Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Mr. Neguse, I rise to speak in support of the amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chairman, I thank all for being here burning the midnight oil with us.

Mr. Chairman, this amendment would make it easier to carry out emergency watershed protection measures after a disaster.

The Western United States is experiencing record-setting drought and high temperatures, even in the winter months, exponentially increasing wildfire risk. Wildfires do not end when the fire does. They have significant impacts on our watersheds, and emergency measures are often needed to clear out debris and protect water supplies in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.

This amendment would add the text of Mr. Neguse's bipartisan, bicameral bill, the Making Access to Cleanup Happen, or MATCH IT Act, which would require the U.S. Department of Agriculture to develop a list of approved watershed protection measures that local governments and Tribes can undertake in an emergency and establish an approval process for additional post-fire actions that might be needed. This measure would remove burdensome red tape and allow for expedited emergency response after a wildfire.

In the face of what is likely to be a devastating wildfire year, it is important that we equip our communities with all the tools they need to respond as quickly and efficiently as possible.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and join me in taking action to protect our communities after a disaster.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chairman, I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle can support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chair, as the designee of Mr. Neguse, I rise to speak in support of the amendment.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chairman, this amendment would expand Federal support for sustainable agriculture and innovative sustainability solutions through the AGARDA program.

AGARDA helps to find cutting-edge solutions to food, agriculture, and environmental challenges. This amendment will build upon the already proven success of this program by expanding its research to include innovative sustainability solutions.

This amendment will give our agricultural producers the tools they need to increase sustainable and efficient use of water, soil, and other natural resources, and it will help farms adapt to challenges, like extreme weather event and drought.

This effort is bipartisan, done in partnership with Representative Flood, and I urge my colleagues to support this amendment.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chairman, I hope my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, nonetheless, will support this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chair, I demand a recorded vote.
BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chair, I rise today in support of this amendment, which would incorporate the text of my bill, the bipartisan, bicameral Promoting Access to Local Agriculture Act into the farm bill.

Too often, local farmers and ranchers struggle to accept benefits through critical Federal nutrition programs designed to feed communities, like SNAP and WIC. This is not because of a lack of need or demand, but rather because the system itself is too complicated to navigate.

Now, I fully believe in cutting this red tape to connect more communities to the healthy food that they need.

In a State like Michigan where we grow more than 300 commodities, that makes us one of the most agriculturally diverse States in the country, and these bureaucratic roadblocks mean less businesses for hardworking farmers and less fresh food on the table for families.

I deeply believe that food is medicine, and this is an agricultural issue. It is a food supply issue, but it is also a matter of health.

This provision would cut red tape to make it easier for farmers to participate in these essential programs while also ensuring that families have better access to fresh, healthy, and affordable food.

This bipartisan, bicameral effort is about making the government work the way that it should and advancing practical solutions that are responsive to the farmers and the families that we serve.

I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and join me in taking action to protect our communities in this time of need.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Ms. SCHOLTEN. Mr. Chair, I hope that my colleagues on both sides of the aisle can support this important amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source