Agriculture

Oregon’s Sixth District is home to a variety of specialty-crop growers that produce everything from blueberries to wine grapes to hazelnuts. The farming tradition in Willamette Valley dates back hundreds of years. Due to the region’s unique and favorable climate conditions, it was publicized in the 1820’s as a “promised land of flowing milk and honey.”

As your representative, one of my foremost priorities is to help secure and strengthen the district’s farming tradition. That is why I am thrilled to be a member of the House Committee on Agriculture during a critical moment: 2023 Farm Bill negotiations. The Farm Bill is a legislative package passed roughly once every five years that influences the types of food and agricultural products grown and developed in the United States. It also has immense impacts on growers’ livelihoods.

In my role on the Agriculture Committee, I’m focused on formulating and advancing legislation that would expand the market, research, and funding opportunities for specialty crops. I’ll work to ensure that the Farm Bill gives small and mid-size farmers the tools they need to remain in production – including loan funding and technical assistance – and prevent it from becoming just another federal handout for big agri-businesses.

Nutrition is also an important issue area for the Farm Bill. Across the U.S., many working families can’t afford or lack access to healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. Congress must address this epidemic of poor nutrition with policies like incentives for local and regional food distribution networks and expanded school nutrition programs. I have cosponsored legislation to streamline nutrition benefits for seniors, reduce barriers to nutrition assistance for veterans, expand access to SNAP for college students, and to make sure kids get healthy meals at school. 

Lastly, the threat of wildfires and other climate impacts to Oregon’s farms and forests cannot be understated. As the Ranking Member on the House Agriculture Forestry Subcommittee, I am well-positioned to drive meaningful federal action to support wildfire prevention/mitigation and other climate resilience measures in Oregon and the broader Pacific Northwest. For example, in June, I introduced the Civilian Conservation Center Enhancement Act of 2023, a bill that would support specialized training for wildland fire, forestry and rangeland management — and cut the bureaucratic red tape associated with the Forest Service’s hiring of wildland firefighters.