Well thank you all for being here on Climate Smart from farm to building Food Supply Chains. We will review pathways to create a sustainable, affordable food chain that is resill yept in the face of Climate Change. We will examine opportunities for the food systems to be a climate solution while supporting human health and livelihood and i recognize myself for five minutes. Scorching temperatures and widespread disasters are putting lives at risk and harming communities across america. This week, families in southWest Virginia were the latest to face deadly floods like those that swept through Yellowstone National park. At the same time there is too little water across much of the west leading to wildfires and dangerously low levels. And stretched and forcing families and industries alike or risk air potential blackout and europe is facing what could be the worst heat wave in 200 years. So it was disappointing to learn that senator manchin is rejecting investments to address this investments and reduce on expensive fossil fuels and helping to create jobs. The American People have consistently supported cleaner Cheaper Energy like wind and solar. While this is a quite disappointing, we must forward and use all of the tools we have. The cost of inaction are too high and climate injustice is too great. And our kids futures are too precious of the the liement crisis is challenging our ability to put foods on dining room tables across america. Major disasters left 12. 5 billion to crops and range lands and north dakota, persist at the present time damage worth of wheat, soybeans and corn. Texas lost 2 billion in the aftermath in that weird winter storm. And extreme hurricane has lost a half billion dollars. These impacts will worsen if we do not address them and the costs are being passed on and Congress Must invest in Climate Smart food system that lowers costs and increases Food Security and incorporates solution from farm to fork. Every person along the food chain from producers to consumers and everyone in between can make it more sustainable and each step represents an opportunity for renovation and including laws labeling and strengthening and Technical Assistance and includes europe ban urban agriculture. Many of these solutions have an impact. We can cut methane by reducing food waste and reduce by expanding the use of feed like seaweed and farmers proper grazing techniques that help. Moving quickly on these solutions will be curable as we clean up the food spliel system which makes up 30 of heat trapping pollution and make progress on deforevers traition degraded soils and water scarcity. With the support of President Biden we have taken steps. The america cap rescue plan included 3. 6 billion spapped and support disadvantaged farmers and made progress which invested in initiatives and farm to School Grants and the bidenharris announced a new framework leveraging 2 billion investments that will reduce pollution. As we move closer to the net zero economy we have an economy that works for americans ensuring access to safe Healthy Foods and we are go to go get good advice from our witnesses and i look forward to that. I recognize Ranking Member dpraifs for his Opening Statement. Mr. Graves we represent coastal communities in the gulf of mexico and we share strong desire to make sure that our communities are safe and sustainable. There is no division between us on that. However, the Opening Statement that was iniad connecting flooding in virginia to Climate Change is a tenuous connection and i think the only way we are going to solve this problem is if we are sticking to science. Lets talk about science. We could cut every bit of emissions today and wouldnt have a single impact, a single impact on changes of weather patterns for 50 years. The models, maybe 75 years or maybe 100 years. In fact, i take that back. If we cover the United States, it wouldnt have an impact. If the entire world cuts emissions, 170 years away and see changes in the if the models are accurate. And let me tell you what is important that is sciencebased. One ton of emissions that the United States has reduced, for every one ton, we have reduced, china has increased by four. Global environment. We are headed in the wrong direction. China gets to increase their emissions 50 and releasing more than the United States, european union, japan and south korea. We can talk about this to make people feel good. The truth is that the policies being pushed today by this administration are actually causing greater harm to the environment. We just saw Inflation Numbers at 9. 1 , the highest number in 40 years. Gas prices have doubled. Natural gas prices have tripled and pushing people in Energy Poverty and we are having greater emissions as a result of this strategy. You failed at affordability and failed on emissions and Energy Security. The president said today in saudi arabia asking that nation for more oil, choosing cartels, opecplus cartels over my home state. And. [indiscernible] and come back to reality. We are talking about farms today and farmstotable. You know, we we have seen a huge decrease in the fertilizer and driving up costs for farmers. Since the 1950s, you have seen an efficiency in the United States increase in terms of our farm production since the 1940s, 3 100 and in terms of emissions per bushels or aches of acres of crops produced and pushing 13. 1 Million People into a hunger crisis into what is happening with you crepe and u. S. Energy policy and making unand diesel prices are going up and spiking. The unavailability or unaffordability of fertilizer. This administrations Energy Policy are causing all of these problems and there is a solution. The solution is as we have shown and science shows more Domestic Energy production results in lower production emissions and virtually than anywhere else in the world. Just this week, just this week, we had a bill in the Natural Resources committee that we are banning Critical Minerals, like lithium, nickel, copper, things that are required for renewable energy. And projected to have a 400 to 600 and 4,000 percent. We cant wish to have this stuff to happen. We have to have a strategy. The administration has said no to oil and gas. They say to no to Critical Minerals that is a none of the above. It is feying the environment and failing our Energy Security and Economic Impacts as well. I yield back. Ms. Castor thank you all for being here. We are focused on how we improve the Food Supply Chain to lower costs so keep that at the center of your testimony along with the Climate Solutions of how we reduce the impacts. Ms. Dana gunder leads the rei fed work. She authored a landmark report, wasted how america is wasting its food. Prior to joining the alliance, ms. Brown worked as an independent adviser to nonprofits, foundations and social enterprisees. Without objection, the witnesses written statements will be made part of the record. Ms. Gunder, you are recognized. Ms. Gunder im the mother of two children who last summer had five weeks of canceled. [indiscernible] and increase by onethird by 2050. The system is part of the solution. It deeply vulnerable to see the impacts of cultural change and have declined 21 due to changes in climate. Due to this Critical Role and i encourage and perhaps even adding it. One oven overlooked is climate. [indiscernible] one key climate leader said time is more important. New is good but now is better. And solutions are better now. And they are fume and methane and get critical. [indiscernible] that is essentially what is happening across the country today. 35 of food in the u. S. Goes uneaten and 400 billion average family of four spends 2,000 and how that dropped grocery bags to food insecure americans that could be fed. If all of our countries are in one place, this mega farm would cover more than nebraska, missouri and oklahoma and use as much water. And harvest enough food and instead of being in that, there is. [indiscernible] food is the number one contributor inland fills and all told, the Climate Impact of food in the u. S. And wasting less food increasing supply which makes food more supportal and preventing food waste is. Mr. Morrison effective. [indiscernible] 200 making commitments and General Mills reductions of 19 to 33 . And more than double the previous year. Nevertheless with this momentum, we have reduced our food waste since 2016. The u. K. Has achieved 27 . [indiscernible] we are sending for state and local governments, increasing donations and Liability Protections and. [indiscernible] time to act is now. Thank you. Ms. Castor thank you for your testimony. Next, mr. Swisher, you are recognized to give a summary of your testimony. Mr. Swisher my apologies. Good morning and members of the select committee, im kent swisher president of the association. Thank you for the opportunity to appear before you today. We are the trade association representing the industry in the United States and cappedda. Has 32 Member Companies and represent over 95 of the north american production. The industry includes independent reppedders which are familyowned companies that process their own. It accounts for over 10 billion and employs tens of thousand dollars in fulltime jobs. And rural. Rendering is the cooking of meat not and referred to as the original repsychelers to ensure and the animal products that we cannot eat into father for livestock feed and industrial uses. The industry is to reduction of and americans of an animal edible and the other 40 is inedible. Rerpding these these for and 13. 6 million acres would make up for the protein that would result without ingredients and pet fuels and livestock. Rendering which lead to emissions. An average plant has five times more Greenhouse Gas emissions. And it would be full in four years. Transforming into valuable new products and used in livestock and pet food. They provide newt try events to keep pets healthy and growing. They are adopters to reclaim. We are an essential element to achieving essential reductions in pollution and other activities that contribute to Climate Crisis. And to other reclichelers. I look forward to being part of the discussion as you consider future initiatives and the Important Role of rendering and reduce ing carbon and any legislative effort adequately recognize the leaders in order to avoid unintended consequences in the future. Ms. Castor dr. Creep, you are dr. C emp p. Ms. Cep i testify on the national awed do bonn Society Social with hoe enjoy bird watching and how we can mitigate Climate Change. And i would like to start by telling you about a visit to the dakotas. And he knew the conservation plan. And he knew because his 90yearold father who lives on the ranch that the front pasture sounded with his long absent birds returned and once again teaming with birds was a sign of improved activity. And i think stories audobon partnership with farming and ranching across america. They know that birds are indicators of the health of the places they love. The water levels, they talk about bird songs. They know from experience that their livelihoods are intertwined with biodiversity and Climate Change. This is implementation of agriculture and forever try practice practices. And support Wildlife Habitat and improve our capacity. People who farm, ranch and fish feel the effects of Climate Change. From 1980 through 2016, weather and climate disasters averaged 6. 3 events, but this has tripled to 7. 8. Wildfires in washington, and flooding in louisiana, the hurricanes and tornadoes in florida and the dplais years in the midwest, that is not the last five years, that was all last year. That escalation happened the loss of bio diversity. North america has 2 3 of the wildlife it had. Wild builder populations has plummeted but not every bird has suffered. Speaks yes, sir have committed to protecting the safeguards have rebounded. And this demonstrates how can support biodiversity and important outcomes like Water Quality and quawpt. Those the shorttail grows that are grazed, the northwests in forests that soak up water and the plaque bird northwesting in lifts up the many benefits of working lands to support food production, water and more. And such conservation can be beneficial for all, including private land owners across the country and consumers. Different solutions are needed and across communities and landscapes. The conservation forever try research and extension policy and programs are important to delivering as promised but there is more interest in these programs. 46 of valid occupations went unfunded meaning producers submitted and opted in submitting 1. 1 billion of voluntary proposals in just one year. We can and should expand these programs by of while promoting the partnerships. Such work is part of what is needed to extend. If we can scale these, we can Work Together to and water outcomes and the resilient supply chains. We do not face a zerosum. Thank you for the opportunity today. Ms. Castor miss brown, you are recognized. Ms. Brown thank you. Thank you so much for this. Im coexecutive director. We are diverse of a network in the san diego region [indiscernible] access to resources and a along racial lines and housing and Business Ownership with a history. Climate change. And the truth is and this in Climate Crisis and at the same time, a localized food system that will generate resources and truly is an impossible situation. [indiscernible] access that we have and not reliant on the industrialized system but not nimble and work there is a significant opportunity to increst in a system and increase the amount of food. According to 20 analysis [indiscernible] representing a major contribution to the economy. My request from the federal government and very necessary. One, food system of community and bio Regional Community and racial and climate [indiscernible] characteristic of the natural environment. We need to have equity. D. M. Anand [indiscernible] we need to remove barriers if we are to truly this environment. [indiscernibley] accountability mechanisms. If we are truly to meet the goals. I want to emphasize our goals shouldnt be the supply chains. It should be the by confronting and reattributing and our federal government is one of the most important stakeholders in this transformation and i encourage all of us to keep an open mind. Thank you very much. Ms. Castor thanks to all of our witnesses to your testimony. We will move to member questions and im going to recognize the gentleman from illinois for five minutes. You know, this committee has been around for four years and makes me sad that after four years, many of our membership, we have continued to tell stories about scoring political stories and saying this is political points. A while ago you both of those to cut the cost of energy for our farmers and cut the cost of natural gas and i dont recall any noise when donald trump went to the saudis and said quiem going to remove unless you cut down Oil Production so we can save our oil industry. Price of oil went up double digits the next day, the quickest. Doing an admirable job. And repeating the talking points. And they were access to european markets and makes them profit seeking businesses and saw that when and fell. So what are we going to do. How are we going to lower costs and cut from fossil fuel and not do it by scoring cheap talking points. Lets talk about the actual science and give a stable planet to our kids, we have to not om emitting fossil fuels, we have to go back. In order to do that, the om ways that i have seen that have taken co2 out of the atmosphere, we can put indirect capture in. And i would like to start with you, what tools we hear, and short rotation, what are the ways that we can actually increase the wealth for our farmers that would reduce as much co2 from the atmosphere . If you are clean, war the areas you would like to see pulling c omp2 and makes sense for our farmers . Great question. Thank i, congressman. I would like to talk about the structure that is needed to implement the practices in addition to the practices themselves and the type of work and Sustainable Practices that need to be in the field and not just isolated requires Technical Assistance and every field is different and every forest track is different. So part of that relies on a strong Delivery Service and system. Whether that is the Natural Resour