▶ 0:03:34Now that we turned the lights down, we can get started. The subcommittee will come to order. Good morning. I want to thank all of you for being here today for this hearing to review the budget and programs at the US Department of Agriculture. We're pleased to be joined by the Secretary of Agriculture, Brooke Rollins. Secretary Rollins, we welcome you to the subcommittee. I look forward to hearing about your priorities and the work that's been underway at USDA during the first 100 days of the Trump administration. As you know, we have the most productive and efficient agricultural producers in the world.
▶ 0:04:03It's critical that they maintain access to important crop protection tools and technology so that they can continue to feed our nation and the world. They also need access to land, which is why I'm concerned about solar panels being placed on prime farmland, not only in my district, but across the country. My producers are very concerned by this, and I look forward to working with the administration to end tax subsidies and disincentivize such technologies so that we can keep fertile farmland in production.
▶ 0:04:30Madam Secretary, I want to commend you for your leadership in quickly implementing the emergency commodity assistance program. In December, Congress enacted $31 billion in disaster and economic relief for farmers and ranchers. Producers are applying for the $10 billion set aside for economic assistance, and payments are already being made. The speed at which USDA worked to make these funds available to farmers highlights this administration's emphasis that our government work in a better and more efficient manner for the American people.
▶ 0:04:58It also highlights your commitment on to the backs of farmers and ranchers following several years of a poor agricultural economy. At the same time, USDA cannot take its foot off the gas in implementing the remaining 21 billion in disaster funds. Producers around the country face devastating natural disasters in 2023 and 2024. From floods in California, persistent drought in many of the Great Plain states, and hurricanes across Florida and the southeastern United States.
▶ 0:05:26The subcommittee held a roundt with USDA officials at the end of March to discuss implementing these disaster funds and we're anxious to hear any updates on the next steps and timelines for delivering those funds to farmers. I also appreciate your prioritizing USDA's response to the aven influenza outbreak which began in 2022. This disaster has decimated poultry flocks across the country, including broiler flocks in my district in Maryland and has spread to dairy cattle nationwide.
▶ 0:05:54You've directed additional funding towards combating the disease and I look forward to an update on this evolving situation. As you know, poultry production is important in my district and I appreciate you have already made great progress in reducing unnecessary burdens on the poultry industry by finally addressing line speeds at processing facilities. But the Biden administration also pushed harmful packers and stockyards regulations that dictate how poultry and livestock producers raise and market their animals. and I hope those rules will be addressed by the Trump administration.
▶ 0:06:24My district also includes the Chesapeake Bay, which has been devastated by invasive blue catfish. Congress has provided funding to increase processing capacity to develop a self- sustaining market for these invasive catfish. Processors in the bay are lining up and eager to apply for this funding. So, USD the USDA must move forward with the application process as quickly as possible. At the same time, processors have worked with the agricultural marketing service to purchase more wild caught catfish at the U for the USDA nutrition programs.
▶ 0:06:53I'd ask specifically that you ensure that wild caught catfish are included in all the AMS solicitations equally with other seafood products. Another issue you and I have discussed, Madam Secretary, is that the federal government should not continue to subsidize unhealthy food in the supplement nutrition assistance program. Over the past 20 years, cities and states have asked USDA for the ability to restrict SNAP purchases of sugary drinks and unhealthy food. But each time, surprisingly, those requests have been denied.
▶ 0:07:22We must return SNAP, the largest food assistance and nutrition program in America, back to its original purpose of providing nutritious foods for participants. I'm glad to see the proactive steps you've taken to work with states on this, and I look forward to working with you to move the program in this direction. Finally, on Friday, we received a high level overview of the FY26 president's budget request. Several programs are marked for elimination or significant reductions, and I hope we'll receive a more detailed budget request as soon as possible.
▶ 0:07:53We need to understand the potential savings and efficiencies that have been identified as U at USDA as we move through our appropriations process. When this country is running a chronic $2 trillion deficit, we have a responsibility to spend every taxpayer dollar wisely. Again, I appreciate you being with us for today's discussion. Madam Secretary, Ranking Member Bishop, I'll now yield to you for any opening remarks you'd like to make. Thank you very much, uh, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 0:08:20Uh, Secretary Rollins, it is good to have you here with us today. I recognize that you have been very busy and have had some very urgent work to do uh such as rolling out the congressional directives including the much awaited economic assistance of farmers and dealing with the Texas water issue. Uh I want to thank you for coming before the committee today because I'm concerned uh that the administration uh appears to be operating outside the rule of law.
▶ 0:08:49uh pursuant to its article one constitutional authority uh Congress has passed laws establishing a process to repurpose funding and a process to conduct a legal reduction of force. Yet the administration has refused to follow the law and is in the process of dismembering the federal government in every single department without authority to do so.
▶ 0:09:12We see what's happening with the Department of Education, with FEMA, with HHS, and today we're talking about agriculture. No Fortune 500 CEO worth his or her salt would put the cart before the horse and fire huge swast of their employees and then try to figure out if there was enough there were enough people left to meet the company's needs and serve its customers.
▶ 0:09:37Yet, that's what USDA and other federal agencies have done or seem to be doing. did the administration thoughtlessly fire people working on bird flu? Oops. Recklessly fire those who protect our nuclear stockpile? Oops. Um, my colleague, Chairman Harris, and I both believe that good congressional oversight means fighting fraud, waste, and abuse.
▶ 0:10:07Yet, uh, the president fired the person at USDA responsible for going after fraud, waste, and abuse, the USDA Inspector General with no justification, and had her unceremoniously escorted from her office.
▶ 0:10:23Uh, as you know, in March, Congress passed a continuing resolution, and in it, House and Senate Republicans required USDA to provide this committee with a detailed plan showing how the department will spend taxpayer dollars. The two-page document we received last week, later, I might add, did not show any level of detail, and it fails to meet that legal obligation.
▶ 0:10:52That is essentially a slap in the face to the Republican majorities in the House and Senate who included that requirement in the CR. Uh your decision to violate this requirement demonstrates that uh there's a lack of accountability to the committee, but more importantly shows a lack of responsibility to the American taxpayers that we represent for how you're spending their money. The lack of detail quite honestly makes me wonder what's being hidden.
▶ 0:11:22That's why we need hearings like this today to set the record straight. For example, in reading your testimony for the hearing today, it insinuates that the National Agriculture Statistics Service under the Biden administration frivolously cancelled the July cattle and county estimate survey last year.
▶ 0:11:46The fact is that the cancellation was due to an insufficient funding level in the FY24 bill done at the direction of Republicans on this committee. Uh something to which my staff and I repeatedly objected. House Republicans did not enact a final appropriation until halfway through the fiscal year, a result of Speaker Johnson's reluctance to negotiate on a topline.
▶ 0:12:12This is what happens when Congress underfunds or withhold funds from USDA. Critical functions get cancelled. When our constituents have questions, we must get answers from you. And I would imagine my Republican colleagues as good representatives in this co-equal branch of government uh feel the same. My constituents say that USDA is understaffed.
▶ 0:12:42My constituents, including entire school districts, our health care system, and many farmers, also say that they are hurting from the cancellation of the local food agreements and from funding. Local food purchasing agreements awarded over $900 million in all 50 states, DC, four territories, and 84 tribes. The local food for schools program awarded 200 million in funds to 42 states in the District of Columbia.
▶ 0:13:11Georgia has the fifth largest school nutrition program in America. The cancellation of the local food for schools program and USDA's decision not to fund the farmtoschool grant program this year has hurt over 40 Georgia school districts. Their ability to feed school kids has been severely stunted and our farmers have lost a valuable market.
▶ 0:13:37My constituents say that the president is causing uncertainty. Uncertainty as farmers wait for promised funding. I hear that farmers and small businesses are still waiting for their equip grants and their reap grants. Funds for rural broadband, funds for agricultural research, and funds for other programs are still frozen, and people are still waiting. Uncertainty as USDA's priorities change.
▶ 0:14:05Uncertainty compounded by the lack of a farm bill. Uncertainty as tariff announcements yo-yo back and forth. That uncertainty feeds fear, which is pitting farmers against families. This does not have to be a zero- sum game.
▶ 0:14:26Secretary Rollins, you have a very background, act policy development in uh foundation in the law with your jurist doctor and clear leadership as you founded the America First I'm hopeful that putting America first in your job as Secretary of Agriculture will mean that you will do all that is necessary to assure that
▶ 0:14:57American agriculture will be sufficiently funded with research personnel and all of the tools so that American producers can continue to produce the highest quality, the safest, the most abundant and the most affordable food and fiber anywhere in the world. But please know that that won't happen if we try to fund agriculture for the 21st century with 20th century levels.
▶ 0:15:26We must be I look forward to working with you uh and your team at USDA and with Chairman Harris and with this committee uh in behalf of the American people so that all of the stakeholders of the USDA and the American people will get all that we deserve and that we need uh from that agency. Thank you very much. Look forward to your testimony and the questions to follow. Thank you.
▶ 0:15:56Thank you, Mr. Bishop. I'd like now like to recognize now the distinguished ranking member of the appropriations committee, Miss Delaro, for her opening statement. Thank you very much uh Mr. Chairman and thank you to the ranking member for holding what is an important budget committee. And I want to welcome our witness, Secretary uh Rollins for appearing uh here this morning and look forward to your testimony and uh and the opportunity to have a uh an exchange. Um we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis today.
▶ 0:16:25It's directly hurting farmers. And the Trump administration has unlawfully frozen and impounded congressionally appropriated funds for agencies, programs, and services that assist American farmers. Understand that the power of the purse resides in the US Congress. It's in the constitution. And while we want to play fast and loose with the con constitution, we have to abide by what it says. That is who we are as a as a nation.
▶ 0:16:54Let me just talk just just let me just tick off you for a second here. The uh uh programs that have been frozen or cancelled or cut in some way. National Institute of Food and Agriculture frozen. Local food purchase assistant cooperative agreement canceled terminated. Local food schools cooperative agreement program can cancel terminated. Equip environ environmental quality incentives frozen uh uh program frozen. Conservation stewardist program frozen.
▶ 0:17:23Agriculture conservation easement program frozen. Regional conservation partnership frozen. Conservation technical assistance frozen. Technical assistance for un underserved farmers, ranchers, foresters, frozen. Watershed pro programs frozen. Reconnect broadband loan and grant program frozen. The emergency food assistance program TFAP canceled or terminated.
▶ 0:17:46And I might add, the administration has indiscriminately fired thousands of civil servants who help administer these programs and ensure funding goes where it is intended. The president is not laser focused on the cost of living crisis. He is actually making it worse. He promised to fight for the working class and for farmers, but instead put Elon Musk and billionaires in charge of the government.
▶ 0:18:12The administration is attacking farmers to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. The White House has halted over 600 million dollars in funding promised to rural businesses and farmers through the Rural Energy for America program and other vital programs.
▶ 0:18:28They stole from the farmers and rural businesses who took the deal that the government offered them to invest in renewable energy, raising their energy uh costs, increasing economic stress, and in turn they raise the costs on the American people in the middle of a cost of living crisis. Likewise, when the administration froze the environmental qualities incentives program, they left farmers and producers who invested in conservation projects. They left them out to dry.
▶ 0:18:56They canceled over $1 billion in funding for programs that help schools, food banks purchase food directly from local farms, threatening the livelihood of farmers, and the nourishment of children and families reliant on this assistance. By cutting these funds, the administration prioritized corporate interests over the hardworking farmers who need these supports to continue operating.
▶ 0:19:20I've always been focused on the needs of small and medium-sized farmers because they are the backbone of our country and and and quite frankly the backbone of my state of Connecticut. And I would like to recognize uh one in the room today who traveled from Connecticut 79 hours. Willie Delicamera. Willie, a small specialty crop farmer from my district, experienced a severe storm last December. He did everything right.
▶ 0:19:51Everything right and had insurance coverage, but was still left with over $200,000 in losses. In response, with his help, we created and passed the Farm Recovery and Support Block Grant, a program that's tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized farmers, which removed the barrier of crop insurance requirements, allowed flexibility for states in response to extreme weather events.
▶ 0:20:14New England farmers depend on this grant, and I will work with you to make sure that this support gets out as the Congress intended. To date, Willie Delicra has not received one dime. And also here is another Connecticut farmer in attendance, Robert Chong, who is was talking about the need for this $220 million. There's Robert right back there.
▶ 0:20:39So, and the gentleman sitting next to Willie was here in the 70s when the farmers came down with tractors and made their case. And we say thank you for that. And if we have to have the tractors back here again, we'll do it and we'll be with you on that. Even though we received Trump's con concepts of a budget plan on Friday, we are now into May without a real budget from the White House.
▶ 0:21:05Though I am eager to learn about why you have chosen to eliminate funding for the food for peace program, the McGovern Dole programs, and gut funding for the commodity supplemental food program. Not only will this take food from the mouths of millions at home and abroad, including seniors who face hunger and starvation, it will harm American farmers who will no longer see proceeds from producing this urgently needed food.
▶ 0:21:31Thanks to the administration's lawless funding freeze and the dismantling of agencies without congressional involvement, hundreds of thousands of pounds of food grown by American farmers has sat in warehouses or gone to waste. Local food for schools and local food purchase assistance were ended by USDA earlier this year.
▶ 0:21:53Meaning, not only did the administration determine that feeding our children was not a priority, they decided the farmers who produce the food for these children were not a priority either. Connecticut is expected to lose nearly $4 million in funding from these two programs alone. $4 million in support that goes directly to purchasing locally grown fresh fruits and vegetables.
▶ 0:22:17I understand the administration's eager to pass tax breaks for billionaires, but doing so by stealing from hungry people and farmers indefensible. Next, Congress, Republicans in Congress and the White House will target our safety net programs for hungry people, including children, wick and SNAP, or food stamps to pay for their billionaire tax break.
▶ 0:22:38Madam Secretary, this administration's abandonment of farmers is not creating efficiency, and you know that it is not helping farmers nor consumers save money. In fact, the president's trade war, which he has admitted puts farmers on the front lines, will cost taxpayers billions of dollars in bailouts to shield farmers from the consequences of this president's agenda.
▶ 0:23:05Farmers and the American people need immediate answers as to how you plan to fix the mess that this administration is creating for them. Thank you for being here. Look forward to your testimony. I yield back. Thank you very much. And I'll recognize the the chairman of the whole committee when he when he arrives for his uh remarks. But until then, thank you, Miss Deloro. Secretary Rollins, without objecting without objection, your entire written testimony will be included in the record.
▶ 0:23:33And after your statement, we'll proceed with questions. As as the first reminder, because I'll remind members again before we start questioning, uh we have a you know hard break at noon uh for the secretary. So, we'll have to abide by the fivem minute rule for questions. Secretary Rollins, you're now recognized for your statement. Thank you, sir.
▶ 0:23:51Chairman Harris, Ranking Member Delaro, Ranking Member Bishop, and obviously when Chair Cole gets here as well, and distinguished members of this subcommittee, I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here before you and to share what we've been doing at the USDA uh over the last 83 days since I uh I walked in that front door and also President Trump's vision over the last 100 plus days. I look forward to answering your questions. Many of them have already been outlined.
▶ 0:24:21uh as we move over the next few hours and welcome the opportunity to do so. When farmers prosper, rural America prospers and I want to thank all of you for your shared commitment to ensuring our farmers, ranchers, and our rural communities thrive. During my confirmation testimony, I quoted Thomas Jefferson. We talk a lot about Thomas Jefferson at the USDA, one of the original American farmers.
▶ 0:24:46uh his 1787 letter to another original American farmer, George Washington, in which uh President Jefferson said, "Agriculture is our wisest pursuit because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, to good morals, and to happiness." I have had the distinct privilege of serving American farmers and ranchers for the last 83 days.
▶ 0:25:10And I can tell you that our farmers, and all of you know this as well, you're on this committee, continue to embody the ideals and the passion for America and our land, just as Thomas Jefferson described over two centuries ago. And serving as their champion today continues to be my highest and greatest honor.
▶ 0:25:30As the 33rd Secretary of Agriculture, I have made it my mission to reconstitute, to rebuild, and to revivify the United States Department of Agriculture. And that includes a budget that reflects the priorities as mandated by the American people in November of last year. The president's fiscal year 2026 discretionary budget identifies the priorities of our administration and for the Department of Agriculture.
▶ 0:25:58That means prioritizing food safety, rooting out wasteful spending, restoring federalism by empowering the states to best serve their communities, and above all putting farmers and ranchers first in America. Notably of USDA's $215 billion annual budget. Today, we are talking about the discretionary part of that budget, which is $30 billion. uh 14% of the annual budget at USDA is discretionary.
▶ 0:26:29Of that 14% of our annual budget, uh the discussion today surrounding around some increase but mostly decreases in that 14% of the discretionary budget. Um our cuts suggest about 21% cuts of the 14% of the $230 billion budget. So uh let's just be clear on the numbers. We at the Department of Agriculture have wasted no time in implementing President Trump's bold policy agenda.
▶ 0:26:58Uh I want to touch on a few highlights here and and I appreciate uh Chairman Harris, but also Chairman um Bishop Sanford and others mentioning this already. Upon taking office, I was asked with uh by President Trump to address the aven bird flu and to lower the cost of eggs in the short term. In February, at the direction of President Trump, I announced a fi a significant five-point plan. I think I was on the job about 10 days at that point to meet this challenge head on.
▶ 0:27:26I am proud to report that since the plan was introduced, the wholesale price of eggs has decreased 56% with retail following. In taking on this position, I fully understood that American agriculture is facing one of the most economically challenging times in our history. For generations, American producers and consumers enjoyed the fruits of an agricultural trade surplus.
▶ 0:27:52But under the four years, the last four years of the Biden administration, our farmers and producers were in uh forced to endure a trade deficit that again when leaving the last White House, which I was a part of with President Trump. When we walked out, there was a Z trade deficit. Today, we are reaching more than $50 billion in trade deficit. We'll talk about how to fix that today if questioned. President Trump and I know this problem will not solve itself.
▶ 0:28:19He is taking bold action to address our imbalanced trade commitments and I am working to promote American agriculture products around the world. In April, we launched uh USDA a trade promotion programs for fiscal year 2026 and we are currently accepting applications for significant in fact almost more than four export market development programs.
▶ 0:28:43As part of this effort, I will be traveling to seven countries in the next few months leaving Sunday for the UK. I'll be there next week and soon after all over the world, India, East Asia, etc. where I will ensure that our trading partners around this world know that American agriculture is the crown jewel of all American production.
▶ 0:29:06We are also streamlining unnecessary regulations and cutting red tape for agricultural producers and industries so they can continue the work they do every day to feed, to fuel, and to clothe the nation and the world. To that end, our team has sought to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in all USDA programs, including SNAP, food stamps, improper payments, fraud, and programs that fail to fulfill USDA's basic mission of putting farmers first.
▶ 0:29:36Our team is meeting daily with our partners at the Department of Government Efficiency to ensure we are doing right by the American taxpayer while also protecting critical USDA programs. Also of paramount importance uh Chairman Harris is the uh department's mission to make America healthy again in partnership across the federal government and with our partners in the states.
▶ 0:29:59We've been taking major steps to fulfill this mandate by accepting SNAP waiverss and encouraging healthier behaviors and working with governors both Republican and Democrat across this great state. I'd love to get into that if anyone wants to talk about it. The maja movement at USDA has also supported major voluntary changes, including our friends at the International Dairy Foods Association's most recent announcement related to dyes in school lunch dairy products.
▶ 0:30:29Finally, I was proud to last week stand with Charles and Heather Ma, a South Dakota family with a small cattle and hog operation, fifth generation who endured a senseless senselessly senseless politically motivated prosecution by the last administration over 25 acres of forest land and a fence that had been in place since 1910. The criminal charges against the family are now dropped.
▶ 0:30:57And to prevent further injustices against American farmers and ranchers, we have launched a significant effort, including a portal at USDA, where we have asked similarly situated farmers and ranchers to report uh similar injustices. To date, we've received over a hundred stories since first announcing last week. Uh to be clear, the Ma family was charged criminally. SWAT team appeared at their door. They were told their children would need to find someone else to raise them and that they were going to lose everything.
▶ 0:31:27During my first 83 days as Secretary of Agriculture, I have visited 15 states. If I haven't been to your state yet, I'm coming soon. I've attended over a hundred events, given dozens of keynote speeches all across the country talking about the vision and putting farmers and ranchers first. and I've met with nearly 1,000 agricultural stakeholders, again, farmers and ranchers and producers, as we continue to reorient the Department of Agriculture.
▶ 0:31:53American agriculture does not rest, and I can assure you that under my tenure at USDA, that neither will we. I'm proud to be at the helm of the People's Department, as Abraham Lincoln so aptly launched and named it 1862, at the table with President Trump and fighting for the most American of all Americans, our farmers, ranchers, and our agriculture communities. Thank you so much. Thank you very much, Secretary Rollins.
▶ 0:32:23And uh again, we're going to start the questions. And just a reminder, simple math is that if all 17 people ask a question, we're going to we're going to come in right on time at noon. So, I'm going to be uh I'm going to use the gavl when necessary for that timing. Uh I'll start off. Uh I will uh tell you that congratulations on the job with eggs because I went to went shopping last week and they finally went under $4 a dozen with the limit removed. Yes. Which was which was a night which was nice.
▶ 0:32:52U and thanks for doing a job with that. Uh, I will talk a little bit about the nutrition programs. I want to thank you for uh doing what we what we thought the secretary always had the authority to do, which is to grant those waiverss. I have no idea why previous secretaries did not think they had the authority. Uh, it made sense and I'm I'm going to congratulate you on that. You do mention the trade deficit, which is important, uh, is overcoming that trade deficit. As you just remind people again, during the first Trump administration, there was no trade deficit. Now there's a $50 billion trade deficit.
▶ 0:33:20a lot of it in products that have had been made in thei had been grown in the United States but are no longer grown because of trade policies and other things. So I will suggest and I want to thank you for again for the nutrition and this committee's heard plenty from me on on why we have to get the SNAP program back to nutrition but I want to talk about one other thing we can do that can help that trade deficit help our farmers and that is a bi-American requirement in SNAP.
▶ 0:33:42The bottom line is that there is nothing that we can't grow and may maybe bananas okay but besides that there is nothing that we can't grow in this country if we provide the incentive and the order of magnitude with regards to because we heard criticisms of these of these programs you know 100 millionaire 200 millionaire to help farmers do this and that the order of magnitude if you just look at uh transferring uh sugary beverages I won't even talk about other things sugary beverages where the American farmer gains very little the amount of farm product in
▶ 0:34:12a soda can is minuscule. That's about 12 billion a year. I don't know how much we buy over overseas products in the SNAP program, but my estimate is that if you're buying seafood on it, the statistic is that the overwhelming majority of our seafoods overseas. Doesn't need to be could be here. We could substitute with American proteins, whether you know, livestock, whatever. Let's say it's another five billion. That's 17 billion a year that would be going to the pockets of American farmers. it doesn't go into pockets of American.
▶ 0:34:41This dwarfs any of the farm subsidy programs that we have and it's I think it's a great start. So I uh I look forward to working with with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to say look it's about time for for not only healthy nutritious pro products but American products uh when we look at a program that spends $120 uh billion dollars.
▶ 0:35:00Uh with regards to trade barriers, uh it's always bothered me that that our trading partners, you know, we go to uh countries like Europe and they'll say, "Well, we have no real trade barriers." And you ask them, "Well, what about GMO products? Do you like buy our GMO uh commodity crops to feed to your children because we feed it to our children here?" Um are we going to be able to make progress on on those uh breaking some of those trade barriers that will help our farmers immensely? Well, yes, sir. I believe so.
▶ 0:35:27Very quickly on SNAP, um it is remarkable to me that the number one purchaser with taxpayer dollars in the supplemental nutrition program is sugary drinks. It's almost to your point 12 billion of 113 or $115 billion program. Uh it has been really encouraging. We've been within an hour of walking in the doors at USDA on February 13th, a letter went out to every single governor in the country saying, "Send us your waiver." Sarah Sanders in Arkansas um sent a waiver in. Kim Reynolds in Iowa.
▶ 0:35:56Jared Polus of Colorado, some others I'm working with almost daily directly, not our staffs, but directly to push this forward. And Sarah's point, she uh Governor Sanders, she obviously uh moved the sugary junk food out, but rotisserie chicken wasn't even covered under SNAP. So, so those are the sorts of things we're doing on the trade deficit and the trade realignment that's happening. Uh I have never been more encouraged at what is is going to happen. The deals will begin to be announced very soon.
▶ 0:36:24Uh I well it may be private but we've got several of our cabinet secretaries heading out across the world not just myself at the UK. The president's heading to the Middle East. Uh our secretary of treasury is headed out. Our secretary of commerce is headed out and uh we are very very close to significant trade agreement announcements to your question.
▶ 0:36:43And no one will benefit more than our farmers and our ranchers as not only we're renegotiating with partners that have treated our products so poorly for decades, but we're also opening up markets. So stay tuned for that and and I think everyone on both sides of the aisle will be very pleased with what's coming. No, thank you very much, Madam Secretary. And the tariff policy has been brilliant so far. That's all I can say is we're we're bringing trillions of dollars of investment and some of that investment will be in American farms because of our tariff policy.
▶ 0:37:11uh in the last few remaining seconds I I do I have spoken to you about solar panels on uh class one class two soils. We should figure out every there should be no class one or class two soil in this United States that has a solar panel on top of it. That's the bottom line. We have to just uh break our uh dependence on that. We talked about catfish processing. We'll talk more with you uh with with you and your staff individually. And finally on foreign ownership of a lands.
▶ 0:37:34This is probably one of the number one things that when I talk to farmers and I did they are just insensed that the Chinese can come in and buy our farmland and 350,000 acres we have we have to deal with it and this committee has been leadership and I want to commend Mr. New House for for taking leadership on that and we will work with you to make sure that you get on CPHAS you know a role in CPHA so that we can uh stop that anyway with that uh let me recognize Mr. Bishop. Yes sir. Thank you sir. Thank you very much Mr. Chairman.
▶ 0:38:03Uh, Secretary Rollins, with respect to the trade deficit, uh, question, um, I remember very very very vividly the first Trump administration when the tariffs on China uh were imposed and of course our cotton farmers uh, in America suffered a great loss in their market. In fact, now that market is has not come back.
▶ 0:38:30uh Brazil is now selling the cotton to to China. Uh the same thing happened with our pecan farmers. We worked for uh six years trying to get uh China to lower the tariffs and to accept American pecans.
▶ 0:38:44And when they finally did uh and started shipping them over there, uh we had the the tariff policy from President Trump that put them uh they lost a tremendous market there and of course uh they haven't recovered that market and we're of course hoping to get India's market. But let me ask you about the uh may I respond to that? It'll take five five words.
▶ 0:39:08The reason China phase 1 did not meet the marks, the metrics, maybe 15 words, is because the Biden administration did not continue to enforce it, sir. That went into effect at the end of term one and the Biden administration, USDA did not enforce it. I'd love to continue that conversation, but that's a really important point.
▶ 0:39:24the um the farmers were bailed out uh thanks to uh Secretary Purdue by taking money from the CCC uh which ultimately drained the CCC and we had to replenish it in the next appropriation cycle uh to make up for the revenues that they lost when they lost that China market both pecans and and uh and uh cotton. But let me change the subject.
▶ 0:39:50Uh the uh I want to talk about the FSA county offices and staffing. I want to ask you about uh the staffing and closures at FSA county offices. I recently heard from constituent that following the first round of deferred resignations, nearly a quarter of the over 2,000 producerfacing FSA officers had two or fewer staff as of March 23rd of this year, including over 100 officers that had no staff at all.
▶ 0:40:18They also told me that there are offices where FSA employees work where leases are being terminated. But because the lease is held by NRCS or another agency that colllocates with FSA, it appears that it's the agency's offices closing and not FSAs. They also said that GSA was shuttering these offices without notifying the agencies at USDA.
▶ 0:40:42How can you assure us that FSA can continue to serve farmers when there are offices with literally zero staff and the offices are closing without the knowledge? Sir, thank you for that. Um the FSA office can remains one of the top prior FSA offices remain the top priority at USDA. That interfacing with the farmers is really important along with APHUS and uh and a couple of the other programs.
▶ 0:41:08We it is our understanding that uh if in fact some of these offices have closed I need to get the list of that because we are working office by office office 4,500. So if you'll let us know where that is and the offices that are um you're being told understaffed again this is a high priority under our deferred. By the way, no one was fired. It was all through deferred resignation. Um I realize sir maybe from you that's a distinction without much of a difference but from us no one was ever fired from USDA.
▶ 0:41:36it was always deferred resignation but in the last round we did not accept any DRPS from anyone in FSA offices or APHUS offices or state veterinarians um the key critical components but I would love to work with your office we can work together to address that thank you for that uh at the commodity classic on March 3rd uh you said that today I'm happy to share we have completed our review and release funds for the environmental quality incentive program equip the conservation stewardship program and the agric agriculture
▶ 0:42:06conservation easement program. Uh since the delay in releasing the funds was a huge national issue, we expected to start hearing from officers that the farmers had received the money. Uh but we didn't hear anything. So we asked USDA about this and the department told us in late April, quote, "No new equip IRA financial assistance is being obligated currently. NRCS is awaiting guidance from the secretary on new obligations.
▶ 0:42:33New obligations of our Our FSA are still paused. No new obligation of RATA technical assistance cooperative agreements is moving forward. So can you explain how this is consistent with your announcement in March that the funds have been released? We have uh about $20 billion in funds that were frozen. All but five billion have been line by line and unfrozen. I it could be that part of the five billion. We're we're frantically working to get through it.
▶ 0:43:03But again, if you will send us directly and send it to me um who it is you're speaking with. Of course, we we reoriented some of those programs to make them more farmer less climate and DEI. But having said all of that, for the most part, most of that has been addressed. But again, please send us me directly anyone that has not so that I can address. Thank you. My time is expired. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much. I want to recognize the uh gentleman from California, one of the farmers on our committee. Thank you.
▶ 0:43:32Thank you, SE Secretary Rollins for making some time for us today. Appreciate you being here. Um, I'll talk a little bit about tariffs quickly. Since the reciprocal tariff announcement last month, there have been several officials that have stressed the need to how these tariffs are going to play out. Um, we have heard that it could take weeks or months uh to understand the impact moving forward and many farmers and exporters in my district have already lost some business or contracts due to trade uncertainty. Um, and as we harvest this summer, there is some more concern as you, I'm sure, are well aware. Yes.
▶ 0:44:02Has the department had any conversations about standing up uh any trade assistance program for the impacted farmers as this plays out? We have and the conversations are continuing. Our goal is that it won't be necessary that these trade deals are moving so quickly and not one trade deal with China but dozens and dozens. Uh when the president says we're in conversations with more than a hundred countries, that's actually true. And uh and a really important point in all this.
▶ 0:44:25But having said that, if it is necessary, we will ensure the president has made very clear that he's got the farmers and ranchers backs and we will step up, stand up a program again uh if necessary. Before my time in office, um as a farmer, I used to come here quite a bit and knock on a lot of members of Congress's doors and I would complain about the unfair trade practices that we used to deal with on a regular basis. So, it is nice that is being addressed. Thank you. So, thank you. I also want to briefly touch on disaster assistance for context.
▶ 0:44:53My Central Valley dairy farmers suffered major losses in 2023 from flooding that displaced families and their cows. Uh I made sure in last year's disaster rate package to include $2 billion for livestock and made dairy and livestock producers eligible for support from for the FUD losses. I'm aware that yesterday you told Secretary Hovind and the Senate a committee that you expect disaster assistance will be going out by the end of the month.
▶ 0:45:16uh what steps is the department taking to ensure livestock producers are reimbursed fairly from this pot of money specifically those who suffered losses from those floods. Thank you. And and if I could I will quickly address something that was said um by by um I think it was Mr. Bishop but we have moved so quickly on ECAP. It went out in three months and uh in the last the Vilsac administration the average implementation time was over one year to move those funds out.
▶ 0:45:43So, I just I want to give my team credit for working around the clock, seven days a week to get that out ahead of the statutory deadline and within three days as the applications moved in, we were moving money out. We now obviously in the last few months have turned to the disaster relief to your point, specifically livestock is your question. And I think it's important to note that that's a lot more complicated because they're block grants and they have to be moved and agreed to by the states.
▶ 0:46:05But we are very close and in fact later today at a press conference I'll preview it uh since you asked but we'll be announcing the exact dates that the portals open that the agreements are reached that the money will begin to move but basically by the end of this month money will begin moving out. I know in New England for the Connecticut Maine etc farmers this is a really important question too.
▶ 0:46:26Um, I had a great conversation with this amazing patriot over my left shoulder yesterday and uh and we are doing everything we can, I think hopefully as quickly as humanly possible to do it right, do it intentionally, but to get it to these poor people who need it right now or last week or last year. Yeah. And I appreciate you taking over this issue that we've been dealing with from the previous administration where they were pretty slow getting to us and the previous secretary was not as helpful. Yeah. Thank you. So, I appreciate that. Uh, I'm very supportive with the administration's efforts to secure the southern border.
▶ 0:46:55Ensuring Americans are safe and removing violent criminals from our communities is a top priority. I'm also glad that President Trump has been vocal in finding a solution for our a workforce and providing undocumented farm workers with an opportunity to continue contributing to our nation's agriculture sector. It's estimated that 70% of the farm workers are immigrants with 40% being undocumented and we need to work together to ensure our agriculture economy continues to thrive. What involvement has the USDA had with the administration to craft immigration policies that keep these facts in mind?
▶ 0:47:24Uh if you missed it, I believe it was a very important moment. Uh in not our last cabinet meeting, but the one before, uh we've had five cabinet meetings, which is sort of stunning if you think about it in just a couple of months, but the one before the president himself brought up this issue. And uh he and I have talked about it at length from the first administration to this one.
▶ 0:47:42and uh and he is very very resolute that we have to fix the labor issue and obviously we needed to secure the border first that has been done but in that cabinet meeting he himself lined out how we could do it and how we could do it quickly I'm working very closely with Lori Chavez Durmer our secretary of labor not only to reform the H2A program which I think is of vital importance I'm from Texas I understand very deeply um how important that is but also the larger effort to reform our immigration system to better serve our
▶ 0:48:12farmers and our ranchers is a priority. Well, I appreciate that. My time's almost expired, so just wanted to um follow up on the USDA FSA offices. We've got some issues as well. I'd love to communicate with your office on that. So, thank you for that. And then uh will regional conservation partnership program contracts that have been approved to support dairy environmental stewardship get their allocated funding? Are you familiar with that one? I'm not, but let me look into it today and we'll circle back right away. Thank you, and I yel back. Thank you, sir. Thank you very much, Miss Deloro.
▶ 0:48:42Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Just a couple points before I get to my question. Of the proposals, I understand and reconciliation is a $200 billion cut to the food stamp program. So, it remains to be seen uh how we're going to really maintain that effort to feed hungry people in this country. Attacks on sugary beverages. Uh I've introduced that legislation, the Sweet Act many, many years ago. It's one way in which we can address uh the issue of of of nutrition and food.
▶ 0:49:09let let's talk to those who are uh profiting um and talk about putting that tax that can be used for health purposes. Um I with hope in the nature of nutrition that you would look at um which is taken out before the cash value voucher for fruit and vegetables. It's by hope that you can support that effort with regard to the price of eggs which has oneif of the market on uh egg production $500 million in profits three times what they made last year.
▶ 0:49:38If you're going to address egg prices, you got to talk about price gouging. And I don't know what the administration is doing uh about that. Let me just talk about the safety net uh which leaves New England and specialty crop farmers with few resources to recoup losses, forcing them to make very difficult decisions that put their livelihoods in danger and community food systems at risk. One of the primary reasons that Connecticut has lost 460 farms over the last five years.
▶ 0:50:04The reason I created the new $220 million block grant, the farm support and recovery block grant, specifically tailored to the needs of small and medium-sized farmers in last year's disaster supplemental. Um, I know our our commissioner is going to be here a little bit later. Um, and I know how excited uh that we are about this program and about farmers excited about this program.
▶ 0:50:29Specialty crop farms have a hard time receiving crop insurance because of the lack of availability of coverage for diverse and specialty crops. One of those farmers who you just uh mentioned is in the room today and that's Will Dela. Now let me just ask a series of of questions which are really a yes or no answers. Would you agree that we have a lot more work to do to improve our federal farm safety net to better support small and medium-sized farmers? It's very important. Okay.
▶ 0:50:58Will you commit to getting disaster aid in farmers pockets as soon as possible? Yes, ma'am. We're working 24 hours a day on that. Will you ensure that this $220 million grant covers the losses it intended to cover, including crop and livestock losses. We'll do everything we can. It's my understanding that may not be enough, that in fact the losses are bigger than the 220 million.
▶ 0:51:24What I want to know is because I I I mentioned all kinds of programs that have been funds frozen, terminated. Well, you're talking about the 220 million from Congress. So, are we talking about that or are we talking about bigger things? No, we're I'm talking about specifically today. I I understand more, but we have $220 million right there now that farmers can get access to it. And Will Delicra cannot get the funds that he needs. Ma'am, it was three months ago. The last administration took more than eight years.
▶ 0:51:55It's extremely complicated. I just said that I do not have your commitment. We have the end of the month the money will begin to move which is 220 million block the 220 million. So by the end of the month that money is going to flow and you know this that we have to have agreements with every state. It's not that USDA by ourselves sends a check. I know this the states. So we are working diligently with the states. Your ad commissioner is coming in today to talk about it. So, exactly. I think I've given a lot of confidence that we're working really hard on that energy.
▶ 0:52:25It's not about hard work, Madam Secretary. It is about the commitment to what was passed in the Disaster Relief Act of $220 million that is going to farmers. And when will that money flow? You just said it's the end of the month. For the 10th time since I started 40 minutes ago, it will begin to flow by the end of the month. That we will we we will hold you to that effort. Let me then ask about this because your concern about nutrition. Uh the the real concern about nutrition, which we all have concerns about.
▶ 0:52:54Um uh on the bipartisan basis, for 25 years, administrations and members of Congress have provided enough funding to WICK to serve all eligible families who seek assistance and provide them with full food benefits. I appreciate your commitment to WIC uh yesterday on the Senate side and we anticipate that that that will continue. But will you also commit to funding the cash value voucher for fruits and vegetables at the current level? Well, we'll take a look at that.
▶ 0:53:24I'm not going to commit to it today. In the grand total of of the vision here, we're doing everything we can, but what's so important is we spend $400 million a day on the 16 nutrition programs across USDA. $45 I'm running out million a day. So, there's plenty of money in the system. The voucher, we had to reinstate it because it was eliminated the last go round. We cannot afford to do that because if we're concerned about nutrition, fruits and vegetables and the cash value voucher are central to that effort.
▶ 0:53:53Well, I'd like to keep talking to you about it. Thank you. Y back. Thank you very much, Mr. Mullenar. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And with your permission, I'd like to yield to uh Dan New House. He has another committee meeting. Mr. New House. Yeah. Well, thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Molinar, appreciate your deference. Uh, ranking member, thanks for uh, holding this hearing today. Madam Secretary, pleasure to have you here. Thank you, sir.
▶ 0:54:18If I could just real quickly, I'll also give a shout out to the farmers that are in the room today as a farmer. Appreciate appreciate your attendance and and attention. It's critically important to us. Also, sir, you were here back in the 70s with the tractors made their rounds. I was here, too. I was just taking pictures. I wasn't driving my tractor. It's too far to take from Washington State. But uh good for you.
▶ 0:54:44U Madam Secretary, just wanted to start off by thanking you for uh working so hard to get the marketing assistance for specialy crops out the door as quickly as possible, comparatively lightning speed. So appreciate your dedication to getting all of that done. As you know, they're critically important, especially crop producers, particularly in my district. And it just I can't express enough how important that is.
▶ 0:55:10I wanted to go back to something that the chairman brought up and that's the issue of purchases of domestic farmland by foreign countries particularly China. Um I I should thank you for your staunch support of American farmers in that sentence but uh farmland purchases by the CCP as as you've noted has increased substantially over the past decade.
▶ 0:55:35And I guess my question summarized would um if you have any updates kind of fill us in on some of the conversations that you're having and directions that you're taking in order to stop this really concerning trend that we're seeing in our That's right. I think it's it's clearly bipartisan. It's not one side or the other.
▶ 0:55:53uh in the the great pause which I call the time between Trump one and Trump two I actually worked very very uh a lot of time on this China purchasing of farmland and working with the states and then Governor Christine Gnome of South Dakota, Governor Sarah Sanders of Arkansas, Governor Glenn Yncan of Virginia and currently working with other governors around the country because they can address it at the state level too. So while we are building out the federal solution and sir to your question we are building out the federal solution.
▶ 0:56:20and I'll be making an announcement on that in the next couple of weeks of what that looks like and would love your help uh and any others that are interested in that issue specifically. We do need to have an all of government approach to this. It is a national security issue of the greatest priority from my perspective and so working with the states ensuring they're getting what they need to pass the legislation and again three states already have but having a federally driven effort is of key importance and a priority for us as a member of the select committee on China and sitting right next to the chairman of the select committee
▶ 0:56:50on China that that's really good to hear that come so thank you um switching a little feedback here switching to agricultural research you know In the state of Washington, we grow over 300 different kinds of specialty crops. We're number one producer of apples. Maybe you've heard of Washington apples, hops, blueberries, sweet cherries. A diverse range of crops that uh are so important to our agricultural economy.
▶ 0:57:18Innovation is what truly supports our nation's farmers there. and and so I just wanted to bring up the issue of the cutting edge research that we're we're very fortunate to have through Washington State University uh Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Bioproducts Science and Engineering Laboratory. So I just wanted to I guess Secretary Rollins uh ask you about USDA's continued support for programs that provide critical research for a well and a shout out to Washington State.
▶ 0:57:48Uh, I would love to come visit. That is a really premier institution. I'm You got You got an invitation. I'm a product of a land grant, Texas A&M. So, I I uh I really realize their importance. Just very quickly on ARS, hopefully to provide some confidence, we remain very committed to the cutting edge research at USDA of the 160 uh million dollars that is being cut, but I want to put it in context for you. Uh the current budget is 2.1 billion. We're taking that down to 1.9 billion.
▶ 0:58:17That's just a 7% decrease and it is specifically focused on underutilized and outofdate a handful of facilities around the country. So that is not an acrosstheboard cut. We'll continue to focus with everything we have on important research. Cool. In the 30 seconds I have left, I just wanted to underscore Mr. Valido brought up the issue of a labor. I think this is an opportune time, but like you mentioned, the president's comments are very positive.
▶ 0:58:44I think we've got a commitment on both sides of the aisle to move forward with that reforms that are needed H2A visa program. So love to have your commitment there. And then also just learning about some of the issues with the the the potential infestation of the screworm that's coming up from down south and look forward to working with you on on whatever we can do to stop stop that pest from entering the United States. As you know, I've been very very clear with the country of Mexico on the importance of their partnership.
▶ 0:59:14We maybe weren't getting as much as we needed. And just yesterday, the Secretary of Agriculture of Mexico flew to Washington and we had a very productive conversation on that specific issue. I've already visited uh in South Texas and other areas where it's it's really it would be devastating. Absolutely. For our livestock. So, we're on it and and hopefully are able to solve for it. Great. Again, thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. And Mr. Recognize the gentle lady from Maine who probably has a different opinion on blueberries from Washington than the gentleman from Washington.
▶ 0:59:48Uh thank you very much uh Mr. Chair and thank you for repres uh understanding the supremacy of Maine blueberries uh which I've proven to the committee many times. Uh if you're around I bring in blueberry pies every year to the appropries committee so that they can taste the qualitative difference in our blueberries. Blueberries. I love it. I love it. Secretary Rollins, thank you so much for being with us here today. I appreciate your time. I had a chance to watch the Senate hearing yesterday online and uh was very pleased to hear your exchange with Senator Collins about the PAS issue.
▶ 1:00:18I hope you will bring your mother to visit us. I'm excited to hear she's a PAS legis uh Texas legislator who came because of PAS. Yes. So, uh I know we'll be talking about that much more, but thank you for that. Thank you also during that committee for hearing your uh commitment to staying in touch with us. You have to understand that one of the big challenges for us in this unconventional um cutting phase of this administration is cuts have been made through the doge not through the USDA. We normally would have recisions or riffs. So we would have far more information to deal with.
▶ 1:00:46That's why many of the questions are before you today. So I hope you will keep up that commitment to stay in touch with the house as well as the senate. Those are very important conversations that we have with us with you. I also noticed that many of my colleagues uh talked about the LFPA program and I just want to clear up a few of my concerns. I'm really devastated to see this program be cut. That was such an important way to get more healthy fruits and vegetables into our school lunch and um and to our feeding programs for people in our food banks.
▶ 1:01:15Um my understanding, one of the arguments that you made is it's a co era program. I was there when we put together this program. Well, that was because we had empty shelves and problems with our supply chain. It really the co taught us you can't depend on international and national travel that you need to buy more locally. So, this was an important program to turn to our local farmers um and how we would change some of the ways to support small to medium-sized farmers, which I've heard you commit to.
▶ 1:01:42Um the fact is in our state, we don't have a lot of money sitting around of the 2.6 million. We only have 164,000. So, saying that this money is sitting around, I don't know what's wrong with the other states. Um for some of them, I think it's the reimbursement process. It takes many months to get the invoices out there. Also, it takes wells to develop these relationship with farmers, but now that they have them, we're going to lose them when you cut down this program. It's CCC funding.
▶ 1:02:05I know that's often controversial, but I am worried that you're taking back the CCC money because there's only less than $5 billion in there, and last time Trump had to pay out $29 billion, President Trump did, um, on the tariffs. So, those tariffs are costly, and I don't want to see this money just going to pay off bad tariffs. I'm excited to hear you've got some good information coming on that. But I want to clear up any uh misconceptions there. Farmers are mad that their contracts were cut.
▶ 1:02:31We had our first tractor rally um in the state capital in Maine and tra farmers were showing up because they weren't getting their RC their re rep grants. They weren't getting their equip grants, but they were mad about those broken contracts and our state is worried about losing those relationships. So, just want to clear that up. also with the RCPP program. Uh I know you're working to get that money out and I heard you say to Gene Shaheen yesterday you're going to check on one of her programs. I got 15.5 million dollars out to our wild blueberry growers for um the impacts of climate change.
▶ 1:03:01We could pretend it's not real but we have extreme drought in our state and that money is going 75% to farmers, 25% to engineers. So if you could check on that. Um what's the name of it again? Uh, it's the RCPP grant for Maine wild blueberries, $15.5 million. And happy to send a pie so you know how delicious those blueberries are. Staffing cuts. I'm sorry I'm talking so fast, but I have so much to say. Um, we are very worried about our local offices.
▶ 1:03:27Um, I know that people you say staffing cuts were voluntary. Well, we got rid of all the probationary employees. Then we were told there was going to be administrative review. Some of them would come back, some of them didn't. Let's face it, a lot of people were out of work. They weren't sure what was going to happen and they took that administr they took the deferred resignation and we lost I think four engineers in that process because we paid no attention to what their job was in the first round of those layoffs and many of those people um didn't come back.
▶ 1:03:56So now we have severe staffing um losses at those offices and it's it's critically important. Uh I am going to run out of time but I just want to say most of this has been about the challenges we're already facing. Normally, this would be a hearing about the budget, about the skinny budget, which isn't enough. Um, but what the problems are that we see going on in the future.
▶ 1:04:16And I just want to say one of the real concerns for me is that you've eliminated so much um in rural development on housing, single family direct housing loans, self-help housing grants, rural h housing vouchers, um rural business programs, which aren't housing, but could have a ripple effect. I I'm just saying th those are severe cuts. Now you say they're duplicative, too small, you know, but I think those are going to have a huge impact, especially if this administration cuts HUD.
▶ 1:04:40I also just want to quickly say you have committed to saying that you believe in buying from local farmers, that enhancing our local economy, healthy fruits and vegetables is a big part of MA. So if you go ahead with these MA boxes, which are also in um the plan, I want you to I want to know if you'll commit to making sure that we buy locally, that we put fresh and healthy food in there. Um, you said our food banks don't give people healthy food. That's in the justification of that. But the fact is you're taking away the program that allowed them to give fresh, healthy food.
▶ 1:05:10I am so excited about the Maja box opportunity. And and without being the person packing the box, it's it's hard to say exactly what to commit to, but believe me, I will ensure and do everything I can to make sure those boxes are sourced locally, that they're nutrientdense foods, and that we're doing everything that we can to help those with the least among us. Frankly, great. If you commit to that, we'll be anxious to work with you. I'm sorry for going over, Mr. Chair. I tried to talk as fastly. Thank you.
▶ 1:05:35And I have so many answers, but I I can't answer them, but I would love to continue the conversation, and that's true for everybody. Um, anytime. We would appreciate following. Yeah. Thank you, Mr. Mullen. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and Madam Secretary. It's great to have you with us and uh really appreciate the work you're doing and and the commitments you're uh working on as well. Um, I appreciated your statement about when farmers prosper, rural America prospers. I see that in spades in Michigan.
▶ 1:06:04And, uh, as as I'm sure you're aware, Michigan's one of the most agriculturally diverse states. Um, I represent a, uh, very active agriculture district in Michigan. Uh, my constituents represent a broad range of the issue from row crops to blueberries to cherries, apples, dairy, livestock. Um each of these sectors has their own unique challenges as you know.
▶ 1:06:29Uh but one thing I've heard from all farmers across all types of agriculture is the hurt that the previous administration inflicted on them through extreme increases and the adverse effect wage rate. In fact, I uh asked your predecessor from the Biden administration about that when he was sitting in that very chair and and talked with him about fifth and sixth generation uh farmers going out of business. And I was very disappointed with his response.
▶ 1:06:58It was basically, well, farms have always gone out of business. Um in Michigan, we're now paying more than $18 an hour for H2A labor. And that and not to mention housing, transportation, application costs. And this is unsustainable for our family-owned farms and it's in urgent need of correction. And I want to compliment you because you've already been talking with Secretary of Labor and working on this.
▶ 1:07:27And I also want to thank your staff because I participated in a phone call with them and Department of Labor staff to discuss this issue. Uh I've introduced legislation. Many of uh our folks here on this committee have co-sponsored it that would pause the increase in the adverse effect wage rate and freeze it at the 2023 levels just to give some breathing room because uh it's in dire uh situation.
▶ 1:07:55Uh but we do need a longer term fix and I believe it needs all hands on deck team approach and I believe you're the ideal person to help lead that. And so I guess what I'm asking for uh is your commitment to work with us on this and you've already started that process and we would very much like to be uh at the table and helping advocate for our farmers. And I also want to personally invite you to Michigan. I I will be there. I'm coming.
▶ 1:08:24Listen, this is this is of utmost priority. uh coming from the state of Texas and hearing that our citrus farmers down in South Texas spend on average $23 an hour under exactly the outline that you committed, including housing and some other things. And then right across a mile across the border, um the country of Mexico for the exact same labor is spending $2 an hour maybe at the most. Um our our a farmers can't survive that. There's no possible way.
▶ 1:08:53And so I don't agree obviously with my predecessor, Secretary Vilsac. We've got to fight for every single farmer, every single small farmer. We've got to open up access to get new people into farming. We lose our country if we can't support these smaller farmers. And that is again top of the list for me. Later today, I have a round table with about 20 small farmers from around the country. We're going to be rolling out a policy portfolio just focused on the small farmer.
▶ 1:09:22I've got four Amish farmers coming from Pennsylvania. Uh farmers coming from Utah. I think I've got a couple from your state. And so this is a very very important piece of of solving for that very significant problem. Thank you very much. And uh want to switch gears and talk a little bit about Maha. Thank you for your uh sharing your insights on that. Um the role that milk and dairy products play in a healthy diet is to me indisputable.
▶ 1:09:50Um but in the prior administration when they finalized a food package with women, infants and children program, it reduced the eligible dairy aotment that could be purchased by a family each month. And it was even more troubling that they finalized this change because considering that in the fiscal year 2024 spending agreement, we included a bipartisan directive for them not to do so.
▶ 1:10:14Um, knowing that dairy remains underconumed and yet is a source of three key nutrients of public health concern, are you open to exploring whether this change can be reversed administratively or if it can't, will you work with us to fix the problem legislatively? Yes, sir, 100%. And I think an important part of this is dietary guidelines. Our uh Secretary Kennedy and I are working on that together as we speak.
▶ 1:10:39uh we got a 4 and I think 53 page uh new set of dietary guidelines from the last administration. I won't say that we're starting from scratch because I think a lot of well-intentioned people did a lot of good work on that. But you'll see by the end of this year, hopefully early fall, the new set of dietary guidelines coming out from our two agencies and uh and I think you will be very very pleased. It will be very simple. Um it will speak directly to the American family.
▶ 1:11:06It will support our local farmers and producers and uh it will ensure that the incredible um product of milk is is right up there at the top. Wonderful. Thank you. And I yield back, Mr. Chairman. Thank you very much, Miss Underwood. Oh god. Hi. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um Trump tariffs have been a hot topic this year and the family farmers I represent uh well, they're just terrified that their farms and their bank accounts won't survive the Trump presidency.
▶ 1:11:32The farmers I represent in Decal, Lasal, Mandota, and across Northern Illinois are hardworking and resilient. They grow pumpkins and horseradish and asparagus and all kinds of fresh produce. And I know that farming is hard work and they take its challenges in stride. However, each year small family farms are shut down while the big corporate farms get even bigger. Listen, the family farmers I'm worried about aren't the ones who have lobbyists roaming the halls here in DC.
▶ 1:12:01And right now, Donald Trump is hurting these small family farms. To be very clear, this isn't the same trade war that we saw in his first term where soybean growers were hit the hardest. This one is bigger, it's costlier, it's more chaotic. Secretary Rollins, I know that you don't set tariff policy, but you are responsible for helping farmers respond to it. So, what is USDA doing to support all farmers, not just the biggest and most well-connected through these challenges?
▶ 1:12:25Well, I I hear you and I agree with you and I think that's why today we are going to we're launching the effort to start focusing more on the smaller farms moving forward. So, I would love to work with you on that if if you're willing to do that. Uh at the end of the day, I have taken a different approach perhaps than prior agriculture secretaries. I think both Republican and Democrat.
▶ 1:12:44In the past, it was more of a I don't want to say defensive mode, but more of a wait and see what happens and then be there to sort of pick up the pieces and figure out how to solve for some of the potential at least short-term damages and long-term. My approach has been different. My approach is to be in constant daily contact with Secretary Lutnik, Secretary Bessent, Jameson Greer, our USR, and the president and the vice president. Right. But this is about the small family farmer who doesn't have that straight line to any of those cabinets or administration. But that's my point.
▶ 1:13:12on behalf of those small family farms, ensuring that that is understood the potential implications and that agriculture is in the room with every decision that is being made. And as I mentioned earlier, the announcements that are coming are extremely positive and all of the farmers, but especially the smaller family farmers will be really, really happy. Well, we're not happy yet because Illinois leads the nation in pumpkin production, ma'am.
▶ 1:13:38And unlike big corporate farms, our pumpkin growers do not have the resources for high-powered lobbyists or trade groups. And we're not seeing the support. We're not the the growers are not seeing the support. The farmers disagree. Ma'am, I didn't That wasn't a question. Well, no, it is a question. We've got a poll from yesterday that says 70% of farmers approve and support the president's tariff. Mr. Chairman, thank you.
▶ 1:14:03It is not just the rising cost of fertilizer, farm equipment, and land that's hurting family farmers. It's the uncertainty. Farmers are the backbone of our rural economy. They need stability for their business and for their future. And right now, they're being crushed by a tariff whiplash, a financial system that holds them back and USDA that often puts big corporations ahead of family farms.
▶ 1:14:27When the tariff policy swings widely, farmers struggle to secure the loans that they need to plant their crops and keep their farms running. Banks then refuse to lend. They jack up interest rates and they demand more collateral and leave family farmers drowning in debt while the biggest a giants take in record profits. Farmers can't invest and grow their operations because they don't know if they'll survive the next year, let alone turn a profit. And they can't trust that the system works for them.
▶ 1:14:55But it's not just this harmful terror policy that's crushing our family farmers. It's also the USDA policies under your watch. The USDA's decision to slash1 billion dollars from programs like the local food purchase assistance program is a direct assault on family farmers. This program supports small farmers. It strengthens local economies and feeds families in need. Everything that we should be championing. Cutting this program doesn't make America healthy. Period. It doesn't support farmers.
▶ 1:15:25It doesn't save taxpayers money. It doesn't make the government more efficient. What it does do what it does do is it pushes more small farmers out of business. And for what? To help pay for tax cuts that benefit Trump and Musk and the biggest corporate farms for sure. While the hardworking farmers in Decal and Menota and Lasal Illinois are left behind.
▶ 1:15:50Doesn't matter how much USDA spends a day on nutrition if those dollars are stripped from the programs that support local farms. We send billions of dollars to the agriculture industry every year. But where those billions of dollars go tells a different story. And right now, I'm concerned that this administration's priorities are not with the small family farms in my district. They're with the big guys, the ones who already have the system rigged in their favor. And it's time for that to change. I yield back.
▶ 1:16:20Thank you very much, the gentle lady from Louisiana, Miss Latlo. I'm sorry I couldn't answer all those questions, but I would really like the opportunity to have a later discussion. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and uh thank you, Madam Secretary, for being here today. It is encouraging to see someone with your background sitting in that chair and your leadership. And I would just like to give you uh some kudos because you recently just named as FSA director for Louisiana Craig McCain. Yes, it took you three months to do that.
▶ 1:16:50The last administration, we didn't have an FSA director for over a year and a half. Wow. Thank you. I'll let the team know. Thank you for that, Congressman. It means a lot to our farmers. And I'd like to also give you kudos for ECAP to get that funding to our small farmers. I had a small farmer call me last night and say because that money came in so quickly that it saved his farm. he was able to get the funding that he needed and the credit that he needed to be able to plant again. He was a small farmer.
▶ 1:17:20It saved his farm because of your leadership. Thank you. Also, um I want to thank you for uh continuing to spread your message across the country. And I know you haven't made it to Louisiana yet. We are so excited to have you there to deliver your keynote speech and your vision for what uh agriculture will look like through USDA and how we will partner together in Congress and work together to deliver for our farmers.
▶ 1:17:47So my first question is an absolute softball question to you, but if in the meantime I can share with those concerned farmers who had to endure the great pause as you call it and have had a really rough last four years, what can you share with them right now that I can go back and also tell them uh until you make it to Louisiana to deliver those keynote addresses? Well, thank you for that and thank you for the shout out to the team. I I give too much credit.
▶ 1:18:15I I think they have been working a lot of them sitting behind me have just been extraordinary. So I I so appreciate that it has been a 7 day a week 1820 hour a day effort for a couple of months. Uh what I would say is this that the American agriculture economy is suffering perhaps like never before with a $50 billion trade deficit just over the last four years likely to reach 63 billion uh based on numbers from last year very quickly.
▶ 1:18:39Number two, the cost of inputs increased 30% during the Great Pause under the last administration, 30%. So, while our farmers and our ranchers are facing margins of profitability um of almost zero, many of them like never before, while being hit with trade deficits, while being hit with the cost of inputs, while being hit with, frankly, an administration that didn't fight for them, not just the the big farmers, but the small family farms, too. And that's such a big priority of mine.
▶ 1:19:06But help has arrived as we look at cutting taxes and deregulating and opening up markets and realigning the trade regime around the world to not just allow American products to participate, but for American products to win. I believe that American agriculture is moving into an era of prosperity unlike they've seen in our lifetimes. That is my fervent hope, prayer, and work every day toward. Thank you. You can feel it. I will share that with them for sure. Uh I have one last follow-up question.
▶ 1:19:35You know, during the last administration, I repeatedly raised concerns both in hearings and in discussions with the USDF USDA officials about how existing disaster programs like the 22 emergency relief program and other RMA products have failed to adequately capture quality losses for my farmers. Despite Congress clearly stating that quality losses of crops should be covered, many producers in my district saw little to no relief under past assistance for programs.
▶ 1:20:01Under the first Trump administration, the USDA worked with our farmers to create the quality loss adjustment program, and it delivered meaningful assistance where ERP fell short. Uh, Madam Secretary, is the USDA currently considering rebooting the quality loss adjustment program under the upcoming round of assistance? And if not, what alternative methodologies are you considering to ensure that quality losses are accurately captured in this next phase of assistance? Yes, we are looking at that very closely and would love your help.
▶ 1:20:29And specifically, and this is true for everybody, any farmers or ranchers in your district, I say send us their stories of of too much paperwork, of too much regulation, of too much slow, whatever it is. We can't make change without fully understanding the challenges, but we would love to work with you and and your team on that. Absolutely. I'll send you a story of soybeans the last couple of years. It was pretty rough, but I look forward to working with you. Thank you so much for being here. Thank you, Congresswoman. Thank you. Thank you very much. Uh, Miss Glen Camp Perez.
▶ 1:20:59Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you, Secretary, for being here. Um, so I represent Southwest Washington. We're big, um, shellfish, timber. Um, and we have a lot of small f and very small farms. Average size is about 60 acres. Um, filberts, blueberries, um, some dairy still. And it's um it is in many ways like we have persisted in in these smaller farms not being consolidated.
▶ 1:21:29Um people really working to try to get food to their communities. And and um I guess one of the things that I've heard from some of my shellfish growers, you know, they've suffered terribly under a a regulatory burden, you know, doing anything in water, right? It's it's been difficult for them. Um, but during these reductions in force, during the Doge, what they told me was that look, they fired the guy that does our water quality testing, but they still have somebody tweeting. They still have a comm's director.
▶ 1:21:59Like, could you talk to me about how you're, you know, who is this B? Like, where are we going? Right. No, I would be happy to. And, and in fact, I'm happy so excited to use my my chart. I wasn't sure I was going to get to use that, but I think it's important, my handydandy chart here. uh when we left uh before the last administration came in USDA was staffed at about 97,000 employees. In the last four years when we came back we were closer to 113,000 employees.
▶ 1:22:26So the staffing up in the last administration using mostly IRA and IJA funding, the infrastructure and the um inflation reduction act money that was supposed to be spent over 10 years was actually under Secretary Vilsac uh infused in a massive amount as the staffing up happened and happened and happened and you can see it was a absolutely unsustainable. We don't and can't keep up the money.
▶ 1:22:51To answer your question though to be fair on the FSA side and the specific offices we are going office by office. So if you and if your farmers are in a position where you've got a comms person but you don't have anyone that's interacting with those farmers would you please let us know and let us work to solve for that. I think that as we move forward the intentionality of what we are doing becomes more hyperfocused on those priority areas as I mentioned at the beginning of the hearing and and that's important.
▶ 1:23:18It it does feel to a lot of us like it is not addressing this balance of work boots to clipboards of spreadsheets to work boots. It does well that's why we need your partnership. And you know people say well I don't know why these loggers can't trust the you know trust the science.
▶ 1:23:35Well, because in living memory, we were told to, you know, bring a bulldozer to the stream beds, take all the woody debris out, and now they're, you know, now they're helicoptering in root wads when we don't have air conditioning in our schools, when we haven't had SRS reauthorized. Yeah. They're firing all the PAR educators. They're still tweeting like Well, no one's been fired, but I but I hear you. And these are the sort of stories that we need um to hear, and that would be really really helpful.
▶ 1:24:03And I know we've worked on timber a lot which hopefully you your smaller timber guys can can feel some positivity from that but would love to continue that conversation. You know it's it's we have fought hard and and I one of the most haunting memories I have from being you know I used to run an auto repair shop. This is new to me and and the the most haunting memory was a I was a farmer.
▶ 1:24:24He's like a grown man like crying starting to cry like I don't know if I can get this farm to the fifth generation and like the the the suicide rate like I think there's a lot of useless metrics and I think one metric I would really ask you to focus on is is the suicide rate going to health it's three and a half times higher than any other population what the are we doing other than our veterans and our farmers I it's it is Um,
▶ 1:24:54it's profound and I think what I hear is that why is it so difficult for me to just sell school food to the school? My smaller schools, they can't go through the regulatory uh burden of of getting in those programs. Um, what my farmers want is guaranteed market access. They want to be able to know that they can grow real food and and bring it to our schools. And a lot of these programs, we're starting to crack that door open. And as you're rebuilding, like the bigger question has to be like, can people just do the thing that's right?
▶ 1:25:24Do we are we are are we are we empowering our farmers to stand up to the consolidation to stand up to the foreign land ownership and just be able to sell food to their schools? I agree. I I agree with that. Really quickly though on the the local food because I think it's important that when that money was pulled back, your state of Washington has 7 million of 11 million left in that fund.
▶ 1:25:45And so part of the reason that that was really became a conversation piece and and a part of the decision-making is because many of the states, not Maine, but many of the states had so much money left, they couldn't spend it quickly enough. And so while we're looking at the $45 million a day we're spending in nutrition just from USDA. There's got to be a better way to balance the taxpayer interest with the interest that you just outlined. So I look forward to working on that. Hopefully expanding the markets worldwide will help.
▶ 1:26:14But understanding with your local farmers these programs and and continuing to build those partnerships with local and state help is really important. Thank you. Thank you very much. Uh the gentle lady from Iowa where agriculture I hear is a little important. We we grow and raise a few things in Iowa. Thank you so much, Madam Secretary, for coming today. And I want to start off by thanking you for coming to Iowa. We were one of the first states that you came to visit. You visited a hog farm in our state. I feel a little like I'm having to pick my favorite child of my four. I've got four teenagers.
▶ 1:26:44I feel like I'm having to who is your favorite? But I had an awesome brag because you came to Iowa. So, thank you so much. Um really appreciate the conversations that you had on the ground. Um and you've really you did really hit the ground running. Um you know, I have two teenage boys, so I am particularly thankful for what you've done on egg prices because we were like having to go to market rate. We were like, you know, you can only have one today. Very, very rationalized. Um you're protecting conservation, the assistance programs. I mean, you've really done all this while still respecting taxpayers in this process, which I really appreciate.
▶ 1:27:13Um, but I want to hit on Prop 12. As you probably know, based upon your conversations in Iowa with our hog farmers, you know, this policy out of California, Massachusetts had question three. um they've really created sign significant challenges for our producers and um I I really appreciate your commitment to examining laws like this, but can you talk about some of the consequences for our farmers and producers if policies like this that you know are really state-bystate really start to flow down and impact um interstate commerce issues?
▶ 1:27:41I think it's really important and no one is a bigger believer in federalism and the 10th amendment and allowing the blue states and the red states and the purple states to be the laboratories of democracy. I think that's one of the geniuses of our founding father's vision when they wrote the constitution. But when a state like California or other states passes laws that have significant impact outside of their state border, then that is not sustainable. And specific to Prop 12, we have understood that. We see it.
▶ 1:28:10I think it's pretty bipartisan. Uh maybe not 100% but very bipartisan across both sides of the aisle that that is not um it's just not sustainable. So having a a federal approach to that, ensuring that we're protecting our pork producers, especially some of our other livestock producers underneath the regime of Prop 12 is is important. So we'll keep working on that together and I really look forward to it. Yeah. Well, and certainly I appreciate your commitment to federalism because we believe in that too, right?
▶ 1:28:36We want California to be able to regulate its own producers, but we don't want them to be able to tell Iowa farmers uh how to raise our animals and do their jobs. And uh we have heard a lot about that high cost associated with that, about $4,000 per SA. So then you think about um other state laws kind of coming into the mix and that creep that can happen um is something we certainly have to to fix.
▶ 1:28:56Um do you believe that that kind of uh patchwork policy whether it's Prop 12 or other you know other policies that could come down the pipeline could put small family farms out of business if that's allowed to continue. I do and I think again speaking across the party line across the aisle that we're all focused on small family farms regardless of what the lady said.
▶ 1:29:16I I think that we all understand and agree that is the backbone of America and there's no America if if they continue to go out of business and not be able to hand off their farms to their children and their grandchildren. And when we put so much burden on them um now we're talking about regulation specifically but other burdens along the way it becomes an unsustainable way of life and that's what we have to really target.
▶ 1:29:41We've already begun the deregulation effort, not just across the government, but specific to USDA with line speeds and some other decisions that we've made and you'll see a much bigger package coming out soon to get the government off the back of our farmers. Loved hearing that. I know our farmers love hearing that red tape is being cut every single day. So, thank you for your work and leading on that. And uh in the time I have remaining, I want to touch on an issue critical for national security.
▶ 1:30:03We already talked about China and the land ownership issues, but I want to talk about our a supply chain for food because you look at I was just recently on the ground at a at a um a mill in Iowa and some of the food their feed, right? They're trying to put together animal feed and many of the bags had, you know, Chinese characters. They're coming from China, right? All these additives. Um China does control um the majority of the world's amino acids and vitamins. So what risks would uh our producers continue to face if we continue to have that reliance on foreign adversaries?
▶ 1:30:32You know, hopefully we get these trade deals done and things normalize, but um realistically we could be in some tumultuous times ahead. We could be. And I think that's why President's Trump, President Trump's vision is so important that if we continue down the trajectory of relying on other countries and other countries coming into America and buying our farmland, this is no longer just about protecting those who feed, clothe, and fuel the nation and the world like some of the guys sitting behind me. It now becomes about national security.
▶ 1:31:00America will no longer be able to protect ourselves, be the world's economic superpower if we can't stop relying on international and other countries to help feed and clothe us and and that can be can becomes extremely important and I think one of the most important visions of President Trump that we have to effectuate if we want an America to give to our future children and grandchildren. Well, look forward to working with you on how we can bring that supply chain home as much as possible to protect those who, as you said, feed, fuel, and clothe the world. So, thank you, Madam Secretary.
▶ 1:31:31Thank you, Congressoman. I yield back, Mr. Chairman. Thank you. The gentle lady from Florida is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Madam Secretary, it's good to see you. Um, I I appreciate the opportunity to talk with you. I I want to raise the deep concerns that u many of us have about the over 5 billion in USDA program funding that remains frozen under this administration. That is funding that farmers, food producers, and rural communities were told that they could count on. And in many cases, these are not speculative awards or pending applications.
▶ 1:32:01These are signed agreements, binding contracts between the federal government and farmers where the terms were agreed to, budgets were made, and in some cases, planning or construction even has already begun. Farmers in Florida and across the country invested real money and made huge business decisions based on these commitments. That includes producers participating in USDA's conservation programs, reap energy projects and food purchase agreements with schools and food banks. And now they're only getting silence or worse, cancellation notices.
▶ 1:32:32And that this funding freeze is not just a bureaucratic delay. You can't tell me, well, this is just all under review. It's been reviewed by Congress. It's law. These are programs and funding that these farmers have counted on. uh purchase agreements with schools and food banks and it's a breach of trust. I've heard from Florida citrus growers, specialty crop farmers, and small agricultural businesses who feel abandoned.
▶ 1:32:57They don't know if they'll be reimbursed for expenses they sunk into these projects or if they'll need layoff workers and they're left with one simple devastating question. Can I still trust the federal government to honor its word? So, can you explain why these agreements remain frozen? what authority the department has to delay these payments and how USDA plans to repair the damage to your credibility among farmers.
▶ 1:33:22We have courts that are ordering this administration to unfreeze these funds and you're not doing so and choosing to violate the law. Um or are are you going to abide by the law or are you going to listen to Elon Musk? Well, oh, there's so much there. So, thank you um for the opportunity to talk about this. Uh, first of all, at the very top, what I would ask is is any specifics contracts that you are getting feedback from your constituents or others on, would you send those to us and just make sure? There are a lot. That would be great.
▶ 1:33:50The second thing I'll say is the 20 billion that was frozen uh has all been reviewed and released down to the final five billion. I understand five billion is still a lot of money, but we have made progress. The rest of that will be finished. It's it's m it's happening daily, but by the end of the month, a lot of it we have reconstituted. Um, obviously the last administration had very different priorities than we do at USDA. There was a lot of effort put on diversity, equity, and inclusion, on climate programs.
▶ 1:34:17Interrupt you for and we're uh we've reorganized now that too to support the family farm and the farmer. Madam Secretary, if I can interrupt you for a moment. Yes, please. Um, I understand that you might have different priorities between administrations. That doesn't change the fact that these are programs that are law, that it is funding that was appropriated by Congress and that was in process for delivery. And just because the new administration has different priorities doesn't mean that you can freeze those funds and block access to them or cancel those programs. Well, I I disagree.
▶ 1:34:46Well, the premise is correct, but the facts the facts are wrong with the administration. Well, we have we have abided by every court order. There is not one court order we have not abided by abided by. So, please let please let us know if you know differently, if your staff sees differently, but the court we can take off the table. Every time the court has told us to do something, we have of course followed. But to your point, Congress did not tell the last USDA to spend $600,000 studying the menstrual cycle of transgender mice.
▶ 1:35:13That was not a congressionally directed I mean that's a preposterous example. No, but it is actually an example the the supporting food justice for queer farmers in San that did not come from Congress. Reclaiming my time. I understand. But I think that's what you're saying is when I say that I'm reclaiming my time, it means that I need to ask you something else. So Okay. Well, if what you're saying isn't factual, then I have to pause for a moment so I can do that cuz the time is mine.
▶ 1:35:40M, if you would give me some of that time back, I would appreciate it. You have $2 million, $2 billion in food aid that was frozen. You have the US Agency for Global Media that was frozen, $250 million. You have the you have Americanore state and national grant programs that were frozen. You have agricultural conservation easement program $500 million that was frozen.
▶ 1:36:10Watershed programs $800 million that was frozen. And you're going to tell me all of that money has been distributed now and the reviews are done and the grants have been the grant funding has been released? No. No. No. No. No. Of course not. All of it has been reviewed and realigned with this administration's goals. while complying with the law and court orders. Let's talk about food aid.
▶ 1:36:30So, you're going to I'm sure you're talking about the uh oh, goodness gracious, the name escapes me, but but the big one, food for aid, maybe that is a very very big program. Hundred $240 million I believe only 37 million of that was actually farm related. The layers of abuse and waste and bureaucracy. Reclaiming my time, Madam Secretary. That's what we have to realign for the taxpaying my time. It doesn't change the fact that it's still law.
▶ 1:36:57It was still appropriated funds directed by Congress in many cases with specificity on what No, I I had about a minute and a half that the secretary would not give me my time back. So I I would like to answer the questions back and I would like to make sure that you answer my question, but I don't have time to answer them on the specificity of the programs that were appropriated by Congress within those funds. And the department froze them and did not release the funds.
▶ 1:37:25And you are not allowed by law to decide that because your priorities don't line up with the way Congress appropriated those funds specifically to just decide not to spend them. We will have very much the gentle ladies was recognized for an extra minute. The gentleman from Virginia, Mr. Klein, is recognized. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
▶ 1:37:45I'm going to give you the opportunity to respond because I do believe that you do have the authority if you find there to be uh wasteful uh spending in some of these programs, fraudulent spending in some of these programs, administration of these programs. If you find fraud, if you find abuse of taxpayer dollars, it's not only your ability that you're right. It's your responsibility to the taxpayers to pause those funds to make sure that they're being administered properly. So, I commend you for what you're doing. Uh you're looking after the farmers of this country.
▶ 1:38:14You're looking after the taxpayers of this country. So, I'll give you the chance to respond before I ask you some questions about bird flu. Well, thank you, sir. I will just echo what you said. Every decision that we are making is in the interest of the taxpayer, the farmer and the rancher and the agriculture producer. We are not violating any law. And if in fact we see law that has been violated, I would ask the gentle lady has now left. But I would ask her or her staff to let us know. That's extremely important.
▶ 1:38:43There was a mandate in November of 2024 to realign the entire government around putting Americans first and not putting bureaucrats and and massive government programs first. And that's what we're doing every day. And the people support us and the inflation's coming down, jobs are going up. I mean, this is a this is making America and American agriculture great again. So, thank you for allowing me to say that. Madam Secretary, you're doing a great job.
▶ 1:39:06And I want to highlight one area where you are prioritizing taxpayer dollars, and that is to combat aven influenza. The turkey industry, which is in my district in the Shannondoa Valley, I know you know it well. You're welcome anytime. It's been greatly impacted by u aven flu and ini in addition to that blackhead is another disease that's impacted poultry in my district.
▶ 1:39:28Uh the subcommittee has supported research being conducted at USDA a research service to better understand how blackhead colonies and turkeys and work is underway to identify potential pathways for control of the disease. So I would urge you to uh continue to prioritize this research and staff associated with the research uh in their We will definitely do that. And I have visited a lot of our poultry producers in the last 83 days. Uh it has been devastating, devastating and losing entire flocks.
▶ 1:39:57We we just have to do better. Um the aven bird flu reared its ugly head after 10 years of nothing two years ago. Uh the last administration worked to mitigate and manage it, but but didn't really have a bold plan to fix it. And that's what we're working to do. Uh thank you. And I want to shift gears a little bit. your predecessor was uh um had quite a track record and it's not a pretty one.
▶ 1:40:21Um I questioned him last year about the Biden Harris's USDA's $1 million ongoing collaboration with Wuhan, the Wuhan labs parent organization, the Chinese Academy of Sciences in the project. Uh the USDA's a research service and the communist party controlled CAS were conducting dangerous experiments to manipulate bird flu viruses using gain of function research techniques to see if they could create new strains that might infect humans.
▶ 1:40:47On top of that, the CAS researcher leading China's side of the project has listed the Wuhan Institute of Urology as one of his affiliations. It may not surprise you that Secretary Vilsac defended and distorted this risky project. He denied collaboration even though that word is literally in the project title. He also said that quote there's not data sharing. All of this is basically walled off so everything we're doing stays with us. It doesn't necessarily go to the UK or to China end quote.
▶ 1:41:13However, Foyer records state USDA will spend tax dollars to visit the lab in China regularly to quote share results on site. It's remarkable. Would will you commit to discontinuing funding for this project and other research with Chinese labs while we continue to fight this this epidemic, this aven flu? Yes, it is my understanding that those have been discontinued just in the last few months, but we will double check that today. If they haven't, then 100% yes.
▶ 1:41:39And I'm sure you saw that the president has also made this a priority uh and is is willing to take whatever measures necessary to ensure we're we're protecting our people and our producers in this country. Outstanding. With that, um, I will yield back to the chairman if he wants the remaining minute of my time. Thank you. Thank you very much. Uh, want to recognize the gentle lady from Ohio who m Mr. M secretary, Madam Secretary, if if you're intrigued by the idea of by American for SNAP, we might have a willing partner. I love it. I love it.
▶ 1:42:10Lady is recognized. Thank you so much. Thank Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and welcome, Madam Secretary. We've not had a chance to meet unfortunately this morning and uh we got three committees all so important meeting simultaneously and all of us are running around. This is not the way Congress should operate.
▶ 1:42:30I am willing to work late into the evening in order to allow and I'm not blaming this committee but the process that's been set up is very unfair to witnesses and very unfair to members and I don't like it at all. So I will exit immediately after questions because I have to run to two other committees. It's not an intelligent way to operate the country. Well, I am always available. So if we don't get to it, feel free to call me personally anytime. Thank you. My first question is an easy one.
▶ 1:42:56Does the Department of Agriculture still permit the Virginia and Maryland farmers to sell at the USDA farmers market to set a good example for the country to support local agriculture? I believe the answer is yes. But let me let me that's one question I have not had in all these days. So I will double check and get back to your office today. That's an important one because that's the answer is 100% yes from the smart people sitting by.
▶ 1:43:20I want to help that even though I'm in competition with the chairman of this committee uh because he grows in his district too. But we the millions of people that go down that mall. That is our advertisement for local agriculture. I love it. And any and there's a truck they used to take around. I don't know if they still do that, but do whatever you They had it hidden behind some bushes the last time I was over there. And I really think we need to showcase agriculture, and you are in a perfect place to do it to the millions of people that visit this city. And I don't live here.
▶ 1:43:50Uh but but anyway, but that gets me to my point. I have fought for many years for the um senior farmers market and wick farmers market program. We used to call it the coupon program because senior citizens know what coupons are. are the younger generation's all, you know, electronic, but seniors know what coupons are. It was a measly amount of money, 50 bucks for those that qualified. And our area office on aging uh conducted this program.
▶ 1:44:16We used to have 22,000 seniors, and this program is only a $20 million program. It's an embarrassment, but it's in the books. Okay. So, we had 22,000 seniors who got $50 a summer. And I could tell you so many compelling stories of what those $50 meant, and they had to buy it from local producers. and what it means to those producers. I am so worried we will not have a follow-on generation of farmers in this country.
▶ 1:44:41And there's a reason for it because of conglomerate agriculture that has squeezed out these local producers, local innovation. And it's wrong. It's wrong. These people work so hard and they have so many ideas that are fresh into the organic producers that are coming along and so forth. So this program just in my little area, I have eight counties, seven of them are rural, okay? 150 farmers registered. We actually had a registry of local farmers. When these seniors would get these coupons, they could go to those 150 places. It was great.
▶ 1:45:12We had up to 150 farmers. You show me any other district in the country that's done that. And we had 22,000 seniors and I don't know how many wick recipients we had, but it was a lot. They'd go to the downtown farmers market. Anyway, what USDA did, and I don't know why, and I don't know who, but they decided to send make it an electronic program. Do you know how many seniors can't use those devices? Yes. When they're sitting alone in their home.
▶ 1:45:40Um and uh they for the farmers I went out to one of our biggest uh produce stands and I said, "Mr. Bergman, where's the" He goes, "I don't do that anymore." Farmer Bergman, why? I don't want to get into that electronic stuff. I don't have time for it. Ma'am, this has killed the program. uh 22,000 people. That doesn't count the wick recipient. Just 22,000 seniors in my area, 135 farmers. This year, we've only had 32 farmers register for the program.
▶ 1:46:08So, I am hellbent on this because if we don't do this, we're not going to have farmers. And they can farm in the city. Now, we've got examples of where we're doing that all the way from Manhattan all the way to Columbus, Ohio, and Cleveland, Chicago. Some of our new farmers are in the cities. They're I met a guy yesterday from Battle Creek, Michigan. Phenomenal. He was here with the farmers union. Um, so I'm just saying I need help to help my people and to help whether they're the farmers or whether they're the consumers. Something is really wrong in Denmark. Yeah. And we need your help.
▶ 1:46:38This is the first I've heard of it, but we will look into it. And why don't you and I jump on the phone in the next day or two and let's have a longer conversation. Thank you. That's my only question. Thank you very much. Thank you so much, ma'am. Thank you. The gentleman from Florida, Mr. Franklin. Thank you, Mr. chairman and thank you secretary for being here. I apologize. We've all been bouncing back and forth. I've got to get my head out of energy now and back into get to agriculture. Yes. Appreciate your time. And a is so critical uh to my state.
▶ 1:47:05Most people assume if you live in Florida, you either live at Disney World or at the beach. And I have to tell them, you know, hey, we've got we've got so much agriculture. I've got one of the largest agriculture districts east of the Mississippi and I've got more cows than registered voters. But uh thank you very much for your time here. I know you spoke earlier and I apologize if if I've missed it if you've expanded further, but uh you talked about block grants. It's an important thing to the state of Florida. We're not as much about commodities as we are the specialty crops and and I know our what we grow and do doesn't fit as neatly into some of the other programs.
▶ 1:47:35It is vitally important to you uh to us. But uh to to add a little more, I'm very excited that we got some more information forthcoming hopefully today and and money rolling out soon. Since I came to Congress four years ago for hurricane seasons ago, we've had six named hurricanes in Florida.
▶ 1:47:51Um I alongside our entire 28 member delegation, this is something that we agree on uh wholeheartedly, uh supported HR 662 in the 118th Congress would have allowed USDA to implement block grants uh for the money approved for the 2022 year uh a losses. Passed the House, didn't get through the Senate. We didn't get the 60 votes that we needed there, so it died.
▶ 1:48:13Uh following hurricanes Milton and Helen last fall, I led a a letter to Secretary Vilsac requesting that the block grants be utilized in disaster aid for 23 and 24. Again, we got the entire uh delegation on it, including uh now Secretary of State Rubio and Senator Scott and again crickets from USDA. We didn't didn't get anything back from them. Um it's it's vitally important to us. Um, we've submitted a request for 2 and a half billion in block grant authority on April 3rd.
▶ 1:48:41And um, uh, I along with Representative Kamak and Senators Scott and Moody have sent you a letter. So, and I know you've been on the Hill testifying this week. You haven't probably haven't seen that yet, but again, just underscoring how important it is to us. Um, I know you said specific amounts are forthcoming, but but can you comment at all about maybe how these block grants are going to be administered? Will they will it be would the state have unilateral authority to divvy up that money? Will they be allocated to specific uh crop participants or or users?
▶ 1:49:09Anything you could give my folks I know at home are desperate to get right. Um it is my understanding. If I'm wrong about this, I will follow up with the entire committee because this affects every single person. But we have for the last 8 to 12 weeks been negotiating. Uh negotiating is probably a strong word. Collaborating with your a secretary and with some of your leadership uh in your state. Every state will look a little bit differently which is why this is so complicated. This isn't like ECAP where there's one formula, you enter the portal, in three days you get paid.
▶ 1:49:37Um, this is different, but I think a tremendous amount of work has been done. We will triple check on Florida and let you know exactly where that is in the process. Uh, but as later today at a press conference, I'll be talking a little bit more about this, but the most important thing is that money will begin to move by the end of this month. And uh, and we believe everything will be paid out uh, within a month or two after that. So by this summer and that uh we are again it's very very complicated but our team is working around the clock.
▶ 1:50:05Would love any feedback you have on that but again we will follow up directly with you and anyone else on the committee that's working to uh to to for their constituents on this. We know there are hurting farmers that can't pay their bills because of this money. And so if I have to go in myself and and you know I will do it. you know, unfortunately now it's such a cash flow issue that only those I mean folks are spending their own money down to nothing and a lot of them are are literally selling the farm because they just can't hold out any longer. Um that's right.
▶ 1:50:34Also want to thank you big shout out for helping us fill our state FSA director. We've had a lot of challenges. I know other states have but in Florida we particularly have and with the nature of the hurricanes and uh people needing more support. We've got a great team but they've been overworked and and uh under manned. So thank you very much for that. Uh Florida uh ranks as uh 16th in the US for agricultural cash receipts. I know I think you'd mentioned in your Senate testimony that you've visited 15 states so far. Yes. Uh so does that mean we may uh Florida may be your 16th.
▶ 1:51:04Yeah. Well, Nebraska is Monday, but Florida is soon after. I promise. I promise. Okay. You don't have to win a Super Bowl ring to come on down to I know. I fair. That's fair. All right. Thank you. Yeah, we're coming. Well, my goal I head to England on Sunday as we begin the international travel to take our agriculture products to the world as we're negotiating and renegotiating these trade agreements. I have I mentioned I don't know that you were in here, but it's important to underscore the president's vision on realigning um the world economy around American products.
▶ 1:51:33We are making so much progress and it is all hands- on deck. So, in the coming couple of months, I'll be in England, I'll be in Asia, I'll be in South America taking again our products to the world and to the government. and I had Mexico in yesterday. So, uh, we are aggressive and we are working around the clock to to fix all that. One quick thing and hopefully of interest, Mr. Chairman, if you don't mind, um, to the letters. Um, I've had a lot of feedback from many of people about unanswered letters. So, we are working very hard.
▶ 1:51:59We've had 142 hit my desk in since I started 83 days ago. Uh, to date, we've answered I think almost 80 of those 142 being very understaffed. I still don't love that number, but it's it's hopefully we're making progress. My goal is to turn letters around within four to five days upon receiving them. And hopefully we'll be able to hit that mark very very quickly. If you can't get us and if it's an important issue, and this is for everybody, not just the friends on my side, um just call us.
▶ 1:52:27Just call us and let's have a conversation on how we can fix some of this. Great. Thank you, Madam Secretary. Chairman, I yield back. Thank you. Thank you very Thank you very much. And well, if we're all getting in the queue for the visits, Maryland, Eastern Shore, pretty close and it's so much easier. I can just drive. Yes, sir. I'll be there. With that, I do want to uh recognize the chairman of of the full committee. And in typical style for the chairman, you know, he we do have several meeting at the same time.
▶ 1:52:51He came in late and told me he wants to make sure all the members from both sides of the aisle speak and ask questions first before he gets his turn. But Mr. Chairman, it's your turn. Thank you very much. I know you've got a hard stop, so I'll try and be uh uh as accommodating to you as I can. First, just one piece of unsolicited political advice. Make Maryland your favorite state. Okay. Uh, you know, word to the wise. That's fair. You did just get our basketball coach from Texas A&M. So, yeah, I've become much more interested, but yes.
▶ 1:53:21Well, we're Yeah, I won't even get into basketball after what the Thunder did the night before last, but uh we're we'll move on. Yeah. Night before. Anyway, u couple quick things. Number one, I'm not going to read an opening statement, Mr. Chairman. If I may, I'll just submit it for the record. You don't need to hear that. Uh there's a couple of questions I I do have, but uh before I do, I want to commend you for what you are doing in reviewing grants and money out the door. Look, every administration, I'm not even saying this to partisan at the end is shoving out every dime they can.
▶ 1:53:51And we've had numerous examples in the billions of dollars. I think a one to a nonprofit formed last year for $2 billion that your colleague Lee Zeldon and our former colleague pointed out was clearly political, clearly ill advised. So you are well within your rights. I agree very much with what the gentle lady from Iowa had to say about this. And so thank you for doing it. I know you catch a lot of flack for it. Uh and I know sometimes, you know, folks that should have gotten money, it it takes a little longer and that is a problem. Yeah.
▶ 1:54:20Uh but uh you're doing the right thing and you know I know you'll you'll make sure the worthy recipients get it. But you can save the taxpayer some money. That's a good thing, not a bad thing. Two questions I have. One's uh pretty easy. The uh well, I hope it's easy. Uh you know, states like Oklahoma voluntarily established state inspection programs uh to better serve our meat processors and we're eligible for up to 50% cost share.
▶ 1:54:49In the last administration, we didn't get the full 50% match. That's really put us in a difficult spot uh in terms of meeting all the needs of our our local and particularly our smaller producers. So, if you've had a chance to think about this, will the USADA be providing the 50% cost share this fiscal year for state infection programs? Uh do you know if you're I don't know off the top of my head, but we will get back to you today on that.
▶ 1:55:16And I would believe that if this was um you know, it's obviously very important to my neighbor to the north Oklahoma and our cattle producers that that that um seems Yeah, we'd appreciate if you look at and look, we we also get and I actually direct this to the members as well. There's a lot of legitimate complaints about how many hearings we're having and how quickly that's because you're a new administration. It took a while to get everybody in place. We we don't have a full budget yet, which I would urge. I know you're working with OMB.
▶ 1:55:46We're glad we got the skinny budget, but that's not a full budget. We need the full budget. And I I will tell this and we'll talk about it in full committee to my fellow committee members. We are going to get every one of these damn bills out of here by the August break. So, it's going to be a hectic schedule period. Uh because we have no chance of getting things done by the end of the fiscal year if this committee is not able to expedite it work. So, I'm going to push the members and the staff awfully hard. Uh the things got here, but again, this is a new administration.
▶ 1:56:13Every administration in its first year goes through this because they don't have time to get the budget done. Takes a while to get their people through and so just kind of the nature of the beast. Second question, last year under the last administration was very unusual. We had a tremendous problem with tribal food distribution programs. Uh so much so that we actually had a bipartisan hearing and it was hearing between both the appropriations and agg. And honestly, we had genuine bipartisan concern over this issue.
▶ 1:56:44Uh partly because all of us that represent tribal uh communities had begun hearing about this a lot. I mean, you know, these promised deliveries of food weren't showing up. Uh and uh we began hearing the complaints in April. You usually don't get people uh talking in the same voice and going after administration. I want to commend my Democratic colleagues on this a few weeks before an election on something like this, but it was so bad that people were doing it.
▶ 1:57:12So, you have a lot there's a lot of, you know, hey, first Americans were the first farmers, too. They're pretty good at what they do. Uh, and we certainly have a lot of tribal farmers in in Oklahoma. Uh, we have a lot of tribal needs in terms of trust and treaty commitments the federal government's made over the years.
▶ 1:57:29So, I'd be curious as to uh if you've had a time to even look at those programs and if you could get back to us about how are we doing now because literally last time when we went through this while we were hearing the complaints in April and while we know the a department was hearing the complaints in April, the secretary actually your predecessor uh testified that he didn't know anything about it till August.
▶ 1:57:52I mean, how in the world it doesn't get from, you know, the front door to the secretar's desk when we're talking about food distribution to needy senior Indians for months, you know, tells me that something was very wrong with the bureaucracy and the flow of information uh in the a department last time. Yeah. Well, I am familiar with it. Let me get a full update for you and I'll call you later today if that's okay. Uh TWW Shannon, a great Oklahoma, uh is on work for me. Well, he's on our senior staff.
▶ 1:58:21uh focusing on rural prosperity and uh and certainly he is of these communities as well. So I'll loop him in and make sure he's at least an everyday every minute conduit for you but you can always call me as well but we'll put him on. Yeah. Thank you sir very much. Thank you madam secretary. Thank you. Thank you. We're going to just have a a brief comment by myself and one question from the ranking member and then get you out of here on time hopefully.
▶ 1:58:44Just to follow up on what the chairman talked about, one of the issues with those uh those grants for the small processing small processors for meat brought to my attention that one problem is uh because we need to do that to get our small producers mechanism for them to get things processed is that for some reason we require it the slaughtering and fabrication to occur in the same facility if it's subject for the grant.
▶ 1:59:07But in some of these cases, the slaughtering it makes much more sense to have slaughtering and fabrication different facilities and to allow for a fabrication facility or a slaughtering facility to apply. So this just bring to your attention the last one on that tribal food bank program. That's what I call a fidipper. You ought to look into it for for Maha's sake because their uh the food they stock is all nutritious food. Like they only stock low sodium uh canned vegetables. They only stock good proteins, uh, no snack foods, no sugary sodas.
▶ 1:59:38So, a program already exists that I kind of think is a maha program. And, uh, it it's actually a tribal nation pro program for the tribal nation. So, anyway, with that, uh, Mr. Bishop, you have a quick question. Thank you, Dr. I have actually two questions, but the the answers will probably be short. Okay. So, perfect. First first has to and I can go sir I can go a little longer if anyone else has questions. Uh the first has to do with SNAP waiverss.
▶ 2:00:05Uh and I've heard your interest uh and of course I'm very well aware of the the chairman's interest in uh SNAP waiverss uh to to for states uh with regard to banning certain foods from SNAP. Uh but the subcommittee had a hearing on this last year and some of the most compelling testimony came from a grosser from Georgia. Uh he made two key points.
▶ 2:00:28Uh one that the government would need to establish codes for the thousands of products carried in grocery stores to determine what's eligible for SNAP. Uh that they need to completely overhaul their IT systems to enforce the rules are within there and has he put it one to 2% net profits. Uh if the waiverss uh are granted u and some seems like there's interest in doing that.
▶ 2:00:54Um, can I get your commitment that uh you would consider exempting small grocerers uh from any waivers so they can have a chance to stay in business uh without having to comply with all of that? I would love to learn more about that and 100% that's my commitment. I mean, bringing rural prosperity back to every corner of America has to include supporting our smaller businesses. So, it's not just small farmers, it's our small grocerers, it's our small I mean just small everything.
▶ 2:01:21So, so yeah, let me look into that, but and I would love to to work with y'all on that and in fact even maybe talk to your grosser to give us his uh his story. Thank you. Thank you very much for that. The the second thing has to do with uh and I know you referenced uh it in in answer to one of the questions the uh study on menstrual cycles of transis transgender men, mice, whatever.
▶ 2:01:44uh and you took great satisfaction in cancelling a grant to a university for the study of menstrual cycles in transgender men. Uh which really doesn't sound like a a USJ study and it wasn't.
▶ 2:01:57Um but uh that study was actually was to research, process and utilize three alternative natural fibers, regenerative cotton, regenerative wool and industrial hemp in the development of sustainable, reusable and disposable feminine hygiene products including pads, liners, and underwear for women and girls that could be grown in Louisiana.
▶ 2:02:21uh which basically was uh to promote uh uh the growth of of agricultural products, the patents, etc. uh in Louisiana. Uh apparently whoever read the grant uh your staff obviously uh uh misread it and of course uh they resulted in a fraudulent, sensational and misrepresentation of what that grant was about. Uh so once it's read, uh will you reinstate that grant?
▶ 2:02:51It was a small grant to one of the 1890s uh in Louisiana uh for $600,000. Uh I will my commitment is to go take a look at that. I mean, it is uh it has been um an interesting and fascinating effort as we've gone through hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of these contracts, thousands. Uh many of them are just sort of stunning. But yes, sir, of course, I will go back and take a look at that. Thank you. Thank you.
▶ 2:03:20Thank you very much, Secretary Rollins. Thank you for being here today. I think our discussion touched on many important issues that resonate with our nation's producers, some of whom are here today with us and our constituents across rural America. I look forward to working with you as we move through the FY26 process. As a reminder to the members, if you'd like to submit questions for the record, please submit them to the subcommittee staff within seven days. The subcommittee stands adjourned. Thank you. Thank you, everyone. Thank you.