Friday, January 04, 2019

Democrats who are now running the House Agriculture Committee circulate their list of priorities for 2019

House Democrats on the Agriculture Committee are planning hearings galore and making Farm Bill implementation the top priority of each subcommittee, as revealed in a list of oversight priorities and potential hearings circulated among members this week, Ryan McCrimmon reports for Politico. The committee is chaired by Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota, who chaired in when Democrats controlled the House in 2007-2010. Here's a quick overview of priorities on his list:
  • The nutrition subcommittee plans to review the Trump administration's rulemaking on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program work-requirement waivers for able-bodied adults with no dependents. 
  • The panel that oversees agriculture research will examine Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue's plans to move the Economic Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture out of Washington by the end of 2019.
  • Several subcommittees are planning hearings on the Agriculture Department's relief program for farmers and ranchers hurt by the trade war with China, since some lawmakers and farmer groups have said the payments are inadequate for certain crops.

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