The House Agriculture Committee held a hearing last week on H.R. 267, the 2020 WHIP+ Reauthorization Act. This legislation provides $8.5 billion for farmers and ranchers suffering financial loss to crops and livestock from natural disasters – including hurricanes, floods, derechos and high winds, wildfires, smoke exposure, drought and excessive heat in 2020 and 2021. I'm proud to share the bill has bipartisan support and was unanimously approved by the committee.
The committee also hosted a hearing on “21st Century Food Systems: Controlled Environment Agriculture’s Role in Protecting Domestic Food Supply Chains and Infrastructure.” During the hearing, I highlighted BetterFresh Farms in Metter and how these farms bring fresh produce directly to communities. I also highlighted how access to a dependable workforce is the number one issue farmers are facing, and I urged the committee to hold a hearing on ag labor where we can markup my legislation, the BARN Act.