House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Angie Craig (MN-02) and Vice Ranking Member Shontel Brown (OH-11) sent a letter urging House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson to conduct rigorous examination of the most pressing issues facing farm country and hardworking Americans and calling for oversight of Trump administration actions affecting American agriculture as the 119^th Congress begins its second session.

Administration actions and Republican legislative priorities have had broad, negative impacts on issues ranging from the farm economy to rural health care access. Yet, the Republican majority has avoided asking tough questions and holding the Trump administration accountable. 

“[T]he legislative actions and inactions of the Republican majority in Congress have led to real world consequences for rural America that the majority appear unwilling to examine. Whether it’s cutting food assistance to hungry children, seniors and veterans, making health care either inaccessible or unaffordable or cutting off new markets for farmers by imposing hemp restrictions, the majority has turned a blind eye to the challenges facing rural Americans resulting from Republican legislative priorities,” wrote the lawmakers. 

In the letter, Ranking Member Craig and Vice Ranking Member Brown lay out a series of hearing topics relating to important issues for the American people and our nation’s farmers, including an evaluation of the impact of tariffs on American agriculture, the affordability crisis in America’s food system and the threat of PFAS “forever chemicals” to food safety. 

“We believe these topics are of great interest to the American agricultural community, which would welcome the Committee exercising its oversight responsibilities in these areas. We appreciate your consideration of this request and look forward to working with you and your staff on bringing these hearings to fruition,” Agriculture Democrats concluded.

Read the full letter.