Agriculture
The First District of Kentucky is home to thousands of contributors to the agricultural industry. We must support and modernize programs that have proven effective in helping our nation's hard-working farmers to operate, compete and succeed. As Congress tackles issues related to the agricultural industry, farm families in the First District should know they have an advocate looking out for their best interests on the House Committee on Agriculture.
More on Agriculture
2018 has been packed with important debate, deliberation, and compromises as well as many successes. My Republican colleagues and I have worked hard to deliver on our promises to the American people and to uphold President Trump’s America-first agenda. While perspectives are diverse among the 435 Members of the House of Representatives, each of us play a significant role in serving our unique portions of the nation. Over the past year, and throughout the 115th Congress, it is important to reflect on some of the major accomplishments that lead us into the next Congress.
Today the House of Representatives passed a five-year Farm Bill. Congressman Comer, along with 368 other congressional colleagues, voted in support of the bill. The Agriculture Improvement Act (H.R. 2) includes many incremental wins for rural America. It fully protects crop insurance, makes significant improvements to rural broadband, and implements key changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
Congressman James Comer was recently awarded the Friend of Farm Bureau Award by the American Farm Bureau Federation for his commitment to improving the lives of those in rural America. This award is given to Members of Congress who have supported Farm Bureau’s position on policy issues, as shown through their voting records.
WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Comer met with House and Senate Farm Bill Conference Committee members today to begin formulating a final draft of the 2018 Farm Bill. Today marks the first meeting of the Farm Bill Conference Committee – an influential committee that is tasked with framing a final piece of legislation after working out differences in the Farm Bills passed by each respective chamber.
As your representative in Congress, I am committed to fighting for the issues that matter most to the First District of Kentucky. In recent months, I have seen firsthand the threat posed by Asian carp to our beautiful lakes and rivers in Western Kentucky, and the communities that rely on these waters for fishing, tourism, recreation and so much more. This invasive species has wreaked havoc on the local ecosystem, displaced the formerly plentiful game fish that draw so many anglers to the region, and, in the case of Silver carp, injured boaters and other Kentuckians out on the water.
Washington, DC – Congressman James Comer (KY-01) has been selected to serve on the conference committee tasked with negotiating a final version of the Farm Bill. While the House of Representatives and the Senate both passed a Farm Bill in late June, there are several key differences between the two versions that must be resolved before a final Farm Bill can be signed into law, providing Kentucky farmers the long-term certainty and security they need.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman James Comer (KY-01) will hold an Oversight and Government Reform Committee Field Briefing in Eddyville, Kentucky on July 27, 2018. The hearing will address the growing problem of Asian carp in Kentucky’s waters and examine the federal response to this invasive species. This public event will feature testimony from witnesses representing the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife, local fishing and tourism industries, and federal agencies involved in Asian carp programs and initiatives.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – During the American Agri-Women’s (AAW) 33rd annual fly-in in Washington, D.C., Congressman Comer was presented with the AAW’s prestigious Champion of Agriculture award. This award is given to Congressional Members who are proven advocates for the agricultural sector and represent the ideals of American agriculture in Congress.
The Farm Bill is a critical piece of legislation that shapes agriculture and food policy. It impacts everything from commodity programs and farm credit, to rural development and food and nutrition programs. This bill influences the future of American farmers and our rural economy, those who produce our food and supply many of the goods and resources we rely on as a country. It is important that we have a Farm Bill in place that benefits farmers and the rural economy, especially when rural America has seen a 52% drop in net farm income over the past five years.
As a farmer myself, I understand the challenges of agriculture, especially the risks that come with the business – like market swings, weather and the trade policies of foreign nations. I know first-hand how tough the last five years have been for farmers as net farm incomes have fallen 52 percent. That’s why one of my top priorities coming to Congress was to get to work on a new Farm Bill that will protect American farmers and strengthen our rural economy. The Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018 does just that by: