WASHINGTON (December 21, 2021) – House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott releases highlights of activity undertaken by the Committee in 2021: 

“2021 was a very productive year for our House Agriculture Committee, and I’m looking forward to continuing that work into the new year,” said Chairman David Scott.“In particular, I am proud of the bipartisan pieces of legislation we favorably reported out of Committee and those we ultimately passed in the House. We also made historic investments to help us recover from the pandemic in the American Rescue Plan, and ensured that agriculture and forestry are key parts of the House passed Build Back Better Act. It is my distinct honor to Chair this historic Committee, and I can’t wait for us to get working on the Farm Bill review process.”


Below are some of the highlights of the work that the House Agriculture Committee was able to complete this year:

Hearings and Business Meetings Held: 32

The Ag Committee held 32 events so far in 2021 with topics ranging from how to best support disadvantaged farmers to expanding rural broadband.

The hearings and business meetings that were held in 2021 are as follows:

- Fiscal Year 2021 Budget Reconciliation Instructions (S. Con. Res. 5) -- American Rescue Plan

- Climate Change and the U.S. Agriculture and Forestry Sectors

- A Look at Food Insecurity in America

- Review the State of Black Farmers in the U.S.

- Budget Views and Estimates Letter (FY22)

- Rural Broadband - Examining Internet Connectivity Needs and Opportunities in Rural America

- Title II Conservation Programs: Exploring Climate Smart Practices

- Member Day

- The Future of SNAP: Moving Past the Pandemic

- Examining Opportunities for Growth and Investment in Rural America

- Markup of Commodity Futures Trading Commission Whistleblower Program

- 1890 Land Grant Institutions: Investing for Agricultural Resiliency, Equity, and Global Impact

- Review the Efficacy of the Farm Safety Net

- Supply Chain Recovery and Resiliency: Small Producers and Local Agricultural Markets

- Markup of HR 4374, The Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act

- Examining the SNAP Benefit Cliff

- The U.S. Wood Products Industry: Facilitating the Post COVID-19 Recovery

- Markup of H.R. 267, 2020 WHIP+ Reauthorization Act

- State of the Beef Supply Chain: Shocks, Recovery, and Rebuilding

- 21st Century Food Systems: Controlled Environment Agriculture’s Role in Protecting Domestic Food Supply Chains and Infrastructure

- To consider a proposal to satisfy the Committee’s reconciliation instructions required by S. Con. Res. 14 -- Build Back Better Act

- Markup of H. Res. 271, Recognizing the importance of the blueberry industry to the United States and supporting the designation of July 2021 as National Blueberry Month, and HR 2424, the Agricultural Fairs Rescue Act

- Voluntary Carbon Markets in Agriculture and Forestry

- The 2021 Wildland Fire Year: Responding to and Mitigating Threats to Communities

- Review the State of the Livestock Industry

- Markup of H.R. 4252, To provide additional funding for scholarships for students at 1890’s institutions; H.R. 2361, Rebuild Rural America Act of 2021; H.R. 5608, Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act; H.R. 3532, To require the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out a periodic wildfire assessment, and for other purposes; H.R. 4489, National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act; H.R. 5609, Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021; and H.R. 5589, Pyrolysis Innovation Grants Act

- Agricultural Biotechnology: 21st Century Advancements and Applications

- The Immediate Challenges to our Nation’s Food Supply Chain

- Hunger Among Veterans and Servicemembers: Understanding the Problem and Evaluating Solutions

- A Look at the Renewable Economy in Rural America

- Trade Policy and Priorities

- Review of USDA Nutrition Distribution Programs



Expert Witnesses: 122

This year we brought in a diverse pool of witnesses who serve as experts in their respective fields, work to address problems in creative ways, and, oftentimes, everyday Americans impacted by the policies that have been implemented.


Hours of Event Activity

In 2021, we held nearly 100 hours of committee activity. These hearings served to bring together experts in the field to present and recommend potential solutions to some of the country’s most pressing challenges surrounding agriculture.

You can view each of the hearings held so far on our YouTube page. There's a curated playlist of hearings from 2021 that you can view here.


Bills Advanced out of Committee: 11

This year we've worked hard to advance eleven bills out of committee:

H.R. 1319, American Rescue Plan, Budget Reconciliation Instructions (S. Con. Res. 5)

S. 409, Commodity Futures Trading Commission Whistleblower Program 

H.R. 4374, The Broadband Internet Connections for Rural America Act – Passed with unanimous, bipartisan support

H.R. 267, 2020 WHIP+ Reauthorization Act – Passed with unanimous, bipartisan support

H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Act, Budget Reconciliation Instructions (S. Con. Res.14)

H.R. 4252, To provide additional funding for scholarships for students at 1890 Institutions – Passed 45-3 with bipartisan support

H.R. 5608, Chronic Wasting Disease Research and Management Act – Voted to report favorably by voice vote

H.R. 4489, National Forest Restoration and Remediation Act – Voted to report favorably by voice vote

H.R. 5609, Cattle Contract Library Act of 2021 – Voted to report favorably by voice vote

H.R. 5589, Pyrolysis Innovation Grants Act – Voted to report favorably by voice vote

H.R. 5290, To extend authorization for livestock mandatory reporting – Voted to report favorably by voice vote

Bills Passed in the House of Representatives:


H.R. 1319, American Rescue Plan, Budget Reconciliation Instructions (S. Con. Res. 5)


S. 409, Commodity Futures Trading Commission Whistleblower Program (CFTC) - This bill expands the permissible uses of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Customer Protection Fund to include administrative expenses.


H.R. 5376, Build Back Better Act, Budget Reconciliation Instructions (S. Con. Res.14)


H.R. 5290 - This bill extends the authorization for Livestock Mandatory Reporting (LMR) through September 30, 2022. It will provide American livestock producers with the certainty that USDA will continue to issue market reports that provide transparency and price discovery.
Lead Sponsor: Chairman David Scott


H.R. 5608- This bill authorizes $70 million annually for FY22-28 for research and management of chronic wasting disease, with the money to be split evenly between research and management, administered by USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Ron Kind and Ranking Member Glenn Thompson


H.R. 5609 - This bill directs USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) to establish a contract library for cattle contracts. This will provide cattle producers with more market transparency, by requiring USDA to publish reports on contracts between producers and packers for the sale of fed cattle.
Lead Sponsor: Rep. Dusty Johnson


H.R 4489 - This bill would allow the U.S. Forest Service to retain interest on settlement funds and apply those additional resources to complete necessary restoration work on lands damaged by mining activities and wildfires.
Lead Sponsors: Rep. Kim Schrier and Rep. Doug LaMalfa