Cole Remarks at FY25 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Bill Full Committee Markup

Our final bill for Fiscal Year 2025 is the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies bill.

For rural districts like the one I represent in southwest Oklahoma, agriculture is not merely a commodity, it is a way of life. Across the country, U.S. farmers and ranchers exemplify the cornerstone values of our nation, including innovation, resiliency, and hard work. It is no exaggeration to say that American farmers feed and clothe the world.

Today’s bill recognizes the critical contributions these stewards of the land make to the nation and the world. Domestic food production is critical to both our own security and well-being and that of our friends and allies around the globe.

The bill continues critical investments in research, rural broadband, and animal and plant health programs, providing for the continued development of rural communities across the country. It ensures that vulnerable populations have access to nutrition and health programs. It also takes steps to shield and preserve American farms and farming communities, including addressing the purchasing of agricultural land by foreign countries, which is a critically important issue in my district.

The bill also provides an appropriate level of funding for the Food and Drug Administration, ensuring that it can fulfill its primary mission of protecting and promoting the safety of America’s food, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices.

Importantly, the bill also rolls back ill-advised Biden Administration regulations that make farming more difficult.

Policies should always help – not harm – our ability to feed, fuel, heal, and connect Americans.

I thank Chairman Harris for his hard work to support our nation, and I urge all members to support this bill.