Childers, Neugebauer Seek Common Ground
By Tommy Horton
Are you surprised that House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) is contemplating hearings this spring on the 2012 Farm Bill?
Rep. Neugebauer: I am not surprised. The Farm Bill is probably the most important piece of legislation for rural America. Producing a good bill is something that takes time. I think the chairman is simply trying to give people adequate time to have their views heard, while still allowing the chance of passing a new Farm Bill before the current one expires.
Rep. Childers: Every Farm Bill is a massive piece of legislation that's responsible for sustaining agriculture for five years. The sooner we begin assessing the current Farm Bill programs, and the sooner we begin exploring new issues in agriculture, the more informed members will be and the better the final product will be.
Is it hard to get legislation moved out of the House Ag Committee during an election year?
Rep. Neugebauer: Any legislation is harder to pass during an election year. While there are some things we need to work on this year in the Agriculture Committee, I don't expect to see a lot of major legislation.
Rep. Childers: The Agriculture Committee has a long history of being one of the least partisan committees in the House, which is what makes it such a great committee to serve on. I will continue to work with Committee members from both parties to move along meaningful legislation.
Will our trade representatives continue to protect U.S. cotton's interests in the WTO talks?
Rep. Neugebauer: I believe U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk realizes what is at stake through WTO negotiations, and I've been encouraged by recent comments he has made in support of U.S. cotton. He is well aware of how some proposals in the WTO could affect U.S. cotton. After a year, I am still not clear what our nation's trade policy is going to be.
President Obama made comments in his State of the Union speech about increasing exports for U.S. agriculture and other industries, yet he was not very specific.
Rep. Childers: I have followed the Brazilian cotton trade issue, and I have weighed in where necessary. I can't speak for our trade representatives, but I can assure you that I will work closely with them to make sure that U.S. cotton can compete fairly both domestically and internationally.
source : cottonfarming
By Tommy Horton
Are you surprised that House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-Minn.) is contemplating hearings this spring on the 2012 Farm Bill?
Rep. Neugebauer: I am not surprised. The Farm Bill is probably the most important piece of legislation for rural America. Producing a good bill is something that takes time. I think the chairman is simply trying to give people adequate time to have their views heard, while still allowing the chance of passing a new Farm Bill before the current one expires.
Rep. Childers: Every Farm Bill is a massive piece of legislation that's responsible for sustaining agriculture for five years. The sooner we begin assessing the current Farm Bill programs, and the sooner we begin exploring new issues in agriculture, the more informed members will be and the better the final product will be.
Is it hard to get legislation moved out of the House Ag Committee during an election year?
Rep. Neugebauer: Any legislation is harder to pass during an election year. While there are some things we need to work on this year in the Agriculture Committee, I don't expect to see a lot of major legislation.
Rep. Childers: The Agriculture Committee has a long history of being one of the least partisan committees in the House, which is what makes it such a great committee to serve on. I will continue to work with Committee members from both parties to move along meaningful legislation.
Will our trade representatives continue to protect U.S. cotton's interests in the WTO talks?
Rep. Neugebauer: I believe U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk realizes what is at stake through WTO negotiations, and I've been encouraged by recent comments he has made in support of U.S. cotton. He is well aware of how some proposals in the WTO could affect U.S. cotton. After a year, I am still not clear what our nation's trade policy is going to be.
President Obama made comments in his State of the Union speech about increasing exports for U.S. agriculture and other industries, yet he was not very specific.
Rep. Childers: I have followed the Brazilian cotton trade issue, and I have weighed in where necessary. I can't speak for our trade representatives, but I can assure you that I will work closely with them to make sure that U.S. cotton can compete fairly both domestically and internationally.
source : cottonfarming
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