Harris, Cole Engage Agriculture Secretary Rollins
Washington, D.C. – Today, Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD), Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), and other members underscored the vital role of America’s farmers, ranchers, and rural communities during an oversight hearing with Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. The discussion centered on FY26 budget recommendations and ongoing collaboration between Congress and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to ensure greater prosperity, opportunity, and long-term stability for the nation’s agricultural sector.
Agriculture Subcommittee Chairman Harris said, “Secretary Rollins, we welcome you to the subcommittee. I look forward to hearing about your priorities and the work that has been underway at USDA during the first 100 days of the Trump Administration. As you know, we have the most productive and efficient agricultural producers in the world. It’s critical that they maintain access to important crop protection tools and technology so that they can continue to feed our nation and the world… Madam Secretary, I want to commend you for your leadership in quickly implementing the Emergency Commodity Assistance Program. In December, Congress enacted $31 billion in disaster and economic relief for farmers and ranchers. Producers are applying for the $10 billion set-aside for economic assistance, and payments are already being made. The speed at which USDA worked to make these funds available to farmers highlights this Administration’s emphasis that our government work in a better and more efficient manner for the American people. It also highlights your commitment to have the backs of farmers and ranchers following several years of a poor agricultural economy.”
Full remarks as prepared for delivery are available here.
Chairman Cole said, “For rural districts like the one I represent in southwest Oklahoma, agriculture is not just a line on a ledger, it’s a reflection of our past, present, and future. American agriculture feeds us, but it also roots families, economies, and the nation’s well-being. You have seen these principles firsthand as you have traveled the country meeting with farmers and ranchers. These hardworking men and women are a testament to resilience and the work it takes to ensure a safe and abundant food supply. I know your recent visit to Oklahoma was a powerful reminder of that, and we hope to welcome you back to the Sooner State soon… Finally, Madam Secretary, I want to thank you for your commitment to Tribes, in particular with supporting and improving the Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations. The last administration created an unnecessary trainwreck in Indian country. My own Tribe was deeply impacted, and the challenges we faced echoed across many others, with no accountability for the food crisis they inflicted on our Tribal communities. I’m glad the situation has drastically improved, and USDA has now fined the contracted food warehouse and is working on solutions to avoid this needless catastrophe again.”
Full remarks as prepared for delivery are available here.
Agriculture Secretary Rollins said, “When farmers prosper, rural America prospers, and I want to thank all of you for your shared commitment to ensuring our farmers, ranchers, and our rural communities thrive. During my confirmation testimony, I quoted Thomas Jefferson. We talk a lot about Thomas Jefferson at the USDA, one of the original American farmers. His 1787 letter to another original American farmer, George Washington, in which President Jefferson said, ‘agriculture is our wisest pursuit because in the end it will contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.’ I have had the distinct privilege of serving American farmers and ranchers for the last 83 days, and I can tell you that our farmers – and all of you know this as well, you're on this Committee – continue to embody the ideals and the passion for America and our land, just as Thomas Jefferson described over two centuries ago. Serving as their champion today continues to be my highest and greatest honor. As the 33rd Secretary of Agriculture, I have made it my mission to reconstitute, to rebuild, and to revivify the United States Department of Agriculture, and that includes a budget that reflects the priorities, as mandated by the American people in November of last year. The President's Fiscal Year 2026 discretionary budget identifies the priorities of our administration and for the Department of Agriculture. That means prioritizing food safety, rooting out wasteful spending, restoring federalism by empowering the states to best serve their communities, and above all, putting farmers and ranchers first in America.”
Full remarks as prepared for delivery are available here.
During the hearing, appropriators discussed a range of priorities, including providing nutritious food in assistance programs, expanding trade and market access, and protecting farmland from foreign ownership. They also emphasized the need to address agricultural workforce challenges, support family farms, and improve disaster relief efforts – all while working to enhance the resilience of the agricultural supply chain to ensure long-term economic stability and food security.
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