By: Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R-TX) Agriculture is the foundation of our livelihood and the lifeblood of rural America. I like to joke with my urban colleagues who say they do not “have agriculture” in their district that as long as their constituents eat, dress, and drive, they have a vested interest in agriculture. I am honored to chair the House Agriculture Committee, one of the most bipartisan committees in Congress, and Ranking Member Collin Peterson is a great partner. The committee doesn’t...
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Roll Call By: Rep. K. Michael Conaway (R-TX), Rep. Collin Peterson (D-MN), Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-ME) Have you ever gotten into an argument about whether a carton of eggs are still good even though the date on the label has passed? It's happened in our households and we bet it's happened in yours. Although it seems like a harmless domestic disagreement, the truth is when you throw away perfectly good food simply because the date has passed, that food is wasted. While date labels are intended as...
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Link to Article: Farm Policy Facts By: Sen. Pat Roberts & Rep. K. Michael Conaway Editor's Note: On this Earth Day, we are pleased to publish an editorial from the chairmen of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees celebrating the efforts of America's farmers and ranchers in protecting our natural resources. We've all heard it said: farmers are the original environmentalists. We say that because American farmers and ranchers were taking care of their land long before anyone told them to do ...
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AgWeb By Chairman K. Michael Conaway Cotton farmers in America are facing a crisis. Extreme drought, predatory trade practices by countries like China and India, and the lack of a viable safety net are threatening the livelihoods of thousands of American farm families. While the general farm economy is experiencing the largest three-year percentage decline in net farm income since the Great Depression, a whopping 56 percent, the cotton industry is facing an existential threat. It is against this...
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Today our nation recognizes the more than 25 million veterans who have worn the uniform and upheld their oath to defend America with honor and integrity. On November 11, 1918, the Allied Powers and Germany signed an armistice that ended World War I. To commemorate the war’s end, President Woodrow Wilson declared that November 11should be remembered as Armistice Day – a holiday to honor the brave sacrifices of the American soldiers who defended democracy and freedom overseas. Today, we know it a...
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U.S. News & World Report By Chairman K. Michael Conaway As chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, a consumer and a father, it is important that guidance that comes out of the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans report is based on sound, consistent, irrefutable science. This government document is not only a recommendation for the American people to guide healthy food purchasing decisions for a healthy lifestyle – it also forms the basis of federal nutrition policy, education, outreach...
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Today, nearly 500 organizations and associations, part of the Coalition for Safe and Affordable Food, sent a letter to Congress urging members to support H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act. Last week the House Agriculture Committee passed the bipartisan bill by voice vote and it is expected to be voted on by the House later this week.
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By Rep. K. Michael Conaway Via Roll Call The World Trade Organization ruled against the U.S. for the fourth and final time in an ongoing dispute between the United States, Canada and Mexico regarding the U.S. country of origin labeling (COOL) program. Retaliation by Canada and Mexico will soon become a reality, meaning economically devastating tariffs on a broad spectrum of U.S. exports, from meat and fruit to jewelry, furniture and biofuels. Ripple effects will be felt in nearly every industry,...
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Chairman Frank Lucas spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives in support of H.R. 3336, the Small Business Credit Availability Act.
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The Wall Street Journal published an editorial today criticizing a policy which prevents farmers in California’s San Joaquin Valley from receiving fresh water to irrigate crops and feed consumers.
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