Source: Opening Statement by Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin C. Peterson, March 15

--As Prepared for Delivery--

“Good morning, thank you Chairman Lucas for holding today’s meeting and for the letter before us today.

“There’s no doubt that the current budget situation needs to be addressed and I’m willing to put everything on the table, including exploring potential cuts to programs under the Agriculture Committee’s jurisdiction. What I am not willing to do is let our Committee bear a disproportionate share of the cuts.

“As the letter indicates, we have already reduced commodity program spending over the course of several farm bills and then for crop insurance with the SRA process that was done in May. If every other government program, both mandatory and discretionary, were reduced the same percentage as the federal crop insurance program, it would reduce the deficit $2.3 trillion over the next ten years.

“The Appropriations Committee has used farm bill programs as a source of funding for other priorities. Even our nutrition programs, which have seen an increase in program participation due to economic downturns both recently and in the past decade, were cut by $14.5 billion in the last Congress.

“Agriculture is one of the few parts of the economy that has managed to weather the economic storm reasonably well, and it is currently leading our economic recovery. However, I think any farmer can assure you that times of high prices are always followed by low prices. This is why having a strong safety net in place during the low price times is necessary.

“While we on the Agriculture Committee are prepared to make our fair contribution toward deficit reduction, I believe the cuts that have already been made should be taken into consideration by the Budget Committee. I think the Budget Views and Estimates letter helps us make that case and I urge all members to support its adoption.

“Again, I thank the chair for holding today’s meeting and look forward to working together to ensure agriculture programs are operating in an efficient and effective manner.”