Agriculture

Remarks as delivered: “I think this is as critical a time as ever to get a Farm Bill and get it on time, get it right and make sure the safety net is reliable and effective for our agriculture producers around the country. This is not just about the over 10 million jobs that agriculture creates – it is about national security, it is about food and fiber independence.… Read more »

he 2018 Farm Bill is in conference committee. Nine senators, including majority leader Mitch McConnell and 47 representatives, will hammer out the differences between the House and Senate versions of the bill. Namely whether to include work requirements for SNAP benefits. Lubbock Congressman and Conferee Jodey Arrington said seven million surplus jobs means there's… Read more »

The House-Senate Conference Committee began its efforts to hash out a compromise on the farm bill. Lawmakers from both parties are not optimistic they can work out their differences before the current farm bill expires at the end of the month. North Dakota Democratic Senator Heidi Heitkamp says America's farmers are in crisis "We hear all the time about good economy, guess where it… Read more »

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell pressed farm bill negotiators to finalize an agreement as quickly as possible, but House Republicans used the conference committee’s first formal meeting to continue to press senators to accept tighter work requirements for food stamp recipients. McConnell, who appointed himself to the conference committee, said at Wednesday's meeting that he… Read more »

Now that the House and Senate have passed their respective versions of the Farm Bill, a bipartisan “conference committee” made up of both House and Senate members has been established to work out the differences between the two and send a final version to the president’s desk. I am honored to have been appointed by the Speaker to serve on the Committee and thrilled to work alongside my… Read more »

LUBBOCK – On Wednesday, Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) hosted a “West Texas Rural Summit” with over 70 community leaders from across the region to discuss issues including the opioid epidemic, rural healthcare, and economic development. The summit featured Anne Hazlett, the Assistant to the Secretary for Rural Development at the United States Department of… Read more »

Today, Speaker of the House Paul Ryan appointed Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) to serve on the bicameral, bipartisan conference committee established to resolve the differences between the House and Senate versions of the 2018 Farm Bill. “I am honored Speaker Ryan asked me to serve on such a critical committee for agriculture and rural America. As a representative for the… Read more »

Since the 2014 Farm Bill, historically low prices, high input costs, and unfair trade practices have resulted in an over 50-percent decline in farm income, the steepest drop since the Great Depression. These tough economic conditions have had a devastating effect on producers throughout our region, putting many in jeopardy of going out of business and unable to pass down their family… Read more »

Today Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) released the following statement on the Senate Farm Bill, the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. “Farmers across America are struggling with the steepest decline in net farm income since the Great Depression. Without a strong Farm Bill delivered on time, they will not be able to continue feeding and clothing the American people and… Read more »

Today Congressman Jodey Arrington (TX-19) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 2, the Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018. “As a trillion-dollar industry, agriculture is 5.5 percent of our total economy and employs over 21 million people, including one out of every seven people in the great state of Texas,” said Arrington. “The 2018 Farm Bill… Read more »