WASHINGTON (July 16, 2019) – House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Chairman Jim Costa of California issued the following statement after today’s hearing on the state of the livestock and poultry industry.

“As the overall economy grows, it’s increasingly clear that its success isn’t shared evenly at all levels, especially in rural, agricultural areas. Today’s hearing gave the Subcommittee a chance to hear from leaders in the egg, poultry, turkey, cattle, pork and sheep industries on the barriers the industry faces to economic success,” said Costa. “I appreciate the seriousness of these issues and their impacts on farmers and ranchers, from animal health and disease threats, pending trade agreements, guest worker needs, and implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill, to predator management, consumer-facing issues, and so many others. I commit to working within the Subcommittee to address these challenges, so our livestock and poultry producers can get back to what they do best, producing the highest-quality products for consumers in the U.S. and around the world.”