Source: US HOUSE AG COMMITTEE, 24/16

Text of StoryThe House Committee on Agriculture advises the following committee schedule.
[NEW]
Wednesday, February 10, 2016 – 10:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Full Committee – Public Hearing
RE: To review the 2016 Agenda for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission

Upon announcing the hearing, Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway issued the following statement:

"Over the past couple of years, agriculture, energy, and other commodity producers have faced a collapse in market prices. For many end-users, hedging in derivatives markets is the only way to plan for the future and survive these challenging economic times. Yet, in their hour of need, market participants are contending with regulatory missteps that have upended derivatives markets. Five years into Dodd-Frank, end-users have fewer service providers, face higher costs to access hedging services, and see liquidity fragmented across arbitrary regional lines.

"Next week, I look forward to speaking with Chairman Massad on his plans for 2016 and how the CFTC will bring more order to the markets it regulates and more certainty for the end-users who rely on them."

Thursday, February 11, 2016 – 10:00 a.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Full Committee – Public Hearing
RE: To consider the impacts of the Environmental Protection Agency’s actions on the rural economy

Upon announcing the hearing, Agriculture Committee Chairman K. Michael Conaway issued the following statement:

"America’s farmers and ranchers are the original conservationists, and they have a vested interest in protecting our natural resources. Yet, when it comes to the regulatory agenda of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), we are repeatedly confronted by an agency seemingly oblivious to the voluntary conservation efforts of America’s farmers and ranchers, and perhaps most alarmingly, apparently addicted to writing regulations that ignore Congressional intent, ignore the input of stakeholders – including other Federal agencies – and put our ability to produce food and fiber at risk in the U. S. 

"Next week, EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy will be called on to explain her agency’s decisions and discuss with members of Congress how we might work together to ensure that future actions by the EPA do not harm American agriculture."

Thursday, February 11, 2016 – 2:00 p.m.
1300 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture – Public Hearing
RE: Foot and Mouth Disease: Are We Prepared?