The Mandatory Price Reporting Act of 2015 will continue price reporting programs to ensure that producers have access to transparent, accurate and timely market information. The United States Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2015 will continue the inspections provided by the Federal Grain Inspection Service.

U.S. Senate and House Agriculture Committee leadership today called for emergency assistance to be released to poultry and egg producers whose flocks suffered losses due to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza H5N2 infections.

Farmers often have a disincentive to donate due to high packing and transportation costs and, if they do have them, agencies have a tough time getting perishable products out before they go bad. Growing the partnership between food banks and farmers could help this.

Consumers have expressed their interest in knowing more about where their food comes from which I think is a good thing. But when it comes to labeling we need to be able to find a smart way to balance this consumer demand with what we know about the safety of the foods that our farmers produce.

This is the Chairman’s first appearance before the Committee but I’ve had the opportunity to meet with him and have been impressed by his commitment to implementing the new regulations called for under Dodd-Frank and being inclusive of all points of view throughout the process.

We were the one Committee that actually stepped up to the plate and reduced the budget deficit. Frankly, I would argue that we have done our part when it comes to deficit reduction.

I remain concerned about attempts to reopen the bill, whether by making changes to crop insurance, SNAP or any other farm bill program. This is a very bad idea and could put everything we worked for in jeopardy. I hope that this Committee will remain united in opposition to additional cuts to farm bill programs. Quite frankly, the Agriculture Committee has done our work.

U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., today announced the Democratic Ranking Members and Subcommittee membership for the House Agriculture Committee’s six Subcommittees.

This is a great group of both new and returning members who care about the wide variety of issues overseen by the Agriculture Committee. I look forward to working with them, Chairman Conaway and members on the other side of the aisle this Congress.

This legislation will significantly open the Cuban market for our nation’s farmers and ranchers, who have struggled to get their products to Cuba due to the cash in advance requirement and prohibition of direct transactions.