Minority News

WASHINGTON — Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, led 25 of her colleagues in pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture for more information about the cancellation of previously-approved funding through The Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) for food banks and other...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announcing it will issue up to $10 billion in economic assistance to agricultural producers through the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and John Thune (R-SD), Senate Majority Leader and Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry,  introduced the Crop Insurance for Future Farmers Act. This bipartisan legislation would help...

WASHINGTON – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, are pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture for more information about the possible firing of an additional 7,000 Forest...

WASHINGTON – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, led 14 other Senators in urging President Trump to reconsider recently imposed tariffs that threaten American farmers, ranchers, businesses, and consumers. The tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China, will make it harder for...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement on the Merit System Protection Board ordering the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to temporarily reinstate fired probationary employees. “This decision is an important but temporary...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement on the Administration imposing tariffs on products from Canada, Mexico, and China. “These across-the-board tariffs will make it harder for Americans to put food on the table and will...

WASHINGTON – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA), and 13 other Democratic Senators are pressing the Administration for assurances that assistance for economic challenges in 2024 and natural disasters in 2023 and 2024 will be provided to...

WASHINGTON — Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement on the avian flu strategy released by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today. “The Department of Agriculture’s avian flu strategy is an important step to support our farmers who are...

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today delivered the following opening statement at the Committee hearing on Perspectives from the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part 2. In her remarks, Senator Klobuchar addressed challenges...

WASHINGTON – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, led all Committee Democrats in pressing the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to explain recent mass layoffs at the Department. The Senators asked how many USDA employees were fired and for a breakdown by state, agency, job...

WASHINGTON – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, joined Senators Joni Ernst (R-IA), John Fetterman (D-PA) and 13 other Senators to press the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to address the ongoing outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), which is one of the...

WASHINGTON – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Representative Angie Craig (D-MN-02), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture, are pressing the Administration for answers following actions — including a stop work order — that halted delivery and distribution...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, released the following statement on reports that the Administration has fired U.S. Department of Agriculture employees. “U.S. Department of Agriculture employees support farmers and ranchers, invest in rural communities,...

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar, Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, released the following statement on the budget resolution released by House Republicans earlier today.   “These proposed cuts come at a time when we should be focused on helping our farmers and ranchers, children, seniors, and rural...

WASHINGTON – Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, led all Committee Democrats in sending a letter to U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) demanding answers and clarity following the Trump Administration’s funding freeze. The Senators wrote to USDA Acting Secretary Gary...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today delivered the following opening statement at the hearing on “Perspectives from the Field: Farmer and Rancher Views on the Agricultural Economy, Part 1.” A rough transcript of Klobuchar’s full opening statement is...

WASHINGTON — U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, in a Committee hearing on the Agricultural Economy, raised concerns from farmers about the impact of the Administration’s proposed tariffs on Canada and Mexico. In response to Klobuchar’s questioning, National Farmers...

WASHINGTON – (Saturday, Feb. 2, 2025) – U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, released the following statement on President Trump announcing tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China.“These tariffs will only make it harder for American families to put food on the table and...

WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, today delivered the following opening statement at the hearing to consider the nomination of Brooke Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture. A rough transcript of Klobuchar’s full opening statement is available below and a...