WASHINGTON- House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry Chair Abigail Spanberger of Virginia delivered the closing statement following today's hearing on the challenges and successes of conservation programs in 2020.

[As Prepared for Delivery]

"This conversation has been enlightening especially as we look to conservation to solve the resource challenges presented by a rapidly changing climate and the COVID-19 public health crisis. I would also like to thank USDA staff and the entire conservation community—including our farmers who are out there pushing forward with innovative on-farm conservation practices, even amid all the uncertainty we’ve outlined today—for their work in these challenging times. I look forward to continuing to work with all of you, as well as the Ranking Member and my colleagues on this Subcommittee, as we continue to implement conservation programs under the 2018 Farm Bill, take active measures to continue to protect the environment and combat the climate crisis, and look ahead and work together toward what I hope will be a speedy economic recovery."