The Strength of American Agriculture
Floor Speech
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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I thank Congressman Mann for yielding and for hosting this Special Order tonight on an industry that I believe is the most important industry in America. It is the industry that impacts and touches the lives of American families more times in a given day than any other. It is not just the food. It is the fiber; it is the building materials; it is the energy resources; it is the economy.
I am honored to be here. I am proud to be the Republican leader of the House Agriculture Committee, where we celebrate the contributions of American farmers, ranchers, producers, and foresters all year long.
Farm country is no stranger to struggle, and the past couple of years have been a punch to the gut. Between a global pandemic, historic fires and floods, wind events, and a President who is waging a never-ending war on agriculture, times have been particularly tough.
The supply chain crisis paired with skyrocketing inflation is kicking our farm families while they are down--folks who buy retail, sell wholesale, and pay shipping each way; the men and women who work around the clock to provide us with a safe and reliable food supply.
But rural America is tough; rural America is resilient; and rural America is the backbone of this Nation.
I am grateful to Congressman Mann for being on our farm team, as well as all the other agriculture advocates who will be speaking this evening.
Before I go, I specifically recognize Pennsylvania's contribution to agriculture, which is the Commonwealth's number one industry. One out of every seven jobs is directly or indirectly related to agriculture: 59,000 farms; 280,500 direct jobs; and more than $135 billion in revenue, or about 18 percent of Pennsylvania's economy. Agriculture's impact in the Keystone State is undeniable.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the families, the men and women who work 24/7, 365 days a year to feed, to clothe, and to fuel this great Nation. Once again, thanks to Congressman Mann for leading this important Special Order.
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