and it's, you know, we're not pure, we americans, we don't wear white hats when it comes to trade. we have our provisions too. and other countries aren't darth vaders, they don't just wear black hats. but it's also true that the shade of gray of their hats is a lot darker shade of gray of our hats. and we have got to be more aggressive to make sure that the shade of gray evens out a little bit so hopefully it lightens that shade of gray that they have in our hats. this is not raised to the level of saying this is war. but i will say we have to be a lot more aggressive than we have been. >> well said and let me just echo that we both want open markets and also fight trade barriers and we need to do both and so if there's any further comments on the johans amendment, senator hoven?

>> i would like to express my support for the johans amendment, as well as the fact that as a former u.s. department of agriculture, senator johans knows of what he speaks and if he feels that the need is there for reorganization, i think he's right on and i certainly agree with senator backus, there's so much more we can do with trade. thank you. >> any further discussion? >> if not, all those in favor say aye. >> aye? those opposed say nay. >> nay. >> the tight system closed and we will now move on to the next on our list, it's title number 10, the horticulture, specialty crops, organics, including fruits, specialty nuts, nursery

crops, sales total about $65 billion in our economy and our important job creator and title ten supports those efforts. are there any amendments in this title? if there are no amendments in this title. then the title is closed. excuse me, senator roberts? did senator casey have an amendment? i don't see senator casey at this point. i think we're fine. so thank you very much. if there are no amendments in this title, then title ten is closed. now we'll move on to title seven, which is research extension and related measures and i'm sure senator roberts is going to speak to this as well, that we're very pleased with a tremendous amount of work we

have done, we have heard from pardon me farmers, we have heard from all of you, we all know how important agriculture research is and this title continues. the critical research initiatives we have had in place, but also adds a new nonprofit research foundation with dollars in it to bring public and private dollars together to support cutting edge research, was pleased to join with senator roberts in doing this. also senator thune and i have worked on this issue as well on another tax bill. i appreciate our work on this. and senator roberts, do you want to speak on this? >> i think in the interest of time, let me just agree with your remarks. >> thank you very much. do we have any amendments to title seven, the research title? seeing none, the title is closed. we'll now move on to title five which is secret. and we all know how important

access to credit is as being fundamental to agriculture's success in the country. and also the average american farmer is over 60 years old and a shortage of beginning farmers as we all know is threatening the future of america. we have all spoken about this, it's a priority for us and we continue the assistance in this title for beginning farmers and family farms. is there any amendment to the credit title. seeing none the title system closed. as someone who grew up in a small town in northern michigan this, tight system very near and dear to my heart and to all of you. -- stretches back many generations and this title helps rebuild those communities invest in the future and make sure that

our rural communities can thrive in the 21est century economy. so part of what we have done here is to work very hard to remove duplicate programs, authorizations to organize the title in a better way for constituents. we heard from local officials that came before the committee, if you're a local mayor in a rural community, you want to be able to figure out how to use the rural development title. and so we have worked very hard to make it simpler both for farmers, but also for local community leaders to be able to access the services that are available. any amendments in rural development? >> madam chair. >> senator casey. >> madam chair, i have one amendment that i would like to offer. if i can make a few comments first? we know that agriculture provides a critical source of income and employment to many rural americans and remains the backbone of rural economies across, i know across the

commonwealth of pennsylvania as well as the country. like other small businesses, farming is central to rural economic development, and local farms are in fact job creators in our communities. my amendment will support -- >> excuse me, senator casey, we're not clear on which amendment. if you could just reiterate the number? >> number one. this amendment will support local farm businesses which are vital to getting healthy local food from farm to table. this amendment enhances local food systems and encourages food for local communities through the rural microentrepreneur assistance program. the so called rmep program. which is a rural program which has been successful in growing rural small businesses. the -- ensuring local food entrepreneurs can supply food to local distribution chains.

and local institutions such schools and hospitals, these development organizations would assist local food entrepreneurs in developing business plans and securing funding in order to produce food for the local markets. these organizations help local producers to successfully meet local service marry opportunities, provide secretarial support and support local producers to advance local farming opportunities. it would also enhance the growing movement toward buying local products and ensurea we support local producers in that effort. i also have two other amendments related to rural development which i will not offer today. but i wanted to discuss the importance of rural development programs for supporting rural economies and creating good jobs. one of the amendments would encourage production of dairy products for export markets and enhance the ability of dairy product producers to access export markets. the other amendment that i will

talk about briefly would add much needed clarity to the rural development programs may fund new farm opportunities as part of economic development, not just annual production loans, federal r & d dollars is fund much needed investments in rural economies if authority were granted the r & d funding to support new businesses within the farming sector, specifically to encourage and support beginning farmers to establish new farm support enterprises. and with that. >> thank you very much. it's my understanding that you are speaking, but not offering these amendments, is that correct? >> the other two that i mentioned. >> the other two, but casey number one, you are offering? >> i am offering number one. >> senator roberts? >> thank you senator casey for at least discussing all three. our especially your dairy

amendment which i think makes an awful lot of sense. this is amendment number one as i understand it and i don't know of anybody on the committee who doesn't support local and regional producers, but i reluctantly oppose that amendment and encourage my colleagues to do the same. the microentrepreneur assistance program, the acronym for that is rmap. it's a very popular, but yet overprescribed program. that's the problem. the eligibility pool is limited to nonprofits that limit public agencies and other nonprofits, this amendment would expand the eligibility rule to provide a relending improvement designed for local and regional food producers and private individuals and this is really not what the program was designed to do. there are a number of other programs under this title.

and other titles that support local and regional producers. i would be happy to work with the senator on all three of these fronts, and the disparity, on overlapping dupations, i respectfully offer this amendment. >> i may not agree with the assessment by the ranking member, but i was mistaken. this is the amendment that i'm actually offering and withdrawing. >> i wanted to indicate, you raise some very, very good points, there are questions about whether this would be better done in another title. but we would like to work with you. >> our staff did a good job, except i didn't hear them. >> dew. -- thank you. excuse me, other amendments? >> i don't have an amendment, i would just like to thank you for accepting the cochran amendment which i was a co-sponsor of that reauthorizes the health care services grant program. which was number one and i think

that was included in the manager's amendment and we appreciate that. that is an authorization and, again, that has the ability to provide a grant program that really does help some of t