[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 116 (Thursday, July 11, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H5594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




             USE FAMILY FARMS AS SUPPLIERS FOR ARMED FORCES

  (Mr. DELGADO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. DELGADO. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to thank my colleagues on both 
sides of the aisle for voting to include my amendment to the NDAA that 
will allow our armed services to aid small farmers across the country.
  Two weeks ago, the USDA released its congressional district-specific 
data for the ``Census of Agriculture'' and reported that in my 
district, New York's 19th Congressional District, 96 percent of the 
farms there are small family farms.
  During our most recent in-district work period, I visited small farms 
back home in Rensselaer and Montgomery Counties and learned more about 
their work with organizations to help veterans gain the skills needed 
to transition to jobs in agriculture.
  Today, the House passed my amendment that requires a report from 
certain Defense agencies on programs, policies, and practices relating 
to small farms, farms owned by new and beginning farmers, veteran 
farmers, and minority farmers in order to better understand how much 
the Armed Forces are working with small farms to supply commissaries 
and feed servicemembers.
  With this data, Congress and Defense agencies can work together to 
expand opportunity for our small family farmers.
  Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for standing with me on this very 
important issue.

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