to say that this draft attempts to do just that. as most of the members of the night traveled all over my state listening to stakeholders and the one thing is clear this is a jobs bill for the role communities in my state over the country. that said, this bill is good but it's not perfect. it's a commonsense bill and i look forward to getting it through the floor shortly. there is one area we need to pay attention to. electric cooperatives providing electricity to the agribusinesses and families across rural georgia. i'm concerned about the financial impacts topa the cushn of credit program included in the bill. these changes could cause

electricity rates to increase dramatically. i know that members of the committee share my concern keeping the cost of the mission down so i would like to continue the conversation on how to lessen then total impact of the changes in this program and again i would echo the senator's comments earlier. this is probably the most bipartisan committee that i sit on. i don't take that lightly and i appreciate the work of the ranking member and you have done to provide the background for this bill so i look forward to working on the process to get this bill done as we go into the fourth of july. thank you. >> i want to thank you and the ranking members o member for thu have done on this bipartisan farm bill. iti can't imagine a number of hours you put in and we are grateful foror that work.

i'm in a state nearly 3.4 million people are in 48 google counties. this bill makes important investments in rural pennsylvania communities as well as those across the country. it provides our farmers the certainty they need it makes important changes to the farm safety net and insurers that those in need will not go hungry. the bill establishes a farm to food bank program an bank progrt easy to access the senior jukebox program. the bill that this committee has drafted appropriately recognizes the diversity of american agriculture and it make makes te content listing investments on local and regional food systems and specialty crops for mandatory baseline funding for organic research and also makes

significant investment in conservation programs and codifies the conservation reserve enhancement program which is greatly important to the state of pennsylvania and increases funding for the regional conservationon partnership program. i'm grateful for the pennsylvania priority is included in the bill and again i want to commend the chair and ranking member for their work and thank my staf think my stafh great work. >> thank you. thank you ranking member stabenow we worke worked on numf issues together into the members of the committee of th for all e diligent work over the past year i know that thi this has taken n incredible efforincredible effos here today.

many of the concerns as i toured the state farmers and rural communities are resilient. when we are saddled with the mobility prices and the trade he tension, it does truly take a toll. with a solemn backdrop i backdrs critical farmers and ranchers know that absolutely, we have the back. this legislation maintains robust cropla insurance and promotes water quality. however, the bill isn't perfect. we must do more to help recipients rise up out of poverty. the u.s.s. economy is booming right e now. for the first time on record, the number of job openings exceeds the number of americans looking for work. we must seize this opportunity to help folks become self-sufficient. mr. chairman i would like to thank you for working with me to include i a pilot for the incentives in the management practice.

the evidence is clear folks to lead healthier lives if they consume more milk and i know my dairy farmers which we appreciate that. while my original amendment was struck by no fondles are forged through compromise and that is what you have done coming into the ranking member you've done to work on the compromise. and it's fair to i say that this committee looks for common ground where it can be found and in that spirit i appreciate the willingness to include this pilot and i'm hopeful that this is a first step forward on this important issue. let's roll up our sleeves and give the certainty and predictability they need now and for many yearshe to come. thank you mr. chair.

>> i want to thank you and the ranking member is afraid that he has purpose farm bill and leadership over many years. when the democrats wereer in charge we were able to pass a farm bill that was the only fiscally responsible bill and any member of congress passed and we are doing it again with republican leadership. i am so grateful that there is an oasis. we might find we can get important work done on behalf of the american people. it's good to see you. on the trade and immigration in my state and commodity prices where they are from our farmers and ranchers desperately need this bill not justeeis to pass n the floor of the senate but also to be signed by the president. i am so grateful for the leadership of the committee and

i want to tick off a few things that are important to t colorado that are in this bill. first the fourth straight titlee provides new tools to help partners and industry and other stakeholders better manage the prioritpriority watershed stuffs critical for us and second, we placed a much-needed assist on the innovative conservation and the conservation title, and we rewardg producers are taking proactive steps to protect wildlife habitat. in addition to improving risk management tools, we provide economic opportunities in america by legalizing hemp which is an important agricultural commodity in colorado and i say again to the majority leader thank you for your leadership on the provision. it is a testament to the crop and is so widely supported and grows everywhere and it grows in colorado and we have many people that our farmers and ranchers

looking at opportunities to manufacture products for value of. i look forward to our discussion in this d markup and the work tt we will do together as republicans and democrats on the floor to preserve this piece of legislation. >> in the run-up to this committee developing the 20 team farm bill i visited states meeting with stakeholders from nearly every segment of the agricultural community in order to collect priority from the farmers, students and researchers in antihunger advocates. i view myself as a hired help and i'm committed to writing a bill that works well in the

rural communities and businesses fooden security. i heardrd repeatedly over the lt year about the need to write a farm bill that helps manage the uncontrollable risk of harming including protecting crop insurance and developing commodity programs that reflect market conditions. i've heard about the importance of promoting new market opportunities particularly for supporting exports to markets around the world. i heard strong passion of many to promote voluntary conservation efforts. especially doing everything we can to fight theth opioid epidemic. ii talked with students and researchers and so the benefits of investing in tomorrow's farmers and technologies and visited to spend time fighting hunger in our communities. the 2018 bill reflects those important priority is.

it protects crop insurance can help us fight the opioid epidemic, promotes voluntarynt conservation, develops new market opportunities, support local communities and helps a address food insecurity. it's not perfect, and we have to work on a number of opportunities today to improve it further, but it's a very good though. it's a testament to the members of the committee being able to work together as advocates for agriculturecu. i think the chairman and ranking member for their efforts to get us here and i look forward to working together to get the bill across the finish line to get our farmers and communities the certainty that they deserve. i want to thank all the members for their comments. the committee willer proceed now to the consideration of 30 to 42 for the amendment by unanimous consent we adopted the committee and the nature of the substitute for 3042 that will b 3042 theree

considered as the original text for the purpose of the amendment without objection, so ordered. next it has been distributed to all members of the end of block amendment by doing them in her and myself all offices have been notified and included in a list of those amendments have been distributed to all members. all those in favor of the amendment signify. those opposed, though. the committee will proceed by considering amendments to the bill title by title in reverse starting with title 12 and finishing with title number one. once finished with a great without objectiothe greatwithoul amendments need to be germane,tn have a property file, maintai

maintaining budget neutral bill to be free from earmarks and others in the substitute amendment which is the text of the mark in amendment form to not include a significant matter outside thsignificant matterout. i would note irrelevant 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 for title 12. >> i would like to call the amendment number seven to illuminate this bipartisan amendment that wouldci address e permitting of pesticides under the clean water act this creates

unnecessary resource burden and challenges including small businesses, local water authorities and the agriculture community. pesticides are critical forid maintaining a viable environment by eliminating harm oh and if the test stand that threatens the livelihood of the producers. it already requires the epapa to him chewer pesticides cause no unreasonable adverse effects to humans or the environment. the label is the wall. users who do not follow the label or in violation of federal law even withoutt a permit. as a result of the compliance regulations and increasing clean water act likability, many communities and small municipalities are being forced to reduce or counsel their mosquito control programs.

this places families at risk for devastating mosquito borne diseases like west nile virus, yellow feverdidi and malaria. they've testified at the clean water act offers no additional environmental benefits because pesticide applications are already received a regulated through a stringent approval process. furthermore, under gina mccarthy and the administration they also agreed they couldis adequately manage pesticides and they don't need the component. again this has intended the clean water act and the permit should be required for the application of pesticides over the approved and authorized for sale distribution and use. i want to thank senators

heitkamp and boozman for sponsoring this and s i recognie there's a difference of opinion in the committee on including the commonsense regulatory reform measures at this time so i will not ask for a roll call vote however i hope we can we withstand and i would withdraw the amendment. >> i think that senator and my colleague to the north for raising this issue. it's important to all of us and i thank you for your leadership we will continue the discussion as the bill proceeds. are there any other amendments? >> i would like to call it the amendmentt number six. this may seem a little esoteric for two issuesal one is a states rights and the

ability to regulate who owns farmland and it's important that we keep input costs down. i think in the opening comment they talk about the growt growtd land prices have spent part of the heritage for a number of years to not allow corporations to own farmland that has helped keep them in the hands of family farmers and helped reflect a long-standing policy. in spite of a consistent position from the state legislature into something and fever right now but the clause

is to argue that it would burden interstate commerce and because this body has enacted the policies regarding the control of interstate commerce and so yes there is a physical connection if we pass by in amendment was what actually happened if the court would then be sentt a signal that we respet the amendment. i haven't yet been able to find a cosponsor on this amendment but i wanted to help educate how critically important it is to let the states regulate within theirth jurisdiction. i just want to thank senator

heitkamp we know this needs further work. aree there any other amendments in title 12? >> i would call up the amendment number five that would grant the secretary discretion to improve and the drought assessment across the usda administers. for the past two years in western south dakota precipitation monitoring has been inconsistent and livestock producers not being eligible for raising assistance and ensure

this occurs in other sparsely populated areas who might be on the adjacent farms or counties cheated very differently because the methodology used is inconsistent in the bill received a zero score from the congressional office and something from a practical standpoint makes a lot of sense and provides uniformity and consistency a to this process in thstates like mine where we have recurring issues with drought. i would ask for the committee

support. mr. chairman, i have one other amendments i would like to discuss and i will withdraw its because i knoitbecause i know te some objections raised but this would allow me to and poultry products to be sold across state lines all are inspected by the food safety inspection service

to allow them to create programs that require the state inspection programs toe be equal to the federal media and poultry inspection programs. currently there are 27 states with approved poultry inspection programs, however products processed at the facilities are not allowed to be sold across state lines. farm bureau and u.s. cattlemen supportt this amendment and its similait'ssimilar to a piece of legislation authored but i would ask that we have an opportunity to discuss this further and they would withdraw the amendment.

>> is there an additional amendment to the title? >> is the opposition from those that don't want the competition from the end stayed smaller process? >> i am told that there are livestock groups. >> the senator from iowa may be on to something there. >> i have something i want to say. >> is that the confessions of

>> we appreciate title 11. are there any and thence to title 11?

i know senator klobuchar has an amendment and maybe in the judiciary so if it may be possible to put aside the title and then come back to it when she's here. amendments to title x. i would like to offer my amendment. the preference ise to codify te role of state police agencies

not subdivisions as pesticide regulators with the epa while congress intended states regulate the sales distribution u.suse courts have interpreted otherwise. this amendment would make sure each state has one set of regulations in pesticides rather than the patchwork and 89. they are not constrained by the growing borders of the subdivision. restricting use without scientific justification in one locality jeopardizes the citizens of that county as well. let me be clear if it doesn't prevent a state lead agency from prescribing the state to use the tools as authorized by state and federal regulations in, on or

around. it is a sound policy for the state lead agency to regulate but i will be withdrawin that. >> further amendments to the title. >> are there any amendments to title nine? >> the senator also has an amendment and is on her way ba back. thank you mr. chairman and i would like to call up the amendment number 16 re: funding and technical assistance to carvin and biogas utilization that seeks to build out initiatives working through their capabilities making it

easier for the industries that want to use carbon and biogas for the resources but also provides funding for competitive grants to overcome some of the barriers of the utilization we we've heard it's difficult for small gas producers to put in place cost-effective systemsco o collect and this amendment would provide competitive grants to determine the cost-effectiveness of aggregating from the sources tresources to a single biogas system. the amendment also proves coordination in the department of energy. there were some concerns about the task force provision in types and eliminated that language based on conversations that i had with your staff and others and i spoke to the national pork producers council. the amendment has addressed the concerns from the committee i

would also like to thank you and the ranking member for working with me on this important hearing and i would ask a voice vote of the committee. to signify by saying i mac. are there further amendments to the title? , any amendments to title number eight. >> amendment number 1 decibels on the reforms that were made in

the omnibus by adopting that position taken by the obama administration in the environmental laws in force this service to clarify the consultation requirements between the forest service and u.s. fish and wildlife serviceif after the agencies received no information to the impact of the species and i just want to remind the committee the obama administration supports what i'm trying to do here and senator tester for the same effect. the obama administration said they have the potential to cripple land management and this helps to further address this concern. unfortunately, with some of the extreme interests, they've got in a way and stopped doing the reform of the obama administration. i realize there's more to discussion to be had and i look forward to working with both parties on this issue if the bill goes to the floor.

>> has the senator withdrawn the amendment? does the senator wish to be recognized for a further amendment? are there any further amendments to the title? any amendments for title vii? amendment to title vii? amendments to title vi. hearing no amendments we will move to title five. hearing no amendments, we will move to title for. we will move to title three.

senator heitkamp? i will call upp my amendment to the amendment supported by the senator's this would open up the opportunity to trade into cuba using the trade promotion program available to any other producer who wants to promote their product. i think it is high time that they explore that market.

it's ironic i would be the person perceiving it because i think that the opportunity here is into month plus other crops but this is a critical component that will help usps establish a trade relationship with a country that is only 90 miles off our shore so i am hopeful we can close this chapter and open this opportunity for farmers and ranchers to promote their products and i think we can all agree that one of the greatest concerns we have right now is market disruptionup and exports. we know we grow more in this country then we could possibly consume and growing markets is critically important to improving our commodity prices and so, i would ask for a roll call vote.

i've consistently heard one answers to the challenging economic times wee are facing n regards to small trade policies. i traveled to cuba at least three times in my merry and witnessed both the opportunities and challenges developing a market for the u.s. agriculture, trade policy in the united states that provide certainty and stability and at the same time as we look forward to normalizing trade between the united states and cuba, we need to take a realistic approach that takes into account the investment of taxpayer dollars and policies that encourage them to embrace the practice of free-trade enterprise and commerce. they think we can pass this by a

voice vote if the senator would agree. >> all in favor will signify. those opposed. >> going back to title five. >> i would like to call the amendment for the amount of the loan guarantee which is currently 1.39 million increases if to 2.5 million increases the direct loan 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 asked for based on the needs of the farmers and ranchers at this

time. i also have included another amendment which is one i work on as well that is 1.57 million which is what the house passed. i would like the committee to consider the 2.5 million because we will end up with something more than 1.75. right now you can get 1.7 c. you are not increasing it much and again i didn't pull the south of the air. this is the following groups have asked for them and the national association of growers can d,the swabian association, e sorghum producers, national potato council, and then alsoso the financial groups, american banker association, national lenders association, national

association accredited specialists and in our state a whole litany of groups. so, that is why i would lik liks took up 2.5 million. and again rememberto when we goo the committee, we are going to be negotiating for 1.75 so when you look from going 1.74 to something between 1.75, probably two and a half if we can pass it, given that is wha this was e groups say they need and when you look we are really not going up all that much in fact it is just based on what it costs to form these things so that is the difference between the two amendments is to increase with the request we have received >> i want to thank the senator. senator. we worked here on many things

and we are still trying to get this worked out we came at this with the c because of changes in farming and limit to accommodate that at the same time, the countervailing force is how to make sure it isn't used up and there's still money so that is why i am doing a second degree amendment. and this would increase the loan limits from the cap of 1.39 million to 1.75 million this would also increase limits on the correct side lifting the cap on the direct ownership from 300,000 to 600,000 of operating from 300,000 to 400,000. this includes important language

i worked on to increase the data on the bart over participation rates and i would ask you tow join me on this amendment and i hope it is in the end that we would have a compromise. >> further debate on the amendment. the question is on the adoption of the amendment all those in favor, all opposed. the business but for the committee now is that the second degree amendment. all those in favor of the amendment signify. of those opposed. are there further amendment to title five clicks to get take

into consideration title 12 senator did you wish to say anything with regards to title 12? something dealing with the help farming act. i support of industrial and i object too this though being amended on several grounds procedurally it is way out of order. the bill was first introduced in april and bypassed referral to theud traditional.

my objection was apparent we ignored this bill is within the distinction subject to the provisions of title 21. if the purpose is to legalize it the bill should do that but it does not. it opens up legalized to include derivatives, extracts and the derivatives are not used for industrial purposes they are used to make things like cannabis oil. it's a chemical in the plant thaplantsthat can be extracted d to treat everything from anxiety to epilepsy.

how it's handled for the safety of the individual is importantm to me so i have a bill that provides a regulated pathway for research into the beneficial effects of cbd and to make products that would be regulated by the fda. today's bill would allow any salesman to market and sell any product as a dietary supplement or anything else without any regulatory control whatsoever. that leaves consumers without assurances of safety or quality of the product and it will put children at risk. i have constituents with epileptic children who are desperate for answers. they will turn to anythingrsrs o help their children even if it means taking inordinate risks by buying products that are

potentially harmful. my bill will provide assurances after the proper research and testing is done and the necessary approvals are met. so i would ask the members of the committee to at least work with me to modify this provision after the bill gets out of the committee so the children's health is not threatened. >> thank you. senator mcconnell. >> i understand the concerns that my friend the chair of the judiciary committee has come and as a result of that, we consulted with the justice department and the good suggestions from the ranking member of theki judiciary committee and the chairman of the judiciary committee. we appreciate their input and

incorporated a number of their suggestions, so let me outline them and this is a result of the discussions the chairman and ranking member, justice department and food and drug administration first cleared by the secretary of agriculture can consult with the attorney general in reviewing a proposed state and tribal plan and issuing regulations and in issuing guidance. second, clarified that it doesn't alter the cosmetic act or the ability of third and prove the integrity by making sure states and tribes conduct oversight on their programs and those that seek to participate are honest and truthful and have not been convicted of a felony

drug offense. i've included a number of suggestions, but i have not included i've declined to include some that would undercut the premise of the bill that it's derivatives should be a legal agricultural commodity just as it was in the united states for many years. it should be allowed to four michigan in this country as it did and it has begun to do so again in my home state of kentucky overseeing by state and federal department of agriculture with appropriate safeguards but not the department of justice. i ask my colleagues to support the provisions and appreciate the suggestions the chairman made. but they chose not to include all of the suggestions. >> i think both senators, their

comments are duly noted and we now go back to the title. >> i would like to request a voice vote as modified. it's something we've worked on for many years expanded in the farm bill to b include state in the region including minnesota, south dakota, north dakota and nebraska it would maintain favor in those states while giving governors around the country the option of opting into the program and their own state. everyone around this table and for that matter in farm country

knows i support maintaining and including crop insurance that we heard from farmers, ranchers, grovers all across this country number one. i believe we were able to establish that in the provisio provisions. the amendment would make technical changes passed in the 2,014th farm bill by clarifying circumstances that reductions and benefits will apply to. we will continue to work as we move to the floor. all of those in favor signify a.

>> i would echo what the senator said we worked on this for some time. we appreciate the committee adopting a provision that closes the substitution loophole that folks found a way around so that has been tightened up which is a good thing. we would love to see this go nation widenationwide, but the t has been offered and it certainly makes sense. we appreciate your good faith commitment as we continue to advance this and appreciate your support of the amendment.

>> i thank the senator >> this is one wearingha going o withdraw. the renewable fuel standard as you all know it's critically important to a minnesota and the reports indicate dozens have been granted to the large refining companies effectively reducing the volume obligations that are not only biofuel producers across the u.s. at a time when farm income is at its

lowest since 2006 the secretary of agricultureta has demanded. senatorer grassley and i wrote a letterer to the administrator in april expressing our concerns with some of these actions. the number that used to be issued each year was between six to eight for extraordinary reasons. the recentdi reports noted theye already issued 25 disproportionate hardship waivers this year. i'm notrs asking for a vote buti will continue to work to assure additional actions are not taken that undermine and harm the minnesotaro producers. >> i understand you have a second amendment. >> i would like to follow up if i could. yesterday prove it was in kansas and the news report says that he

says he has the authority when they are given for those gallons that are not fixed that he can reallocate. he ought to be reallocating because in november of last year, several senators around this table and maybe some that are not around a table met with him and he gave a november 13 or november letter saying what he hathat hehad authority to do oro and we got 15 million gallons promisedlo that that's what the law requires it with the president of the united states senate january 2016 to the renewable fuels association when he was a candidate that he wanted the maximum amount the law would allow to be pursued by the epa if he was president. he's president now, so through

the uses of labor a 50 billion-dollar down super presidents promise isn't being carried out by the person he appointed him to prove it is serving the president of the united states by not carrying that out and i would like to see all of these waivers that he's given now that he says it is the law to do it, get them reallocated. but we have to start looking. to keep the president promised a better purpose 15 billion gallons and we better know now they do not subtract from the 15 billion that are reallocated and we get what the president promised.

>> i think perhaps the president hurt you. >> i want to associate myself with the comments. >> thank you for backing up my amendment. >> i want to make clear he indicated i raised my voice. i'm not mad at anybody. >> that is just how you talk. on the farmland you have to yell. i get it. i want to thank the senator from iowa. i made him almost every morning to have a glass of ethanol and it warms you right up. [laughter] mr. chairman unless you want to keep going on this i would like to put up klobuchar amendment number one. this is a modification and my amendment would restore mandatory funding for energy titlee programs at 2014 levels

and reimburse dairy producers, this is what the senator was referring to the cost of the margin protection program premiums for 2015, 2016 and 2017. as we know, very has been very hard hit in the 2,014th farm bill i successfully pushethoughr strong energy title with the funding necessary to continue to support home-grown renewable fuels, worked with the senator on that and support thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in economic growth. the new mandatory spending in the amendment would be offset by eliminating the economic adjustment assistance for ever income users of the proposal that was recommended to the president fiscal year 29 budget. the amendment to score shows thatam it saves 9 million over n years. this amendment continues programs that incentivize home-grown energy production and will provide immediate help provide immediate assistance to struggling dairy farmers. i urge its adoption and i understand perhaps it can go by

voice vote. >> the amendment would provide funding for a number of programs important to members on botht sides of the committee. those include the following energy programs, biomass research and development initiatives,m, the market progrm to refinery renewable chemical and bio-based product in effect turning assistance program, the bioenergy program for advanced fuels and crop assistance program. it also provides for the producers to try to use the market program in the first three years of the program before it is modified by congress and again by the mark i'm committed to working on behalf of all in providing funding to these programs as a priority for several senators on this committee. >> thank you mr. charan. i also want to support this amendment and think senator klobuchar for herlo leadership n this and it builds on what we did as well in the last farm

bill and this is a jobs amendment, it's about jobs in rural america. these programs have leveraged more than $5 billion in private investment since 2009, so i want to thank the senator for her great work and for working with you on this. there's a number of important issues and i would also indicate very pleased that the priority is in this package to help small dairies that were not able to use the new program the last farm bill so this is very positive as well. >> i've got sympathy for what the senator is trying to do the problem is toth pay for the economic adjustment assistance program is a very popular program that has kept many

across the country in business and certainly this is a job situation. currently 44 companies in 14 states participate in the program and many are represented on this committee and for that reason i would encourage a no vote and work at some point to see if we can find a different pay. >> i appreciate the sentiment we can work together but the reason we have such strong support is 3 billion are satisfied in the last budget which is significantly more then some of these other programs and that's why given what we are facing in the midwest right now with the prices and the lowest since 2006 into the issues that senator grassley so nicely identified that we are dealing with the anything that this is very important and we have lost so many of our dairy farmers. >> 3 billion was set aside for

dairy and the time was budget natural. >> i know there was a lot of room in there for cuts. >> the only thing i would say it again is there are many individuals affected by this, 44 companies in 14 states many of them sitting on this committee >> further conversation? i want to say i want to keep working on these as we move forward, and i am committed to working on behalf to better all regions in a situation where we are trying to t improve one re region, but it poses some problems to another.

i'm suggesting that we simply have a voice vote that if the gentleman would like a roll call vote, that's okay. v? any amendments to title iv?

any amendments on title iii? title ii? >> mr. chairman, senator leahy is not here and asked me if i would offer an amendment that has been modified. i understand we need to take in a voice vote. this would give livestock and dairy farmers flex ability to prioritize implementation of the environmental quality incentive program, whole farm plan and would provide more time for livestock and dairy producers to create their whole farm management plan. i would offer that on behalf of senator leahy and asked for support. >> all those in favor please indicate by saying i. all opposed, no.

in the opinion of the chair, the i's have it. >> mr. chairman, this is number nine. this amendment provides several amendment to crp and is supported by ducks unlimited and the natiol farmers union. very simple, what it would do is increase acreage. the crp acreage today is capped at 24 million acres. the base bill has a 25. this would increase that to 26-point to 5 million acres. at the same time, provide much needed hang grazing flexibility by allowing one third of the contract holders acres to behave or graze each year. this lowers the rent to 85% of rental rate on general crp contract but keeps it at 88.5% for all continuous crp

contracts. work closely with both production agriculture and wildlife organizations to craft these changes that improve crp without damaging its conservation wildlife habitat potential. that's very much it. it allows an increase in the cap from what the current cap was at 24 million, the base bill which is 25, the sleep raises at 1.4 million acres and provides much-needed flexibility when it comes to the management of those acres. it's done in a way that is supported by not only those who benefit directly from it, but a the other groups but also are on the wildlife production corners and environment groups. i would ask the committee to approve it. >> mr. chairman, first appreciate very much what the

senator is trying to achieve. at this point i would say our bill provides an increase in crp up to 25 million acres. both the chairman and i found a way to increase the crp acres to this level without cutting rental rates so low that it would make the program less attractive to producers. i know there's a number of concerns out there about that at this time. mr. chairman, i would stand with you in the balance agreement that we have on funding for the conservation title. i would oppose this amendment at this time. >> mr. chairman. >> it's not just the increase in the acres which again is something we think makes a lot of sense, but there are some things in current law that absolutely make no sense and i, for the time i've been involved with this program and with farm bills, been able to figure out why, under mid-

contract management practices usda has required that this cover on acres be harvested or destroyed. even during years of severe drought and hey shortage. we find ourselves, as we did in 2012 and 2017, going to usda and begging for emergency authority to hay and gray some of these acres which we did get in 2012 and 2017. that authority was granted to environmentally sensitive acres without any adverse effects. this is an amendment that brings some much-needed flexibility to crp acres by allowing farmers a third every three years, or i should say you take a third of their crp acres in any given year end be able to hay those. also with a reduction in payments commensurate with that or to graze those acres

in the same way. again, it's something that we find, at least in our part of the country where crp is utilized rather extensively, that under these mid- contract management practices they have to destroy this. it's a valuable commodity particularly in years where you have a drought. it gets rid of the need for mid- contract management practices. gets rid of the need for emergency hay and graze drought years. this is an amendment i think is not only going to be very popular, it is very popular with producers, but also is supported by all the impairment of conservation groups and wildlife production groups including ducks unlimited and pheasants forever. i would ask members of this committee support this. the reduction in the rate on regular crp acres goes from 88.5% which is in the base bill to 85%. we keep it at 88.5% for

continuous crp acres which is something you all wanted us to do. we think the groups are supportive of having this rental rate at 85% in order to get the increase in the acreage and the flexibility that would come with this amendment. >> i want us inc. the senator for offering this amendment. i know the crp program is especially important to you and south dakota as it is in my state of kansas. as a matter fact i was one of the original cosponsors of the program back in the day. i am concerned about the effect of such drastic changes to the current policy especially in light of the rental rate reduction. having said that, i will recognize. [inaudible]

>> first of all i think there are a lot of provisions that i would agree with an eye would support, and i would suggest trying to find a way to move forward. if this would change the balance of overdue but there are important provisions and i would agree with them in terms of how this has been operating. and so, i don't know if you want to go ahead with the vote at this point or certainly we could work together as well. either way, go ahead. >> i was just adding that you have the commitment of the senators to work with you on the floor to get this amendment worked out. >> the only thing i would say, based on my observation is that it's unlikely we will get through a lot of amendments and this is what happened in 2014 and the last farm bill. the amendment process got shot down when we got to the floor. the only way this could be adopted on the floor is if

were willing to accept it in the form of a manager's amendment or perhaps we end up in an open process where we can offer amendments. based on our recent experience, i'm not sure that will happen. these are very the groups out there who would be most impacted by this support this. the number in the hospital on crp acres is 29 million acres. the rental rate goes down to 80%. if we go to 85 on other crp acres, in addition to raising the capital little bit which only goes part way to the house, the house is at 29 and we'd be at 26-point to five are these changes in the management practices which i think are long overdue. if you're willing to work with me as part of a managers package when we go to the

floor, that would be one thing. i'm not sure commitment to allow us to offer it on the floor is something that either of you may be in a position to offer up. >> mr. chairman, just one further thing. we don't know exactly how the process will be on the floor, but i would say just for the record that the wildlife organizations are not uniformly for the spread there are differences of opinion that i would like to see worked out. at this point, i appreciate very much what you are saying. i can't support this at this point as it's written and we can continue to see if there are pieces of it. >> mr. chairman, for, i just want to clarify there is a middle ground. it was 3 billion for cotton but it was paid for as you pointed out. the dairy was 1 billion. we will continue to work with

you. >> what was the question? >> do you wish to proceed with a voice vote on this? >> again, i'm not sure which wildlife organization the senator is referring too. we have ducks unlimited and pheasants forever. we work closely in the past on the hay and grazing provision with wildlife federation. to my understanding and knowledge, those groups are supportive of what were trying to accomplish with respect to these changes in the management practice on crp acres. >> we have recently received indication from the national wildlife federation that they are not supportive. that's what's raising concern for me. >> let me just say despite our

best efforts the senator and i can't guarantee certainty on the floor, but it is our intention to work with you to see if we can't continue to address the concerns that the senator has. i want to say i'm concerned about the effect with regards to the production. i appreciate the senator for working so hard on this but i think most of his legislation is meritorious. the senator, it's up to you. would you like about? >> mr. chairman, if you're willing, when we get to the floor on this, to consider some of these changes, if there's a change we can make -- in the past wildlife federation has been supportive of most of the things we try to do when it comes to these

contracts. to get this flexibility i would be willing to work with you on that. i have been trying for years to get usda to change this mid- contract management practice which to me absolutely makes no sense why you would have to destroy or burn what is very valuable a, particularly in years when it has great value for people who need it in a drought. to me it's the limit or the cap and the flexibility. if the chairman is willing to work with us. >> i'm certainly willing and i would say candace experienced a wildfire burning 135,000 acres an hour in the middle of a drought just as you are up nort north, but i'm certainlyling to do exactly that. i know the senator does as well.

>> i would like to express my support for the amendment and hope that something can be worked out on the floor. >> i appreciate your comment. >> with that assurance and to admit i will withdraw the amendment. >> i appreciate that. >> any other amendment entitled to -- in title two. title i? >> that's the intent. here we go.

>> title i. i'm sure you're tired of hearing from you on this, but i thinks you in the center know we been trying for some time to find a way and i've been working with senator brown on legislation that would make the art program workable. i am disappointed that we haven't been able to do that as i expressed in my opening statement. if you look at the entire nation, after the 2014 farm bill, 77% of farmers in this country adopted the art program. the reason for that is because it provides both price protection and protection for production loss as well. we will not have, going forward, a program in title i that provides revenue protection and protection not only against price loss but

also production loss. i think that's unfortunate. we were trying to get scores from cbo. we didn't get scores until late last night on several proposals we had to try to make the art program workable. we think there are common sense changes, but we have not been able, at this point, to come up with an amendment we think it's the job done. i want to continue to revisit this issue, i felt for some time we need to make some changes in the commodity title. one of the ways we propose paying for this was with the base update which again, we have thousands of acres of land that haven't been cropped for years or decades and some of that land is planted for grass, hate work raise. with the limited funding it makes sense, in my view to

target funds to where they really need to go and that's to those were actually farming the land. because we been unable since the bills introduction to the markup, to get scores in cbo to put us in a position to offer amendment that we think could pass and actually accomplishes the desired goal to offer the amendment for 12. i'd say that's a thought and expressed disappointment that we were unable to get something adopted, a program that was chosen by 77% of the farmers in this country, in place because i think it will be something they will miss. >> in the interest of time i will associate myself with the comments and i appreciate the work he has done on this with

title i. we need to continue these market-oriented reforms and hope we can move forward and get the discussion turned into real language on the floor. thank you. >> senator brown and has been working very hard to improve the program. it is a much-needed program. in kansas, 75% of our farmers chose this over crp. that was during the good times in agora agriculture. perhaps farmers might want to at least consider the program. i've heard the calls from both of these senators and we've

tried to work together to incorporate as many changes as possible. it includes multiple improvements including increases the substitute yields to 75% and requires the use of trend adjusted yields in several technical changes. i do have concerns with the far-reaching impacts of the exchanges to the price loss coverage, reference prices. i would have to oppose the amendment in the current form but i understand your focus is to improve it, and i share your concern in that regard. i would like to continue to work with you as we head to the senate floor to consider further changes to commodity programs that provide producers more certainty and predict ability. i appreciate the senator withdrawing the amendment. i would only add that in the current form, kansas would lose 436,000 acres in their acreage base.

the kansas bankers association estimates that would reduce land values by 20% and the same thing would happen in oklahoma and other high plains. 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. with that, i look forward to working with the senators to make sure, to see what we can achieve. any other further amendments? i note that the reporting form is present. i move that s42 he reported favorably as amended. is there a second. >> second. >> all in favor, say i, all opposed say no. does anyone wish a rollcall vot vote.

>> given the situation, why don't we asked the clerk to call the roll. the vote is on final passage. senator grassley, i think your ow amendment was not in final form. is that my understanding, i'm sorry for the. >> i had to rewrite the amendment a little bit to satisfy you, and we don't have the 45 copies available so go

ahead and vote i note that a quorum is present in the clerk will cal the roll. [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] [roll call] [roll call]

[roll call] [roll call] >> the eyes are 21 and the no's are one. the bill is ordered to be reported as favored. one more change. 20 - 1. i ask unanimous consent that it be authorized to make clarifying and conforming changes that are appropriate. seeing no objective

objections, so ordered but i want to thank my colleagues for writing in this important process. i ask unanimous consent is cement to the record urgent activity on this issue and support for the substitute amendment for the record. simply add this is not the best possible bill, but this is the best bill possible. i am proud and still by the work conducted by the committee. i think the ranking member and all members in attendance. conducting legislative work through regular order and utilizing the committee process in a bipartisan and manner. this hearing is now adjourned. [inaudible conversations]

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[inaudible conversations] >> you've got to be actively engaged with the farmers. that's a legal term. >> how would you make sure, it sounded like you are interested in putting limits on that. that you are now. [inaudible] one is too many. [inaudible] >> , the people does it take to run a farm?

>> i understand. if you're one person there's a loophole. [inaudible] [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] >> there were technical changes that had to be made this morning as far as the lawyers telling us that. getting that done and getting it printed.

[inaudible conversations] it's the opposite in-house. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] the rules committee would let it come out because it passed the house last year. you've got both bills in both houses and you're not supposed to change it. [inaudible]