“The biodiesel industry is still developing and, with the certainty of the biodiesel tax credit, we can continue to move forward and fully realize our renewable energy potential.”

“Agriculture is under assault in this Congress. We first saw it with the Ryan budget, which cut $178 billion from agriculture programs. And today, Congress approved a bill that makes disproportionate cuts to agriculture, including vital conservation and nutrition programs.

U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., sent a letter to the House Committee on Rules this afternoon, urging the Chairman to allow Members to strike provisions of H.R. 2112 that would re-write the 2008 Farm Bill.

Today begins part two of Republican efforts to see that the important financial reforms enacted last year never see the light of day. It’s curious that a bill, which supposedly corrects the perceived notion of rushing the rules, is now being rushed. H.R. 1573 was introduced the day before the past two week recess and now, only three days after Congress has reconvened, we are going to vote on it.

The consequences of H.R. 1573 are severe. Provisions that would address speculation in the marketplace, prevent another AIG-like bailout, fight manipulation, combat fraud and take on insider trading would all be delayed. The mandatory clearing and public reporting requirements, which ensure a more open and transparent market, would also be delayed. Frankly, I can’t figure out this bill’s objective, except to push financial reform implementation so far down the line in the hope that these provisions never go into effect.

Today we are reviewing pesticide registration consultations under the Endangered Species Act as they are carried out between the Environmental Protection Agency and either the National Marine Fisheries Services or the Fish and Wildlife Service.

U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., made the following statement today after legislation (H.R. 1573) was introduced that would delay the implementation of Title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act until December 2012.

U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., made the following statement after the House of Representatives approved the Energy Tax Prevention Act (H.R. 910). Peterson is an original co-sponsor of H.R. 910.

The official portrait of U.S. House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, D-Minn., was unveiled at a ceremony Tuesday evening in the House Agriculture Committee hearing room. The portrait was accepted by Speaker of the House John Boehner.

When writing this legislation the Committee’s goal was to bring greater transparency and accountability to the derivatives marketplace. For too long the over-the-counter swap market operated in the darkness; as a consequence, the actions of some financial institutions contributed to the worst recession our country has seen since the Great Depression.