Henry Cuellar

Agriculture

Texas Agriculture

As a member of the House Agriculture Committee and two of its subcommittees, I have taken a proactive stance on agricultural issues of critical importance to the rural community in the 28th District of Texas.

I know the concerns that ranchers and farmers have about their livestock and crop maintenance, which is why I was active in crafting the 2008 Farm Bill, and am currently hard at work on the 2012 Farm Bill. I included language in the 2008 Farm Bill to boost cattle fever tick eradication, expand broadband telemedicine and distance learning programs, develop an alternative energy program at TAMIU, and enhance the colonias access to federal programs. 

Recent Agriculture Efforts

As a member of the House Committee on Agriculture during his entire tenure in Congress, Congressman Cuellar has pushed for smart reforms that protect American producers from excessive regulations, while ensuring all Americans have a safe and abundant food source.

-The 28th District of Texas is Top 100 (Congressional Districts) in cotton, vegetables, fruit, and cattle.

112th Congress

Voted YES on H.R. 2018, the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011, which would empower states to manage clean water.  Also, this legislation would protect producers from regulatory expansion leading to federal agencies on private property.  

Voted NO on H.R. 2112, FY 2012 Agriculture Appropriations bill.  In this legislation:

·         FSA was cut by $287 million in both assistance available to farmers AND operational capacity (as cuts effect office management and employees)

·         APHIS, which handles both fever tick eradication, and imports from Mexico was cut by  $44 million.

·         ARS, which is mainly involved in TX28 with citrus greening research which is of great importance to the citrus farms in the valley, was cut by $144 million.

·         Agriculture Marketing Service, which assists with marketing and access for producers, was cut by $18 million

·         Farm assistance programs, which offer important safety nets for producers, were cut by $287 million

Voted YES on H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act

·         HR 872 is a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing the regulatory burden and duplication posed by court mandates and EPA enforcement

·         Original cosponsor of the legislation

Voted YES on amendments to both H.R. 1, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 and H.R. 2112 on ending ethanol subsidies

·         Congress should not be providing subsides to profitable industries

·         Ethanol production also plays a part in higher input costs for American ranchers

Voted NO on H.R. 1, which would have cut $5.6 million in funding for FSA in TX28

Voted YES on H.R. 1 amendment to stop EPA enforcement of new rules of dust regulations, which would put unreasonable standards on family farms.

Voted YES on H.R. 1309, To extend the authorization of the national flood insurance program, to achieve reforms to improve the financial integrity and stability of the program, and to increase the role of private markets in the management of flood insurance risk, and for other purposes

Signed on letter to Secretary Vilsack raising concerns of the economic impact that the proposed GIPSA rule will have on agriculture.

2008 Farm Bill

Through my work on the House Committee on Agriculture, I was proud to work to craft a piece of legislation that truly represents the concerns and constituents on the 28th District of Texas.  My Committee website has a full explanation of the process of passage, and the summary of what is included in the Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008.

http://agriculture.house.gov/inside/FarmBill.html