Agriculture
Production agriculture is the heart of America. We spend far less of our income on food than any other country in the world. While our population continues to shift to urban centers, many Americans have no concept of the hard work and innovation our farmers and ranchers bring to production agriculture. I’m committed to making sure our agriculture producers are not forgotten and are not penalized by federal policies.
Oklahoma’s Fourth Congressional district is home to over 1400 farms and ranches. Unfortunately, production agriculture has become an afterthought in a country whose citizens spend a smaller percentage of their income on food than anywhere else in the world. We must never take for granted the hard work and innovation of the agriculture sector and the value they add to the economy. I work closely with Congressman Frank Lucas (OK-03), the chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, to ensure that our farmers and ranchers are not left behind, and that safety nets, such as crop insurance, remain in place to protect against the volatile effects of drought, floods, tornados and other disasters.
Maybe more important to farmers and ranchers, government regulation can cripple agriculture production. Specifically, the EPA has no regard for the cost of a myriad of regulations that hit rural America with little to no benefit to the environment. Like you, I know that there are no better stewards of the land than those whose livelihood depends on that land. I will continue to work to promote policies that allow farmers and ranchers to prosper.