[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 165 (Wednesday, September 23, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H4722]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  AGRICULTURAL SUMMIT FOR OUR FARMERS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, during the August recess I 
had the pleasure of hosting one of my favorite annual events, an 
agriculture summit in Cresson, Pennsylvania, Cambria County.
  The event took place for the second year in a row at Mount Aloysius 
College, and I was pleased to have several special guests join me, both 
in person and virtually.
  Participating in the summit to lend their expertise were: USDA Under 
Secretary Bill Northey; Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell 
Redding; and Pennsylvania Farm Bureau President, Rick Ebert.
  Joining our discussion were nearly 100 virtual attendees from across 
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  Our discussion centered around a number of important policy issues 
impacting our Nation's farmers, including a discussion on what they 
hope to see in the next round of coronavirus relief.
  I always look for opportunities to engage directly with farmers and 
ranchers and producers and processors. This year's agriculture summit 
provided valuable feedback about how the pandemic has affected rural 
America; feedback that will be critical as Congress continues to 
address the impacts of the pandemic on the agricultural sector.
  Prior to the coronavirus, the farm economy had been in a multiyear 
slump. Just as things were starting to look up, with USMCA signed into 
law and new trade deals in the works, this pandemic hit all of us hard, 
particularly our farm families.
  I have heard a great deal of positive feedback across the board about 
the USDA Farmers to Families Food Boxes. Not only is this program 
providing fresh, nutritious foods to families in need, it also is 
helping farmers sell crops that may otherwise go to waste.
  I have been impressed with the quality of the program, particularly 
with the oversight and efficiency. Thanks to the Farmers to Families 
Food Box Program, more than 90 million boxes have been delivered to 
families in need.
  Another program that has been helping our farmers is the Coronavirus 
Food Assistance Program, or CFAP. Now, I couldn't believe it, but one 
of the farmers I met while back in my district for August recess had 
not heard of the program and how it could help his family farm.
  I want to urge my colleagues, especially now that the second round of 
CFAP has been made available, to continue to spread the word about this 
valuable resource.

  While we have supported the agriculture industry in the previous 
COVID relief efforts, many of our farmers are wondering what is next.
  It is my hope that we put politics aside and finally come together on 
a bipartisan agreement that will support our hardworking essential 
employees in the agriculture industry, as well as our critical 
industries.

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