Good morning. So this meeting will now come to order. Today the subcommittee is holding a hearing entitled oversight of doe, during covid19 pandemic. Members will be participating in todays hearing finally in person or remotely via video conferences. And just as a reminder weve had some technical difficulties in making sure that our remote video was operating up to standard. As part of this hearing, the microphones of members participating remotely will be set on mute for the purpose of eliminating inadvertent background noise. Members participating remotely will need to unmute their microphones each time you wish to speak. For members and witnesses participating in person, i encourage you to wear your mask whenever you are not speaking. Dr. Monahan, our physician, stressed in attending physician covid19 guidelines that use of face coverings is meant to protect other people in case someone was unknowingly infected and does not have symptoms. But wearing our mask when we are not speakin
The Video Conference hosted by the group vocus on Rural America. Thank you for joining us today. Tos is a different approach a press event for me and i think for most everybody that is going to participate this morning. Out,e eager to try this ,nd hope if we make a mistake muting you again, please forgive us. I will introduce the speakers as we go and we will hold the questions until the end. Our communication director is running the news button and the chat sidebar on zoom, so if you have any questions, please just namea note there with your and she will call on you. You are final call for questions at the end. As you know, our country and the world are grappling with this ongoing coronavirus pandemic, and i sincerely hope that you and your loved ones are safe and , and thatgetting by you are practicing social distancing and taking necessary precautions. We do appreciate you making time for us today to do this event. I am in Monroe County and the southern part of the state and i ed he
Outlooks. We will also hear from the usda chief economist at this forum. It is about 90 minutes. [inaudible conversations] good morning, everybody. If you could please find your seat. I would like to welcome everyone to usda 96 annual outlook forum. Usda oldest annual meeting. I am stephen, deputy secretary of agriculture. It is great to see everyone here this morning. This years theme is that innovation imperative. Shaping the future of agriculture. This is a fitting theme for the secretary to announce something we have been working on at usda called the agriculture innovation agenda. We are excited to share more with you this morning. I am joined in this room by many of you that are working to shape the future of our agriculture economy. It is important that we take stock, not only where we are today, but also where we need to go to meet a growing Global Demand with rising standards of living at a time when producers are dealing with uncertainties in the farm economy and the conditio
Implemented properly. Agriculture, nutrition and Forestry Committee members talked to farmers, Rural Utility Service officials and Healthcare Industry leaders about issues impacting Rural Communities. Including access to Rural Broadband, Water Infrastructure and Health Care Services and agricultural production. Good morning. I call this hearing of the Senate Committee on agriculture and nutrition and forestry to order. Todays hearing advances this committees continued oversight of the department of agricultures implementation of the 2018 farm bill. A principle duty of this committee is to ensure that the department had the authority and resources to provide the agriculture producers with the necessary tools to feed a troubled and hungry world as well as this country. But the responsibility of the committee and the usda does not stop there and it is critical as Partnership Supports businesses and the electric cooperatives and telecom providers, schools and clinics and the product manufa
There were culture industry, there were Culture Committee hearing is 4 hours. If we cant. Is an here . I guess whichever. The meeting will come to order. Ladies and gentlemen, we are at a very historic moment for our nation. Who would have thought of it even as soon as just a few years ago that we would have this golden opportunity to provide electricity that would motor our vehicles but was bringing on some serious questions and serious issues so that we know what it will take to make sure people in this country are well aware and will be able to take advantage and enjoy this movement, this Great Movement we are making to transition from petroleum to electricity. I want to welcome everyone to this hearing especially our witnesses because we are looking to you to tell us what this means. What does it mean for jobs . What is the impact that this will have in Rural America if we do not move and make sure those in Rural America can enjoy and be productive from the move we are making. Im s