Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding.

Madam Speaker, this legislation, along with the other bills that we have been voting on, is about doing our job. It is about reopening government. It is about reestablishing Congress as a coequal branch of government.

Madam Speaker, I rise in support of this bipartisan funding bill for the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration.

The day before the government shutdown began, the President signed into law the 2018 farm bill, after much debate and work. As a member of the conference committee, we negotiated the farm bill in good faith. Therefore, it has been incredibly disappointing to see the shutdown prevent key pieces of the legislation from taking effect. Examples of the impacts in my district are the following.

One such program allows a company in my district to deliver fresh California produce to our local school districts to improve the quality of food for the children. This contractor now is not allowed to be paid.

They are among many of the subcontractors who do business with governmental entities. Because of the shutdown, the USDA cannot pay them to provide services, putting in jeopardy the future of their businesses and people who work for them, and the delivery, in this case, of healthy fruits and vegetables to our local schools.

Additionally, if the shutdown lingers into March, it is uncertain how millions of Americans, including one-quarter of my constituents, will receive SNAP benefits. These are young people; these are elderly; and these are part of the working poor. The future funding for the Women, Infants and Children's Nutrition Program is also at risk.

Without passing the bill before us today, valley dairymen and almond farmers in my district, and many other producers across the Nation, will not be able to sign up for retaliatory tariff relief payments, and the impacts of these tariff wars have been significant throughout the country.

In addition, farmers cannot sign up for newly revamped conservation programs that I helped pass in the farm bill. These programs are vital for California agriculture, where farmers work through drought years and continue their responsible stewardship of the land.

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Mr. COSTA. Madam Speaker, farmers cannot sign up for new crop insurance as well to help them manage risks as we approach the planting season, and farming is a risky business.

What is more, food safety is put at risk while food inspectors are forced to work without pay.

Madam Speaker, it is time to pass this bill so that the USDA and the FDA can go back to work for Americans. We should do our job. It is irresponsible to shut down government and leverage American citizens in this fashion.

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