Investing in Our Food and National Security

Floor Speech

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Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, I rise today on National Agriculture Day to highlight bipartisan legislation I introduced with five of my colleagues to invest in our food and national security.

The Growing Opportunities in Agriculture, or the GO Ag Act, will improve agriculture educational opportunities in our schools.

Mr. Speaker, the most recent Census of Agriculture showed the average age of the U.S. farmer is over 58 years old, underscoring the importance of investing in programs to promote agriculture at an early age.

The GO Ag Act would create a $5 million grant program to help high schools cover the startup costs associated with agriculture education programs. Schools can apply for competitive grants to cover classroom and laboratory instruction, teacher salaries, and curriculum development.

I have seen firsthand the impact agricultural education has on our communities. In my district, FAA and 4-H programs provide students with the opportunity to discover different careers across the agricultural industry. I hear directly from these students and educators how valuable these programs are and the role they play in shaping our next generation of leaders.

Mr. Speaker, investing in education is the most commonsense way to prepare individuals who are passionate about a career in agriculture, and I urge my colleagues to support this legislation.

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