Minority News

Opening Remarks U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) Hearing on Commodity Futures Trading Commission Nominations March 6, 2014 Madam Chairwoman, thank you for holding this hearing today.  The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is an important part of the regulatory framework that protects American farmers, ranchers, and businesses which...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today issued the following statement regarding the House of Representatives vote to approve the conference agreement on the Agricultural Act of 2014 (HR.2642).  The five-year farm bill was approved on a 251-166 vote on Wednesday. “I am pleased with the large, bipartisan and...

Audio of Cochran Remarks:  http://1.usa.gov/1b31CLz WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, today offered his thoughts on the prospects of Congress completing a new, five-year farm bill early next year. Cochran addressed work on the farm bill...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today asserted that a new farm bill is an opportunity for the Congress to demonstrate that lawmakers can work together on issues that affect the lives of Americans every day. Cochran, ranking member on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, on Wednesday helped begin the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators is challenging the U.S. Department of Agriculture to explain recent ill-timed decisions regarding marketing assistance loans that are creating financial uncertainty and hardships for farmers and businesses, including what will amount to a one-month delay in processing loans. Fourteen...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, today asserted his readiness to engage in negotiations to finalize a new, five-year farm bill. Cochran welcomed a vote in the House of Representatives on Friday authorizing a conference committee with the...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today applauded a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling against unfair duties levied by China on U.S. poultry exports. The WTO on Friday ruled in favor of the United States in a case filed by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) that asserted China was imposing unfair and punitive...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, today issued the following statement regarding Senate conference committee members appointed to negotiate an agreement on a 2013 farm bill with the House of Representatives: “I appreciate Republican...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), ranking Republican on the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, today issued the following statement regarding the House of Representatives approval of a modified, five-year farm bill: “I am pleased the House of Representatives has taken action to pass a farm bill....

Opening Remarks for Senator Thad Cochran (As prepared for delivery) U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Hearing on “Smithfield and Beyond: Examining Foreign Purchases of American Food Companies” July 10, 2013 Madam Chairwoman, thank you for holding this hearing today on an important topic.  The transaction...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), ranking Republican on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today issued the following statement after the House of Representatives voted down its 2013 farm bill: “The agriculture community and our economy need the certainty that comes with a five-year farm...

U.S. Senator Thad Cochran, R-Miss. Statement for Senate Passage of the Agriculture Reform, Food and Jobs Act of 2013 (S.954) June 10, 2013 Madam President, I am pleased to join the distinguished Senator from Michigan in urging approval of this bill by the Senate.  It has been a pleasure working with her and other members of the Agriculture...

Madam Chairwoman, thank you very much for your leadership in the drafting of this Farm Bill. It’s going to save off the baseline $24 billion over the life of the bill.  The bill reflects fiscal responsibility but provides a workable and strong safety net for families and producers of food and fiber that we hope they never...

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.) today issued the following statement regarding the plan issued by Senate Democrats to address the  across-the-board spending cuts—or sequester—that will take effect on March 1.  The plan recommends $27.5 billion in cuts from the agriculture sector and another $27.5...

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) today said the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has agreed with his request to grant schools flexibility in implementing the new guidelines for the National School Breakfast and Lunch programs, but significant concerns remain on waste and costs of the new policies. “Providing...

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry which is tasked with oversight of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), today released the following statement on the implementation of the CFTC’s new “Swaps Definitions”...

WASHINGTON, DC – Following considerable public outcry over the implementation of new nutrition guidelines for the National School Lunch and School Breakfast programs,  U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today sent a letter to USDA requesting justification of the new policies and further analysis of their effects on active students, on school...

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts today sent the following letter to the Food and Drug Administration to encourage swift approval of waivers to blend corn with aflatoxin to increase feed supply for livestock producers hard hit by ongoing drought. The following is text of the letter, dated today: Dr. Margaret...

WASHINGTON, DC – Following today’s announcement by the Obama Administration of new efforts to help farmers and ranchers suffering from historic drought, U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry applauded these actions but called for still more assistance to help those in need.“I am glad...

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.), ranking member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, today sent a letter signed by key Republican members of the committee to Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) calling for a hearing on the reported manipulation of the London Inter-Bank Offered Rate (LIBOR). The...