scott steele, the usda budget officer. we thank you all for being here. last year this subcommittee worked in a bipartisan manner that produce effective and efficient results. with an adequate there was much collaboration across the aisle. we were able to provide usda with much-needed increases in programs like food safety, which had long been underfunded. and we were rewarded for our bipartisan cooperation by getting our bill out nearly on time, which as everyone knows was a welcome change. this year the numbers are a little different but i'm hopeful the process will be much the same. the president's budget proposes 21.5 billion for discretionary programs at usda for fiscal year 2011. this is ashley a decrease from last year, and i'm pleased that usda is showing fiscal restraint. it is an comment upon this subcommittee to review all these proposals were three priorities in mind. first, we need to produce a bill that protects important gains made last year. second, we need to ensure that programs by two people's health and safety and livelihood are adequa

i urge the usda to reconsider. mr. president, thank you. i yield the floor. a senator: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from louisiana is recognized. ms. landrieu: thank you, mr. president. i am pleased to come to the floor this morning as the chair of the small business committee with several of my colleagues from the committee that have been hard at work coming up with ideas, drafting and passing legislation in the small business committee over the last three months particularly to get ready for this time. mr. president, p tofs time that this senate and congress move the third jobs bill. and as a focus on small business in america. i want to acknowledge the members of the small business committee. two of them will join me this morning and we will all, hopefully, be on the floor over the next couple of days and weeks talking about the importance of focusing on small business job creation in america. my ranking member, of course, is the great senator from maine, senator snowe; john kerry, former chair of the committee; chris bond former chair; the senator f

usda and the land grant system is the one that knows it. my hope is that as money and challenge its and the bismarck. as we liggett ways to stabilize countries around the world, too, that more of a focus on africa. usda, the land grant system that is in there doing this because that is where the expertise is. this is very good investment for foreign affairs from my estimation for the united states. it seems like we are kind of in between on how we are going to do this, who is going to do it. i would hope that maybe the funding goes through millennium challenge or the funding goes through aid, but it ends up working through the expertise that you have and the agencies that is the land grant universities. it would be my hope as well that the overall number would go up. we are a long ways down the road. we give a lot of development assistance. .. we realize that we have to do a better job of providing assistance to deal with food insecurity issues across the globe. we have a one government approach to this, so the state department, us-aid and

in the latest update, the usda says herd consideration will continue through the --contraction will continue through the end of the year and demand is xed to climb as our exports. it is averaged more than $16 up from $13 in 2009. >>> california leads the nation in milk production, so the milk down in 2009 was particularly painful for the golden state. in all of san diego county, there are only four dairies still in business despite an improving outlook, dairymen remain in a fight for survival. >> financially, it's been miserable. emotionally, it's been miserable. you know, in just recently in december 2009 and january of 010, those -- 2010, those were two break even months for me and i was amazed at emotionally how happy somebody could be just to break even. how light you felt breaking even. it's really changed the face of the industry. it's been miserable. >> in all, california lost more than 100 dairies last year. that's it for the headlines. let's sent send it back to -- send it back to january john for crop watch. >> in crop watch, we head first to southwest south dakota a grower there s

the interesting thing about the survey, the usda found out earlier that the wheat acres would drop about.66. >> so that's what the farmers are telling us they're going to do at this point in time, weather-corporating. >> mike, the question i want to ask you, with that much more corn planted, it looks like we're going to have more corn. what is this going to do to our feed prices for cattle? >> well, live stock guys, this is the live stock guys' delight. you look for bigger corn numbers. you want more acreages out there. it's simple supply and demand. you plant more corn, you have more supply, less need for high higher prices and hopefully margins will move to more comfortable areas because now they have more equity to make up for the last two years. >> are you talking about dairy cattle, beef cattle or all cattle. >> it pervades the whole land landscape. it wa poultry, hogs, cattlemen and dairy men. all of them felt the pinch of higher priced corn as they moved into lower priced beef, lower priced pork and milk. all of them felt the pinch, so they're going to be very happy about this and

it even has up to 20% less sodium than the usda recommended daily allowance. and thanks to the breakthrough science of the glycemic index, now you can eat the foods you love: pizza, burgers, lasagna, even chocolate. just choose from over 150 great-tasting meals, and they will deliver them right to your door. nutrisystem even provides support 24/7 if you want it, but all you really have to do is eat great-tasting meals. will nutrisystem work for you? meet five women from all walks of life who took control of their weight and feel healthy, happy, and sexy once again. nutrisystem worked for them, and it will work for you. >> ladies, we're here today because you have successfully completed your first nutrisystem commercial, so welcome and congratulations. >> we're celebrities. >> congratulations! >> how many of you have tried other programs? all of you. [ laughter ] >> how many of us haven't? >> i think i've been on a diet since i was 9, as sad and scary as that sounds. >> i wouldn't look in the mirror, i didn't do my hair, i didn't do my makeup, because why bothe

and we had one little $25 million rural housing program for hud to work with usda, and that was gone. so i was interested to know that the secretary has said while they have zero budgeted that, something new is going to spring full-blown out of somewhere. and i can assure you that those of us who live in places where we don't have a rush hour, we have a rush minute, there are -- radio stations can't even sell drive time advertising because nobody is in the car that long, unless they're driving to another@@@@@@@ @ arrb% you do, too. so thank you. >> thank you, pat. mr. secretary, maybe you want to comment on that. you have a new rural housing initiative? >> well i mentioned as you were coming in, a range of efforts in the budget, an issue i know you care a lot about. we will be implementing the first-ever rural homelessness effort, specifically in the budget and that's something that particularly given that we've seen a 56% increase in rural and suburban family homelessness over the last year, absolutely critical. we are expanding efforts for economic development, the $25 million that

some analysts considering this morning's reports from the usda as bearish.ess corn and soy than expected and more wheat, which is surprising, considering how much wheat is still in the system. if you look at the numbers, prospective corn plantings are 88.8 million acres, second largest since 1946, 3% more than a year ago but shy of 2007's mammoth 93 million acres. it's a little more than expected, maybe as the current corn supply is highest since 1987. soybeans expected to set a record, but not as big as analysts predicted and projections at just over 78 million acres, shy of 78.5 million. and the usda products 53.8 million acres of wheat, more than a million more than expected. and spring wheat plantings are projected high yes, but still overall, wheat down 9% from a year ago as wheat hasn't been selling well compared to global rivals. >> wheat is terrible. there's no other way to describe it. as demand-driven as the soybeans are, corn is right behind it, wheat is not a demand-driven type market. rather than 48% or 49% of the total wheat produced in the uni

and we had one little $25 million rural housing program for hud to work with usda, and that was gone. so i was interested to know that the secretary has said while they have zero budgeted that, something new is going to spring full-blown out of somewhere. and i can assure you that those of us who live in places where we don't have a rush hour, we have a rush minute, there are -- radio stations can't even sell drive time advertising because nobody is in the car that long, unless they're driving to another city. >> last week i got in the car. we were driving somewhere. and in the driveway i decided to reach to hit the traffic report as i do when i'm driving back and forth in washington. i'm, like, what am i doing? there is no traffic. but i've been in some of the rural areas of your state, which are beautiful, that made me think of home. but the needs are the same. and with that, now that we've done our bit, i assure you we care about rural america. but secretary donovan, i know you do, too. so thank you. >> thank you, pat. mr. secretary, maybe you want to comment on that. you have a ne

. >> you can find more information on plastics from the usda and the american chemistry council. go to nbcwashington.com and search "plastics." don't presume they're all the same. they're all different. read the box. >> got to be on the label. >> yep. >> glass, glass, glass. >> that's another option. >> thank you, liz. >>> the smithsonian institution is saying thanks but no thanks to an offer to put o.j. simpson's suit on display. simpson wore it in 1995 when he was acquitted of murdering his ex-wife and her friend. the smithsonian says the suit is not appropriate for the museum's collection. thdecision comes a day after the judge approved the donation to settle a long court battle over the clothing. it's not clear if the suit will be offered to another museum. >>> the courthouse caught fire and that postponed the sentencing for wrapper lil wayne in a gun case. the blaze broke out this morning in the basement of a lower manhattan courthouse. lil wayne was due for the sentencing this afternoon. his sentencing was already delayed two weeks ago but he needed dental surgery. lil wayn

we have usda agriculture experts.have people from national guard units who have expertise in agriculture. so we are leveraging the presence of our civilians and we will probably be adding more, but we want to be sure that where we add to them is critical to the mission. >> thank you. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you very much. madam secretary, mr. secretary, this afternoon we have focused our attention on afghanistan and iraq. i believe we focused our resources there also. however, we have been receiving disturbing news of the deteriorating conditions in somalia and that somalia is becoming a safe haven for all kai eial qaeda. my question is do we have sufficient resources to counter the somali als shabab? is that becoming a threat to us, the somalia situation? >> go-ahead? >> [inaudible] senator, we are working very hard to in our civilian military cooperation with the aim of trying to bolster the transitional federal government in somalia, which does not have a lot of scope of authority. it is basically confine

the usda food pyramid recommends two to three servings a day for a balance diet and to have this come incidences, nobody can deny it, but the pounds of food we consume every day and the fact that we catch it indicates the system works. >> not tainted meat. >> would it have been critical of her support your local farmers and local meat grown and not transported 3000 miles because we know from some reports where the illness that alisyn was talking about comes from factory processing of meat transported thousands of miles. >> there's no question of that and she did in her second proclamation declare today national ag day, also, and encouraged people to enjoy a balanced deet including dairy and meat and the live stock products. the question really is, where did this come from? >> and what's the answer? >> we feel it came from some groups that are anti-animal agriculture and that it just-- like peta or something of their ilk. >> what are you having for breakfast? >> i already had my eggs. >> bacon. >> sausage. >> a man after clayton's heart. >> wayne wood is the president of the farm fewer

we have everything from usda to treasury with its funding of the international financial institutions to, of course, state, to usaid and other entities as well. we want to more clearly state the mission, more clearly resource that mission. the white house is currently simultaneously conducting its own peview of development, bringing in all the other stakeholders because, of course, we're only looking at state and usaid. but i think many of our findings will be very much in line with the direction and the aspiration that this committee has set forth. with respect to cyprus, we strongly support the continuing negotiations under u.n. auspices for a bizonal, bicommunal resolution on cyprus. we have been heartened by some of the intense consultations going on between the leadership. but there's a long way to go. i think -- i can't speak for our ambassador, but i assume he was stating the opinion of the turkish government. that is something that we do not ascribe to because we want to see the entire cyprus situation resolved but we understand that is the stated position of the turkish gover

i'm the ranking member of the agriculture committee and spending in the usda has gone up 26%. at some point we are going to figure out the federal government doesn't have the solution for everything. this is not our only stimulus proposal or jobs proposal. in may of 2008 we had $168 billion stimulus program that did not work. in march of 2008, the federal reserve said we are going to shore up wall street with bear stearns, $29 billion. in july of 2008 the democrat congress and president bush came in with a $200 billion bailout of fannie mae in order to shore up real estate. and not to be outdone the federal reserve a month later with the a.i.g. bailout, $85 billion that is now up to $140 billion that was supposed to avert financial collapse. and yet it did not. and then in october of 2008 we had a $700 billion tarp bill. then in january, $410 -- january, 2009, under president obama, $410 billion omnibus spending bill that was supposed to shore up the economy. and of course that brings it back to the other stimulus program. after a while we are going to figure out, everything w

proposes a smaller increase than the past two years, it is still a larger increase than nearly all of usda and most of the dhhs. a brief review food safety, protecting patients, and advancing regulatory science. there are also proposals to save money through contract savings and the enactment of new user fees. in food safety increases are proposed for activities including the establishment of an integrated national food safety system, a modern import safety system, and additional and smarter surveillance and enforcement. probations safety increases are proposed to increase the safety of imports and high-risk products, expand partnerships the public and private entities, and to slightly increase fda capacity to review generic drug applications. the advancing regulatory initiative includes proposed increases that will help strengthen the fda scientific leadership staff and scientific capacities in emerging technologies. the increases are important, but we have concerns. we are concerned that without adequate funding levels to maintain fda scientists, inspectors, and reviewers the performance

i'm the ranking member of the agriculture committee and spending in the usda has gone up 26%. at some point we are going to figure out the federal government doesn't have the solution for everything. this is not our only stimulus proposal or jobs proposal. in may of 2008 we had $168 billion stimulus program that did not work. in march of 2008, the federal reserve said we are going to shore up wall street with bear stearns, $29 billion. in july of 2008 the democrat congress and president bush came in with a $200 billion bailout of fannie mae in order to shore up real estate. and not to be outdone the federal reserve a month later with the a.i.g. bailout, $85 billion that is now up to $140 billion that was supposed to avert financial collapse. and yet it did not. and then in october of 2008 we had a $700 billion tarp bill. then in january, $410 -- january, 2009, under president obama, $410 billion omnibus spending bill that was supposed to shore up the economy. and of course that brings it back to the other stimulus program. after a while we are going to figure out, everything w

of colonel marty leopard who was a kid who grew up out of -- in a farm in wisconsin and i commend usda and you said for the military -- usaid for the military leadership of identifying our soldiers with agriculture backgrounds and utilizing that expertise in the development of these ag development teams working with afghan farmers. that's going to be the key to a successful resolution in the economic development that has to occur in that country and i again commend my colleague for offering the resolution. i yield back. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from colorado. mr. lamborn: mr. speaker, i yield four minutes to the gentleman from missouri, mr. luetkemeyer. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from missouri is recognized for four minutes. mr. luetkemeyer: thank you, mr. speaker. i'm proud to rise in support of house resolution 1075, commending the agri-business development teams or a.d.t.'s, on their work. i want to thank chairman skelton along with ranking member mckeon as well ased rest of the missouri delegation for their support and efforts in helping the missouri a.d.t

i'm the ranking member of the agriculture committee and spending in the usda has gone up 26%.ome point we are going to figure out the federal government doesn't have the solution for everything. this is not our only stimulus proposal or jobs proposal. in may of 2008 we had $168 billion stimulus program that did not work. in march of 2008, the federal reserve said we are going to shore up wall street with bear stearns, $29 billion. in july of 2008 the democrat congress and president bush came in with a $200 billion bailout of fannie mae in order to shore up real estate. and not to be outdone the federal reserve a month later with the a.i.g. bailout, $85 billion that is now up to $140 billion that was supposed to avert financial collapse. and yet it did not. and then in october of 2008 we had a $700 billion tarp bill. then in january, $410 -- january, 2009, under president obama, $410 billion omnibus spending bill that was supposed to shore up the economy. and of course that brings it back to the other stimulus program. after a while we are going to figure out, everything we do

sms, hud, education, usda, and others. >> let me urge that the department of transportation be a partit may be -- i am not suggesting it is not. i insist it be a part of it. it is critical. there are so many diverse interests that i think the mere existence of the diversity sometimes is daunting, in terms of how you coordinate it. i thank you very much. i am excited about your stewardship. you have a great leader in tom harkin in this committee. he has a long history of ideas and thoughts of how to do this. we are motivated now by costs. we know without question that if we do not address this issue is going to mount as a cost issue, not to mention the hardship and heartache that families and individuals go through as a result of obesity. thank you. >> thank you, senator dodd. another senator who is physically fit and exercises all the time, a personal example of fitness, senator byrd. >> we thank you for being a part of this hearing. i think you for highlighting the north carolina study in your opening statement. you have a lot of fans and a lot of colleagues who think a lot of you in

day at -- we have usda agriculture at, we have national guard units to expertise in agriculture. we are leveraging the presence of our civilians and we will probably add more but we want to make sure where we add them is critical to the mission. >> thank you. >> thank you very much. madam secretary, secretary, this afternoon, we have focused our attention on afghanistan and iraq. we focus our resources there also. however, we have been receiving disturbing news of deteriorating conditions in somalia and that somalia is becoming a safe haven for al qaeda. my question is, do we have sufficient resources to counter the issue in somalia? is that becoming an issue to us? >> we probably both ought to answer on this one. go ahead. >> we are working very hard in our civilian-military cooperation with the aim of trying to bolster the transitional federal government in somalia, which does not have a lot of scope of authority. it is basically confined to a part of mogadishu. our main source of support is the african union troops, primarily from you gonna -- primarily from uganda, providing

opportunity for hud's housing and community development programs to partner with rural development at usda it's a mistake for the administration to ignore the housing needs in our rural communities. everybody knows the housing programs city, because people see them all the time. i live in the rural areas, i see them, i travel to rural areas and i know the need is great. and this budget does not recognize it. and in addition to the dollars and cents, rural versus urban questions, i have overall concerns about the proposal we've received from hud. not to keep using a tired old analogy, but the proposal i received from the department of transportation and the budget group blue brint has left me feeling a little bit like bill murray in "groundhog day." in other words the budget blueprint asks for congress to write a big check, fails to provide details in the programs we're supposed to fund. i've been there, i've seen that before. i've done that. and at least bill murray got smarter in "groundhog day" and i don't see any of us getting smarter or better, as we see "groundhog day" come back again