National Sea Grant College Program Amendments Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Mr. POMPEO. Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman for yielding time.

Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the farmers and constituents in my district and across the country, I rise in support of S. 764 today.

Over, now, what amounts to almost 3 years, Representatives and Senators from both parties have been diligently working on a solution to prevent a disastrous, statewide patchwork of food labeling laws from taking shape and causing chaos throughout our Nation's food supply chain.

As the proud sponsor of H.R. 1599, the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act, which passed the House almost 1 year ago by a large bipartisan majority, I want to thank Senator Roberts and our friends in the Senate for building on our legislation and arriving at a solution to resolve this matter.

It is not perfect; it is not exactly the bill that we passed over; but without this legislation, inconsistent State-level food labeling laws will lead to market disruptions and supply chain complications which are simply intolerable for our ranchers and our farmers and those attempting to feed the world. It would not only harm agriculture communities, but it would have resulted in higher prices at the grocery store for hardworking Kansans and people all across our country.

I am extremely proud of the coalition that we have all built. Our committee, the Energy and Commerce Committee, the Agriculture Committee have worked hard to get to this day. From Coffeyville to Colby, Kansans need a workable solution, and this legislation will do that trick.

We couldn't have gotten here without the massive support I have received from all across Kansas, people like Rich Felts, the president of the Kansas Farm Bureau, and Stacey Forshee, who came and helped me at the most difficult times in making this legislation work. She is a mother and a farmer from Cloud County, Kansas. Mick Rausch, a good friend and farmer in Sedgwick County and head of the Sedgwick County Farm Bureau. Max Tjaden and his wife, Anne, worked diligently to help make this legislation come into being. Kent Winter, Leslie Kauffman, Tom Tunnel, Philip Bradley, Matt Perrier, from the Kansas Livestock Association, Dennis Hupe, and Raylen Phelon, all were part of making this day occur.

It will be better for Kansans; it will be better for Americans; and America will now have the capacity to use biotechnology to continue to feed that next billion people and solve the incredible hunger risk that faces our globe.

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