Agriculture
As a former member of the House Committee on Agriculture, I understand the importance of this valuable industry to farmers, farm families and our communities throughout Illinois and across the nation. Agricultural production is Illinois’ #1 industry, sustaining tens of thousands of quality jobs covering more than 28 million acres–nearly 80 percent of the state's total land area.
Billions of dollars flow into the state's economy from ag-related industries, such as farm machinery manufacturing, biofuels and agriculture commodity markets. Agriculture isn’t just a rural issue; these industries and markets sustain urban jobs and feed our cities, and the world. Illinois products can be found on every continent and aboard ships on every sea.
One of my proudest accomplishments in Congress is helping draft and pass a bipartisan, long-term, comprehensive farm bill that reflects the needs and priorities of Illinois’ family farmers. We were able to make meaningful reforms, end direct payments and save taxpayer dollars. Next, we need significant tax reform to help our family farms survive and thrive through the years and generations to come. I consistently support efforts to permanently repeal the estate tax which are an unfair assault on the hard work and investment of family farmers. Click here to learn more about my position on tax reform.
More on Agriculture
Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) has joined 90 of his colleagues in sending a letter to the leadership at the House Committee on Appropriations requesting they stop any funding which can be used to change the definition of waters under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act (CWA).
Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today supported passage of H.R. 4012, the Secret Science Reform Act of 2014, a bill prohibiting the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator from creating new regulations unless all scientific and technical information relied upon is made publicly available for analysis. EPA has failed to release the science behind numerous EPA regulations to both outside researches and Congress. Rep. Hultgren took to the House floor in support of H.R. 4012 which brings openness and transparency to EPA.
Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) this week voted to support two bills which will relieve community banks from excessive regulations and protect their ability to lend to Illinois homeowners. H.R. 4042, the Community Bank Mortgage Service Asset Capital Requirements Study Act of 2014, and H.R. 5148, the Access to Affordable Mortgages Act of 2014, both passed the House Financial Services Committee (FSC), of which Rep. Hultgren is a member.
Washington, DC — U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14) today took the Honorable Robert Perciasepe, Deputy Administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), to task for his wavering and opaque explanation of the newly-released Clean Water Rule and how it will affect Illinois 14th District constituents. This exchange occurred during a hearing held by the Science, Space and Technology Committee titled, “Navigating the Clean Water Act: Is Water Wet?”
Washington, DC – U.S. Representative Randy Hultgren (IL-14), along with 86 Members of Congress, this week urged the Obama Administration to nominate an individual with community banking or supervisory experience to the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors.