Come to order. I just want all members to know that our Witnesses Today have to leave at 5 00 p. M. The questions for the first panel on the hhs budget with secretary, and, welcome, mr. Secretary, will be limited to four minutes. The second panel on the minutesl case, but only 10 members will be able to ask questions during that round. I will have to be strict with the gavel, since the witnesses have a tight timeframe. I know that you will all cooperate with that. Let us begin. Welcome, mr. Secretary. We are glad that you are here. We have a lot to take up. Every bit of it is, obviously, serious. The chair now recognizes herself for five minutes for an opening statement. Let me begin with mr. Secretary. I think that the confusion is the enemy of preparedness. Confusion is the enemy of preparedness. I believe that the administrations lack of coordination to the Coronavirus Response is on full display. We all know that. Markets are reacting, i think, at least in some parts, to the lack o
70 percent of farmers make less than a quarter of their income from farming relying on off farm jobs and subsidies for the rest 20 nineteens median farm income is projected to be negative 1449. 00 per year so why are the people responsible for growing our food having to go without. A for 34 years the folks that are made of come together all year long to help those farmers and the industry they work in to better provide for everyone and for one day a year they bring together the biggest names in the country and rock music to celebrate the American Farmer i. Was. The 1st to place this of temper 22nd 1985 and since then farm aid has raised over 53000000. 00 to support of or idea programs to help farming thrive from the most moral corner to the tops of buildings and city centers. Here is farming president Willie Nelson back in 1993 addressing the farm income policy Forum Sponsored by the department of agriculture for the past few years the u. S. D. A. Has been reporting that farm income is
[background sounds] subcommittee on Oversight Committee will now here comes the order. It is hauling hearing in china and the public help emergencies, to curb the Opioid Crisis. The premise of todays hearing is to examine states efforts and successes and adjusting the Opioid Epidemics as well as opportunities for future federal support. And just to let everybody know, doctor alexander, the reason why we are Getting Started a little late. The plane was delayed. But now the dr. Is on our way. We will swear in the witnesses when we get to that. If we have to do that later we will. The. [cheering]. Will now recognize the suffering Opening Statement. As i said, today the committee contends his bipartisan efforts to combat the Opioid Crisis. As we know, the countries in the midst of an epidemic unlike any of recent history. According to the centers for Disease Control and prevention, from 1999, 2017, nearly 400,000 people died from opioid overdoses. In 2017, more than two thirds of Drug Over
Talked about the profitability of it our cows actually produce half as much today per col in one year as they used to before we started grazing however with this system for every 100 pounds of milk rather than making 0. 50 we might be making 5. 00 dairy farming is and economic engine for wisconsin and is essential to the culture of this state agriculture contributes 88000000000 dollars each year to the states economy and almost half of that comes from dairy Dairy Farmers across the country are laboring right now under extreme pressure earning less for a gallon of milk than it cost them to produce it since 1973 weve lost a staggering 93 percent of this countrys Dairy Producers faced with the possibility of extinction a group of determined Dairy Farmers starting in wisconsin but now from all over the country our work. Thing together to activate communities build power and propose solutions to fix a broken system at the same time a Resolute Group of entrepreneurial women have come togethe
Which is why farm aid keeps going strong. This year the festival was held at the alpine valley music theater in east tri wisconsin deep in the heart of dairy country farm aid showcase some of the most innovative family farmers from around tired nation Whiskey River no rather a. Farm a president of 34 years Country Music icon Willie Nelson opened the festival well 1st of all im glad to see us all year to do. But there is. A lot of help is needed and were glad to be here to offer our support what are those challenges while one is pricing take Dairy Farmers for instance according to the u. S. D. A. Foods 2015 the price of milk paid to farmers has not only been going down but its also unpredictable from month to month making it hard for farmers to absorb that extra cost. Barmaid presented one of the many solution through the small farmer and old traditions on a sense of community through grazing we create a grazing it works it would help the cows be healthier and it was less labor plus the