[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 119 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[House]
[Pages H3213-H3214]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         FARM BILL IMPACT SERIES NO. 22: INVESTING IN RESEARCH

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Kansas (Mr. Mann) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to deliver the 22nd installment 
of my farm bill impact series to discuss Congress' willingness to 
invest in agricultural research, which supports our Nation's food 
security and, ultimately, our national security.
  According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for every public 
dollar spent, agricultural research returns $20 benefit to the economy. 
Despite this, Federal funding for agricultural research has declined in 
real dollars over the past two decades.
  When you take a bird's-eye view of our investment in agricultural 
research, you see that the impact of the

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investment is much larger than it initially seems. This isn't just 
about new laboratories and equipment. This is about a vision for the 
world where America is the undisputed leader in food science 
technology. It is just like when we invest in international food aid, 
and the return is staggering. We feed hungry people with American 
commodities, but we also stop wars before they start and create new 
international trading partners.
  Agricultural research investment is the same story. The impact is 
wide-reaching, and the return on investment is enormous.
  Just a few months ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture officially 
opened its new state-of-the-art National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility 
in my home State of Kansas, where scientists will conduct research into 
serious animal disease threats. It will be an important backstop in 
protecting our Nation's food supply. I am proud to have this facility 
in my district and right down the street from my alma mater, Kansas 
State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Biosecurity 
Research Institute, creating a scientific hub that will lead the world 
in agricultural research and health.
  In Congress, I am proud to represent Kansas State University, the 
first land-grant university created under the Morrill Act, and also 
Haskell Indian Nations University, which was granted land-grant status 
by an act of Congress in 1994. The idea for land-grant universities was 
originally proposed in the 1850s to educate students and increase 
agricultural expertise and U.S. productivity.
  Over the years, these universities have surpassed that original 
vision and now represent the cutting edge of the agricultural research 
that supports food security around the globe. The faculty, staff, and 
students at K-State and Haskell have made it clear that we must support 
agricultural research, development, and innovation. When we do so, 
agricultural producers in the U.S. and abroad gain access to the 
technologies that increase their production even when challenges arise.
  Earlier this summer, I co-introduced the Augmenting Research and 
Educational Sites to Ensure Agriculture Remains Cutting-Edge and 
Helpful Act, or the AG RESEARCH Act. This legislation would address the 
deferred maintenance at agricultural research facilities to ensure that 
America remains the world leader in research and innovation, instead of 
bowing to our adversaries and competitors.
  Our work cannot stop there. Congress must also make strong 
investments in leveraging public-private partnerships to support 
research addressing the biggest food and agricultural challenges and 
quickly react to any research shortfall.
  Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with Members of this 
Congress to ensure that this farm bill prioritizes research and 
innovation. I will be back on the floor soon to deliver another 
installment of my farm bill impact series and highlight more programs 
and titles within the bill that I believe Congress must understand and 
support to ensure that agriculture continues to thrive right here in 
America.

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