A freshman Republican from Kansas is part of the new leadership on the Senate Ag Committee. Sen. Roger Marshall discusses the issues facing the committee.
Agriculture is the largest industry in Kansas and the state will have a seat at the table with Senator Roger Marshall’s addition to the Senate Ag Committee. Marshall says that he is proud of the opportunity to represent farmers and ranchers.
According to Marshall, “It’s a dream come true. Kansas traditionally has had a member on the Ag Committee with some big boots to fill from Senator Pat Roberts. I don’t think I could have went home if I didn’t get named to the Ag Committee. I’m a fifth generation farm kid, so this is a big, big priority for me as well as my state, and it’s a great place to protect and help Kansas jobs.”
Committee Chairwoman, Debbie Stabenow plans to make pandemic relief a top priority including expanding food and nutrition programs.
Sen. Marshall says that boosting the economy is a critical first step.
“We need to do whatever we can to make sure people don’t go hungry at night, but one of the best things we can do is get the economy going again, getting kids back into school so they get that nutritious meal, as well,” Marshall states. “Our focus needs to be getting shots in people’s arms and the rest of it is going to take care of itself. If we have a strong economy, we will need less dollars for some of those food programs.”
While lawmakers consider another stimulus package, pandemic aid for farmers is currently frozen while the Biden administration reviews the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. However, the Senator says that the administration needs to follow the intent of Congress.
“The intent of Congress was to get that over $30 billion dollars out the door, and I think we pause, we still have over a billion dollars left there,” he notes. “President Biden keeps saying this is urgent, we need to address everything quickly, so this is money we already appropriated, and it needs to get out the door. It’s been a lifeline for so many people.”
With House Democrats investigating major meat packing plants for their COVID-19 response, Senator Marshall says that Kansas packers are doing their part to protect workers.
“When the pandemic was on the rise back in the spring, I personally went and visited several of these packing plants. I personally helped set up testing locations across the state for anyone from the community to come be tested. I literally volunteered and worked in those myself, and then went and worked in the hospitals, but in my visits to these packing plants, they were already going above and beyond the call of duty. They were already doing so many things and really set the institution standard to how to make things safe for people at work,” he adds.
He says that ensuring vaccines go out to essential workers and those most at risk should be a top priority for the federal government.
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