OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Agriculture and Nutrition Act of 2018

Floor Speech

Date: May 18, 2018
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Agriculture and Food Animals and Wildlife

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Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Chairman, I thank Mr. Johnson for his work on this amendment.

This amendment would require the Secretary to consider measures already in place or proposed to mitigate species or habitat loss when determining whether Federal action is likely to jeopardize existing work taking place. This would help address agriculture's ongoing concerns with the Endangered Species Act by recognizing the habitat protections and benefits already being provided through USDA conservation program practices that farmers and ranchers implement on their land.

Farmers are our best stewards of the land and environment, and I applaud efforts that take into account the good work the ag industry is already doing to prevent habitat and species loss. I urge my colleagues to prevent duplicative measures that may compromise conservation progress by voting in support of the Johnson amendment.

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Mr. CRAWFORD. Mr. Chairman, I rise this morning to support the Hollingsworth amendment, which would allow the Secretary of the Interior to issue depredation permits to livestock farmers authorizing the taking of black vultures during calving season.

Currently, the black vulture is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. I don't know why they are all migrating to my district, and that is where they all live and they are not leaving.

The current permit process doesn't provide farmers the flexibility they need to adequately protect calves from black vulture attacks. By allowing the Secretary of the Interior to work with Fish and Wildlife to issue State or regionwide depredation orders, we will provide farmers with the ability to protect their livelihood.

This isn't just about giving farmers flexibility; it is also about being humane. If you have ever seen a black vulture attack calves, that is not something you want to see more than once.

It is time we give our cattle farmers the authority to legally handle this dire situation.

I want to point out that the ranking member's comments are very relevant to me, as well, with cormorants. We have a big problem with cormorants, as well, in my district. So, certainly, we need to be taking these issues into consideration.

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