[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 85 (Thursday, May 16, 2024)]
[House]
[Pages H3285-H3286]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    CALIFORNIA'S AGRICULTURAL SECTOR

  (Mr. LaMALFA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. LaMALFA. Madam Speaker, California's agricultural sector is a 
powerhouse, contributing over $50 billion to our economy and all these 
amazing food products for U.S. consumers.
  Since we produce so many of these fruits and vegetables at 90-plus 
percent, it is a key element. Our Nation's consumer base really depends 
on a

[[Page H3286]]

strong farm bill for the products that come from California and all 
over the country.
  In a week, the House Agriculture Committee will hold a vote on this 
year's farm bill. I can say from personal experience that the committee 
has spent countless hours going around the country listening to people 
and taking into account all the things it takes to make our domestic 
food supply strong.
  It aligns our farm safety net with the needs of producers as well as 
folks in need, and an incentive for conservation and market access are 
all elements of that.
  I also have the privilege of chairing the Subcommittee on Forestry. 
We are focused on making our forests safer from devastating fire, which 
we have experienced in northern California with the loss of many lives, 
as has my dear friend, Representative Tokuda, with Lahaina in Hawaii.
  We have to do much better on making our communities and our lands 
fire safe to prevent unnecessary loss of life and unnecessary damage. 
The farm bill is going to be a big element in going forward and 
improving upon that situation. I look forward to a positive vote and 
success next week.

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