Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2018

Floor Speech

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Mr. Chairman, I rise today to express my support for REAP, the Rural Energy for America Program; the Biomass Crop Assistance Program; the Biorefinery Assistance Program as well; and for improving the changes in mandatory spending for these energy programs when this bill is conferenced with the Senate.

These programs are very important to my State, other States as well.

They have been used to help farmers reduce their overall operating costs and make their farming businesses more competitive. These programs have also enabled rural businesses to obtain financing assistance, ensuring rural Iowa has similar opportunities to thrive and develop.

Now, I know that we have budget constraints, we are facing them, and I know the chairman had to make some tough decisions. I believe he took a very thoughtful approach to the overall agriculture appropriations bill, and I am very thankful to be on that subcommittee.

During the full committee markup, I was pleased that the subcommittee chairman committed to working with me to find alternative offsets to reduce these spending changes.

Mr. Chair, I appreciate Chairman Aderholt's attention, and I appreciate Chairman Frelinghuysen's attention to this matter, too.

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