[As prepared for delivery]

Good afternoon and welcome to the Members of the Committee and those of you watching from home.

Before us today is the consideration of a proposal to satisfy the Committee’s reconciliation instructions and discuss the agricultural provisions included in this monumental investment in the American people as we build back better.

There will undoubtedly be vibrant debate over the substance of this package today, but put simply, our role today will be to discuss critical investments in agricultural research, rural development, renewable energy, and our ever-important national forest system lands and private forestlands.

These investments include:

=        $7.75 billion in ag research and infrastructure – other countries like China are outspending the U.S. on research investments and this money will help close the gap;

=        $18 billion in rural job-promoting investments to ensure those living in rural America, on tribal lands, and our insular areas have access to clean water and reliable and efficient renewable energy.  This funding will also support investment in renewable biofuels infrastructure important to farmers and our fight against climate change, as well as flexible funding for rural community growth; and

=        $40 billion in investments in forestry program to help combat forest fires and contribute to healthy, resilient forests.

One thing I would like to address is the omission of conservation funding in this bill. Our team has been working diligently with the Congressional Budget Office on $28 billion in conservation funding and climate-smart investments for farmers and ranchers, and I look forward to continuing to work to ensure that conservation funding is included when this package is taken up on the House Floor.