[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 49 (Wednesday, March 20, 2024)]
[House]
[Page H1273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              INVESTING IN OUR FOOD AND NATIONAL SECURITY

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on National 
Agriculture Day to highlight bipartisan legislation I introduced with 
five of my colleagues to invest in our food and national security.
  The Growing Opportunities in Agriculture, or the GO Ag Act, will 
improve agriculture educational opportunities in our schools.
  Mr. Speaker, the most recent Census of Agriculture showed the average 
age of the U.S. farmer is over 58 years old, underscoring the 
importance of investing in programs to promote agriculture at an early 
age.
  The GO Ag Act would create a $5 million grant program to help high 
schools cover the startup costs associated with agriculture education 
programs. Schools can apply for competitive grants to cover classroom 
and laboratory instruction, teacher salaries, and curriculum 
development.
  I have seen firsthand the impact agricultural education has on our 
communities. In my district, FAA and 4-H programs provide students with 
the opportunity to discover different careers across the agricultural 
industry. I hear directly from these students and educators how 
valuable these programs are and the role they play in shaping our next 
generation of leaders.
  Mr. Speaker, investing in education is the most commonsense way to 
prepare individuals who are passionate about a career in agriculture, 
and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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