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Four lawmakers from the US House Agriculture Committee were recently in Tennessee for a Farm Bill Listening session and tours. The four congressmen hope to take what they heard and learned from farmers in Tennessee back to Washington DC to write a new Farm Bill.
Thomas Capps
Tennessee agriculture front and center for lawmakers. Hello and welcome to Tennessee Holman Farm Radio. I’m Thomas Capps
Cogressman Scott DesJarlais
Tennessee does it better than anyone else so no better place for him to be and we plan to listen to the stakeholders and farmers and people that have interest in this.
Thomas Capps
We continue our coverage of the historic farm bill listening session that was held in Tennessee earlier this week. The first of its kind in the Volunteer State. Four lawmakers listened to Tennessee farmers concerns on the upcoming farm bill. Two from Tennessee, Congressman John rose and Congressman Scott DesJarlais, and House Ag Committee Chairman Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania and Democratic Junior Congressman Jonathan Jackson from Chicago. Congressman DesJarlais says it just makes sense to have a farm bill listening session in Tennessee with agriculture being the number one industry in the state.
Cogressman Scott DesJarlais
There’s not many things in Congress that you authorize for five years at a time. Usually it’s year to year, so I can’t understate the importance of getting it right. And there’s no better way than to listen to the stakeholders. And that’s what this tour is all about. We’re fortunate that Chairman Thompson is willing to come to Tennessee he’s been criss crossing the country as we get ready to put this Farm Bill together.
Thomas Capps
George McDonald of Smith County grows corn, wheat and strawberries. The four lawmakers toured his farm prior to the listening session, and McDonald was one of the many Tennessee farmers who gave testimony during the listening session.
George McDonald
It’s a rare opportunity you get the US House Ag Committee to come to a visit on your farm. It’s certainly an honor and a privilege for us to be selected to do this. Tennessee agriculture is important to this country. A lot of times people think about the Illinois our Indiana state’s. Agriculture is still the number one basis here in Tennessee. And we want them to be sure that that’s what they know. That’s going on here in Tennessee.
Thomas Capps
DesJarlais hopes to bring what he heard from farmers here at home back to DC and pass a farm bill that brings the two parties together and continues to protect our nation’s most important industry.
Cogressman Scott DesJarlais
We certainly have one thing in common we all have to eat and nobody does it better than the United States farmers.
Thomas Capps
For Tennessee Home and Farm Radio. I’m Thomas Capps.
