Majority News
Roberts Unveils Chairman’s Portrait to be Displayed in Hearing Room
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today unveiled his official portrait to be displayed in the Committee's hearing room. Roberts has served as Chairman during the 114th, 115th, and 116th Congresses. "When I assumed the gavel as the Chairman nearly six years ago, I noted that this committee has a long history of caring more about the issues than the ideology. More about the people than the party," said Ch… Continue Reading
11.16.20
Roberts, Stabenow Announce Unanimous Senate Passage of Grain Standards Reauthorization
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today announced the Senate has passed the bipartisan U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020. The U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 passed out of Committee on June 24. The Senate-passed bill will be available here. Click here to read the summary. Click here to read the section-by-section. "The Senate has unanimously… Continue Reading
10.15.20
Chairman Roberts Hails CFTC Final Rule on Position Limits
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today praised the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) for finalizing a rule on position limits for derivatives. The final rule passed by a vote of 3-2. "I appreciate the CFTC's careful review and consideration of stakeholders' input, particularly from our nation's agricultural end-users, when crafting this final rule," said Chairman Roberts. "This rule cont… Continue Reading
09.30.20
Chairman Roberts Votes to Send Relief to Farm Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today voted for a continuing resolution (CR), which averts a federal government shutdown and includes a full replenishment of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) to aid agricultural producers. The CR funds the federal government until December 11, 2020, and is now ready for President Trump's signature into law. "In these wildly uncertain times, farmers, ranchers, an… Continue Reading
09.29.20
Chairman Roberts Keynotes Agri-Pulse Security Summit
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, recently was the keynote speaker at the 2020 Agri-Pulse Ag & Food Policy Summit DC. "This has been quite a year for American agriculture, and, certainly so for American consumers. Perhaps for the first time since the Great Depression, the significance of food security has resonated throughout the entire agriculture and food value chain, impacting nearly every kitc… Continue Reading
09.23.20
Roberts: Bipartisan CCC Solution Provides Certainty, Predictability for Farm Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today took to the Senate floor to speak on the bipartisan House continuing resolution (CR) that passed yesterday. The CR, which previously denied relief for agricultural producers and delayed critical Farm Bill program implementation, now includes a full replenishment of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) - only after Roberts and fellow farm state Republicans … Continue Reading
09.22.20
Roberts: Democrats Heard Our Call to Aid Farm Country
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today applauded a bipartisan deal reached on the House continuing resolution (CR) that includes a full replenishment of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). On Monday, Roberts admonished the House Democrats' CR, which previously denied funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) implementation of Farm Bill and COVID-19 relief programs, including the CCC. … Continue Reading
09.22.20
Roberts: House Democrats’ CR Highlights ‘Pandemic of Politics’
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today admonished the House Democrats' continuing resolution (CR), which denies funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) implementation of Farm Bill and COVID-19 relief programs. "We have a pandemic of politics in this country. Today, that was made worse with the rollout of House Democrats' CR," said Roberts. "This ill-advised plan would delay critical f… Continue Reading
09.17.20
Roberts Praises Second Round of Relief Funds for Ag Producers
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today praised an announcement from President Donald Trump that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will distribute a second round of assistance to agricultural producers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The Coronavirus Food Assistance Program (CFAP) has already distributed one round of direct payments to agricultural producers whose markets have been disrupted or lost … Continue Reading
09.17.20
Chairman Roberts: Replenishing the CCC Ensures Farm Bill Implementation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., today participated in a colloquy on the U.S. Senate floor to urge the replenishment of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC). Failure to do so would not only hurt already struggling farmers, ranchers, and growers; it would jeopardize the implementation of 2018 Farm Bill programs. Participating in the colloquy were Sens. John Hoeven, R-N.D.; John Thune, R-S.D.; Deb Fischer, R-Neb.; Joni Ernst, R-Iowa; Cindy Hyde-… Continue Reading
09.02.20
Roberts, Klobuchar Lead Request for Wheat Grower Assistance
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and other Senate colleagues today sent a bipartisan letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue requesting funds in the CARES Act be provided to wheat growers of all wheat varieties to address price impacts from COVID-19. "As Members of Congress representing wheat-producing states, we write regarding the deteriorating economic conditions being experien… Continue Reading
08.31.20
Chairman Roberts Applauds USDA’s Free School Meals Through 2020
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, applauded a school nutrition waiver announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which he requested earlier this month. On August 17, Roberts led a letter to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue urging the Department to continue providing flexibilities to schools and sponsoring organizations for school meals and child nutrition. Click here to read the letter. "I … Continue Reading
08.17.20
Chairman Roberts Leads Letter To Urge Flexibility for School Meals
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today sent a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue to urge the Department to continue providing flexibilities to schools and sponsoring organizations for school meals and child nutrition. "As the school year begins, the challenges brought on by the COVID emergency persist. We encourage continued use of the child nutrition program waiver authority ably used thus… Continue Reading
08.05.20
Chairman Roberts: Ag Producers’ Work During Pandemic Is ‘Nothing Short of Heroic’
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today spoke on the floor of the U.S. Senate about the hard work of American agriculture producers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to watch his remarks. "Producing food for a troubled and hungry world is what farmers do day in and day out. But, especially at times like this, it is nothing short of heroic," said Chairman Roberts. "We've taken steps to address t… Continue Reading
07.08.20
Chairman Roberts Pleased to See First Investment in Animal Disease Vaccine Bank
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today praised an announcement from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) of an initial $27.1 million purchase for a foot-and-mouth disease vaccine for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank (NAVVCB). "When we wrote the 2018 Farm Bill, we listened to stakeholders from start to finish. Our l… Continue Reading
06.25.20
Opinion: Helping Rural America Feed All of America
An opinion piece by Sens. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., in Agri-Pulse. Every American has a part to play in slowing the spread of the coronavirus. While many are working from home, an important few are working overtime on farms and ranches to make sure grocery store shelves are stocked. From harvesting wheat in Kansas to picking blueberries in Georgia, producers are getting up before the sun every day, while also adapting their operations to keep workers safe. They are among … Continue Reading
06.25.20
Roberts Applauds School Nutrition Flexibilities Extension
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today applauded U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue's announcement of five federal school nutrition program flexibilities through June 30, 2021. "I thank Secretary Perdue for providing certainty to school food service operators that flexibilities will remain available through the upcoming school year as they re-design the way meals are provided to children when s… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Chairman Roberts Hears Agricultural Perspectives on Climate Legislation
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today held a hearing on S. 3894, The Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2020. "Maintaining the health of our planet for future generations is, of course, of paramount importance. So is feeding the billions of people that populate the Earth today and in the years ahead," said Roberts. "In order for these two distinct needs to be met, there must be meaningful acknowledgem… Continue Reading
06.24.20
Roberts, Stabenow Announce Committee Passage of Grain Standards Reauthorization
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., today announced the Committee passed the bipartisan U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 by a voice vote. Click here to read the legislation, summary, and section-by-section. "The entire federal grain inspection system needs the certainty, predictability, and transparency that the bipartisan U.S. Grain Standards Reauthorization… Continue Reading
06.22.20
Senate Agriculture Committee Urges Secretary Perdue to Extend WIC Flexibilities
WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., and Ranking Member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., wrote to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting the extension of existing flexibilities for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) through September 30, 2020, as authorized by the Families First Coronavirus Response Act. "We appreciate the Department's actions to utilize administrative au… Continue Reading
