At today's House Ag Committee meeting, new Chair @repdavidscott is making an impassioned plea right now to members to take climate action. And to take immediate action to address black farmer land loss.

Chair Scott now talking about #rural broadband. Paraphrasing, but something akin to "we need to stop just talking about broadband" and fund it and get it done. Top priority for Committee.

Ag Cmte Chair Scott is now making the case for retaining and extending the 15% boost to #SNAP, as well as providing more funding and support for #foodbanks. Times are tough and people are in line.

For further information on the $4 billion support Chair Scott was mentioning to support black farmers, check out this @politico story about the Emergency Relief for Farmers of Color Act. https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/10/booker-warnock-introduce-bills-to-tackle-needs-of-farmers-of-color-468312

GOP Ranking Member Thompson (R-PA) now blasting the Dems $16B budget reconciliation for "lack of bipartisanship" and such.

Here's the @HouseAgDems $16 billion proposal: https://agriculture.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2103

Rep. Thompson said he knows that Chair Scott got his "marching orders" for this "wishlist of liberal priorities," but wants to offer up some bipartisanship (meaning likely cuts).

Rep. Thompson also called for the Dems to "release the hold" on USDA's Trump-era CFAP Program.

House Ag Cmte Staff now going thru budget package for ag and nutrition--proposal is for socially disadvantaged farmer support. This is USDA lingo for: "African Americans, American Indians, Alaskan Natives, Asians, Hispanics, Pacific Islanders, Refugees, Immigrants."

House Ag Cmte update-- @HouseAgDems members are now making the case for their $16.1 billion budget reconciliation proposal one member at a time.

House Ag Cmte Update--Republican members now talking about their problems with Dem's spending package. Saying that there's "adequate spending and budget already" to fix hunger while also acknowledging the covid economy stinks.

House Ag Cmte Update-- @HouseAgDems pass their $16.1 billion budget reconciliation package through Cmte (on what I'm pretty sure is a party line) vote 25-23.

Once again, here's a link to the @HouseAgDems package. Big, big funding increase for socially disadvantaged farmers, SNAP boost, small butcher shops, more public health $$, etc. Check it out: https://agriculture.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2103