Roberts: Bipartisan CCC Solution Provides Certainty, Predictability for Farm Country

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Chairman of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, today took to the Senate floor to speak on the bipartisan House continuing resolution (CR) that passed yesterday. 

The CR, which previously denied relief for agricultural producers and delayed critical Farm Bill program implementation, now includes a full replenishment of the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) - only after Roberts and fellow farm state Republicans rebuked Democrats’ partisan attempts. Click here to read more.

Roberts today reminded his colleagues of the 2018 Farm Bill’s historic, bipartisan vote and that partisan fights such of these do not have to happen.

“No matter what they grow or where they live, farmers, ranchers, and growers have done their part to ensure the U.S. food, fiber and fuel supply continues without disruption during these unprecedented times. And, they are counting on the Department of Agriculture to deliver a range of agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry programs,” said Roberts.

“Finding a bipartisan solution to replenish the CCC provided much needed certainty and predictability to farmers and ranchers across all regions and all crops. I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues and those that represent our nation’s farmers, ranchers, growers, and rural stakeholders. The agreement in the Continuing Resolution represents a good step for American agriculture."

Click here to read the CR bill text. Click here to read the bill summary.

Roberts last week spoke on the Senate floor about the importance of pandemic relief programs to rural America. Click here to watch and read his remarks.

Click here to watch and download Roberts’ remarks on the U.S. Senate floor. Below are Roberts’ remarks as prepared for delivery.

Mr. President, I rise to express my gratitude for all of the members who joined together to provide certainty and predictability to our nation’s farmers, ranchers, and growers. Thankfully, we found agreement to replenish the Commodity Credit Corporation (CCC) in the Continuing Resolution.

And, I especially appreciate the more than 40 agriculture organizations who worked to highlight the importance of replenishing the CCC. Failure to do so would have resulted in delays in 2018 Farm Bill programs and limit farmers’ risk management tools.

No matter what they grow or where they live, farmers, ranchers, and growers have done their part to ensure the U.S. food, fiber and fuel supply continues without disruption during these unprecedented times.

And, they are counting on the Department of Agriculture to deliver a range of agriculture, nutrition, conservation, and forestry programs.

More than 50 of those programs were in risk of delay because of uncertain funding for the CCC.

Every five years, Congress passes legislation—the Farm Bill as our commitment to those that are on the frontlines—in the fields, caring for the livestock, managing the lands—day in and day out.

As Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, we were successful in passing the 2018 Farm Bill in a bipartisan manner – in fact, 87 Members of this Chamber voted in favor of the legislation.

Finding a bipartisan solution to replenish the CCC provided much needed certainty and predictability to farmers and ranchers across all regions and all crops.

I appreciate the efforts of my colleagues and those that represent our nation’s farmers, ranchers, growers, and rural stakeholders. The agreement in the Continuing Resolution represents a good step for American agriculture.

Thank you.

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