HOEVEN:BUDGETPROPOSALDOESNOTWORKFORAGRICULTURE

Capener,Kami(Hoeven) 10:35AM

FORIMMEDIATERELEASEContact:KamiCapenerorAlexFinken
March16,2017Kami_Capener@hoeven.senate.gov

HOEVEN:BUDGETPROPOSALDOESNOTWORKFORAGRICULTURE

WASHINGTONSenatorJohnHoeven,chairmanoftheAgricultureAppropriationsSubcommittee,
todayissuedthefollowingstatementinresponsetothepresidentsproposedbudget:

Thepresidentsproposedbudgetreductionforagriculturedoesnotwork.Giventhechallengingtimes
inthefarmpatchfromlowcommoditypricestonaturaldisastersweneedtoprioritizeandmaintainour
agriculturebudget.Whilewesupportmorefundingforourmilitaryanddefense,wemustmaintainsupportfor
ourfarmersandranchers.

Additionally,itisunfairtothenationsfarmersandrancherstorequireadditionalsavingsafterthe
currentfarmbillreducedspending.Whenpassedin2014,thefarmbillwascalculatedtosavemorethan$23
billion,andtheCongressionalBudgetOffice(CBO)estimatesthatthefarmbillwillactuallysave$104billion
over10years.Ourproducersaredoingtheirparttoreducethedebtanddeficit.

AschairmanofAgAppropriations,Illworktoensurethatwemaintainouragriculturebudgetbecause
goodagriculturepolicybenefitseveryAmerican,everyday.OurfarmersandranchersprovidetheAmerican
peoplewithareliable,affordableandhighqualityfoodsupply.Notonlythat,but17millionAmericansare
employedintheagricultureindustry,whichalsoprovidesournationwithapositivebalanceoftrade.

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