Farm Journal The House Agriculture Committee is often touted as a sanctum of bipartisanship. It was anything but as the first markup of the 117th Congress was held, examining a majority-drafted coronavirus aid bill. One Republican sponsored amendment, also backed by Democrat Cindy Axne of Iowa, made it through committee. That addition, that would have extended WHIP+ disaster aid to 2020 events such as the Iowa derecho, was stripped out of the legislation in the rules committee. House Agriculture...
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Remarks as prepared for delivery: Good afternoon. I would like to thank the Chairman for holding today’s hearing and his flexibility due to the updated Floor schedule. The impact climate has on agriculture production and on our natural resources is an issue of great importance to all of us on the House Agriculture Committee. Working with us on a mutually agreeable time that provides for greater Member participation is valued and appreciated. I would also like to thank the witnesses who juggled t...
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Washington, DC – Today, Republican Leader Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson and Republican Members of the House Agriculture Committee released a COVID Relief and Recovery Plan to address the needs of rural communities that were excluded in the House Democrats’ budget reconciliation package. The proposal will be offered as an amendment to House Democrats' American Rescue Plan. “It’s astounding that despite the wish list of political giveaways and excessive spending in the Pelosi Payoff, Democrats somehow manag...
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Bloomberg Government Megan Boyanton House Agriculture Committee Republicans plan to introduce their own Covid-19 relief plan Thursday, showcasing their priorities for a bipartisan package. The discussion draft spearheaded by ranking member Glenn “GT” Thompson (Pa.) and other panel Republicans would provide $2.1 billion for rural health clinics, hospitals, schools, and other facilities, and $1 billion for biofuels producers hurt by the pandemic, among other measures to support farmers, ranchers, ...
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WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the United States Senate confirmed Tom Vilsack as the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture (USDA) by a vote of 92-7. Following the vote, Republican Leader of the House Committee on Agriculture, Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson, issued the following statement: “I’d like to congratulate Tom Vilsack on his confirmation as USDA Secretary. While we may not see eye to eye on all agriculture issues, I look forward to identifying opportunities for bipartisan solutions to rural America’s...
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Washington, DC – Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-15), Republican Leader of the House Committee on Agriculture, and fellow Committee Republicans, outlined their opposition to the Majority’s budget reconciliation recommendations. In addition to a myriad of flawed policies, the measure was drafted behind closed doors without any Republican input. “This partisan approach is particularly galling in the context of the Agriculture Committee, which has long prided itself on being the most bipartisan Committee i...
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Farm Progress Jacqui Fatka After watching 8 hours of debate between the Democrats and Republicans on the House Agriculture Committee Wednesday one thing is clear: The committee’s history of bipartisanship is in serious jeopardy. And it could bring a rocky start for a Congress needing a glimmer of hope for bipartisanship for the 117th Congress. In the last three months since the election, many farm policy watchers hoped bipartisanship could prevail with narrow margins in the House and a dead-even...
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Washington, DC – Opening remarks, as prepared, of Committee on Agriculture Republican Leader Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-15) from today’s markup of the Committee majority’s budget reconciliation measure: “Mr. Chairman, it is with a measure of regret that we begin our tenure together marking up this reconciliation bill. The members of the Ag Committee have long prided ourselves on our bipartisanship. We have worked together to find commonsense solutions to help agricultural producers, families in nee...
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Washington, DC – House Committee on Agriculture Republican Leader Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson (PA-15) issued the following statement after Committee Democrats passed the Agriculture Committee’s portion of the FY21 budget reconciliation bill on a party-line vote: “House Democrats made it explicitly clear today there was never any intention to reach across the aisle and that the collective voice of Rural America would be silenced. In one breath, the Chairman and his members praised our amendments, and in ...
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Washington, D.C. – Today, House Agriculture Committee Republican Leader Glenn “GT” Thompson (PA-15) issued the following statement after Democrats released the Agriculture Committee’s portion of the FY21 budget reconciliation bill: "Democrats unveiled their $16 billion bill which was drafted behind closed doors, placing secrecy over solutions. The package is neither timely, nor targeted, and will fall devastatingly short of delivering direct relief for the agriculture industry and farm families....
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