Agriculture
Kansas Farmers and Ranchers can feed the world.
Kansas has a proud agricultural tradition, and I am honored to represent that here in the House of Representatives. Today, one in five Kansans, rural and urban, work in jobs related to agriculture and food production.
Kansas farmers typically produce more wheat than any other state in the nation and ranks in the top ten producing states for grain sorghum (first), sunflowers (third), hay (sixth), corn (seventh), and soybeans (ninth). Kansas ranchers also are a leader in beef production, with more than 19 percent of all U.S. beef originating from Kansas beef processing facilities. The state ranks third in cattle and calves on farms and third in cattle and calves on grain feed, 10th in hogs on farms, 11th in market sheep and lambs, 14th in meat and other goats, 16th in milk produced, and 19th in sheep and lambs on farms.
Kansas' bounty is plentiful, and for last available year, agricultural exports exceeded $4.7 billion. Increased trade opportunities will enhance the state's economy, and I am fully supportive of new trade agreements to open up more marketplaces for Kansas farmers.
As a fifth-generation American farmer, I bring first-hand knowledge of the challenges facing America's agriculture community. Sadly, agriculture is under attack in the United States. One of the greatest bureaucratic threats to the profitability of agriculture is the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). During my tenure, the House has passed a numerous measures to lift the heavy regulatory hand of the EPA, but the Senate and the President have stalled any progress. Rather than trusting the duly elected Members of Congress, the EPA is intent on using backdoor regulatory and judiciary routes for imposing policy rejected by the American people.
As Congress considers the Farm Bill, there will be some important decisions to be made. Eighty percent of the farm bill is now made up of food stamp spending – which has nearly tripled in the last twelve years. The remaining twenty percent is dedicated to traditional farm, conservation, education and other programs. It is absolutely critical that we target and transform food stamps to those in need – and put the others back to work. And for farm programs, crop insurance is the number one priority.
More on Agriculture
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 5078, the Water of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014 by a vote of 262 to 152. This legislation stops the radical rule proposed by EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to redefine and expand dramatically the Clean Water Act and impose costly permitting processes for normal farming and ranching activities. Following the bill’s passage, Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01), a co-sponsor of the legislation, issued the following statement:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
September 3, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representative Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) announced that the U.S. House of Representatives intends to vote on H.R. 5078, the Water of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act of 2014, when they return to session this month. The legislation would stop the radical rule proposed by EPA and Army Corps of Engineers to redefine and expand the Clean Water Act. Congressman Huelskamp, a co-sponsor of the bill, issued the following statement:
MANHATTAN, KS – Today Representative Tim Huelskamp along with U.S. Senators Pat Roberts and Jerry Moran received a tour from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security of the future home of the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) in Manhattan, Kansas on the campus of Kansas State University.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today by a vote of 233 to 190, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 4315 “The Endangered Species Transparency & Reasonableness Act.” This legislation is a package of four separate bills focused on common sense and specific updates to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), including a requirement for the federal government to disclose to affected states prior to listing, protecting taxpayer dollars by placing caps on attorney’s fees, and requiring the U.S.
Last night, the House of Representatives passed its annual Energy & Water appropriations bill by a vote of 253 to 170 with Congressman Huelskamp’s support. The bill included a provision that Congressman Huelskamp requested to stop attempts by the EPA and Corps of Engineers to re-write the Clean Water Act. It was a response to the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers proposal of a radical expansion of the terms ‘navigable waters’ and ‘waters of the United States’ earlier this spring. Representative Huelskamp issued the following Statement:
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) took to the House Floor to voice support for defunding the ability of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the EPA to enforce a proposed joint rule that would dramatically expand their control of water and properties across the U.S. Representative Huelskamp released the following statement:
Manhattan, KS – Today, Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) discussed trade issues and opportunities between the United States and Taiwan with Mr. Jack J.C. Yang, Director General of the Taiwan Consulate in Kansas City. Representative Huelskamp also participated in a roundtable discussion with Mr. Yang and members from the Kansas Grain & Feed Association, Kansas Pork Association, Kansas Cooperative Council, and Seaboard Foods. Following the meeting and roundtable discussion, Rep. Huelskamp along with Mr.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Monday, in a follow-through on the President’s campaign promise to bankrupt the coal industry and raise Americans’ energy prices, the Obama Administration announced a massive new EPA mandate for coal-fired American power plants. Following the announcement, Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) released the following statement:
MANHATTAN, KS – Earlier this year Kansans expressed questions and concerns regarding a proposal by the USDA to close the Manhattan Area Office of Rural Development and relocate the nine remaining employees to Topeka.
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) as “Threatened.” Congressman Tim Huelskamp (KS-01) released the following statement:
“I am disappointed that the USFWS has chosen to list the Lesser Prairie Chicken as 'threatened.' However, I am glad that it was not listed as 'endangered,' thus protecting Kansans from an even heavier hand from Washington.