Farm Bill Impact Series No. Investing in Research

Floor Speech

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Mr. MANN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to deliver the 22nd installment of my farm bill impact series to discuss Congress' willingness to invest in agricultural research, which supports our Nation's food security and, ultimately, our national security.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, for every public dollar spent, agricultural research returns $20 benefit to the economy. Despite this, Federal funding for agricultural research has declined in real dollars over the past two decades.

When you take a bird's-eye view of our investment in agricultural research, you see that the impact of the investment is much larger than it initially seems. This isn't just about new laboratories and equipment. This is about a vision for the world where America is the undisputed leader in food science technology. It is just like when we invest in international food aid, and the return is staggering. We feed hungry people with American commodities, but we also stop wars before they start and create new international trading partners.

Agricultural research investment is the same story. The impact is wide-reaching, and the return on investment is enormous.

Just a few months ago, the U.S. Department of Agriculture officially opened its new state-of-the-art National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility in my home State of Kansas, where scientists will conduct research into serious animal disease threats. It will be an important backstop in protecting our Nation's food supply. I am proud to have this facility in my district and right down the street from my alma mater, Kansas State University College of Veterinary Medicine and the Biosecurity Research Institute, creating a scientific hub that will lead the world in agricultural research and health.

In Congress, I am proud to represent Kansas State University, the first land-grant university created under the Morrill Act, and also Haskell Indian Nations University, which was granted land-grant status by an act of Congress in 1994. The idea for land-grant universities was originally proposed in the 1850s to educate students and increase agricultural expertise and U.S. productivity.

Over the years, these universities have surpassed that original vision and now represent the cutting edge of the agricultural research that supports food security around the globe. The faculty, staff, and students at K-State and Haskell have made it clear that we must support agricultural research, development, and innovation. When we do so, agricultural producers in the U.S. and abroad gain access to the technologies that increase their production even when challenges arise.

Earlier this summer, I co-introduced the Augmenting Research and Educational Sites to Ensure Agriculture Remains Cutting-Edge and Helpful Act, or the AG RESEARCH Act. This legislation would address the deferred maintenance at agricultural research facilities to ensure that America remains the world leader in research and innovation, instead of bowing to our adversaries and competitors.

Our work cannot stop there. Congress must also make strong investments in leveraging public-private partnerships to support research addressing the biggest food and agricultural challenges and quickly react to any research shortfall.

Madam Speaker, I look forward to working with Members of this Congress to ensure that this farm bill prioritizes research and innovation. I will be back on the floor soon to deliver another installment of my farm bill impact series and highlight more programs and titles within the bill that I believe Congress must understand and support to ensure that agriculture continues to thrive right here in America.

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