Ranking Member Lofgren Floor Statement on H.R. 1713, the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act
(WASHINGTON, DC)— Yesterday afternoon, the U.S. House of Representatives considered and passed under suspension of the rules four bipartisan bills led by Members of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.
Ranking Member Zoe Lofgren's (D-CA) statement as prepared for the record on H.R. 1713, the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act:
I rise in support of H.R. 1713, the DOE and USDA Interagency Research Act.
This bipartisan bill, introduced by Chairman Lucas and myself, authorizes cross-cutting, joint research and development between the Department of Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Together these agencies leverage their incredible capabilities to address some of our multi-disciplinary research challenges in crop science, carbon storage, and precision agriculture technologies.
Codifying the partnership between these agencies is a testament to our commitment to combat climate change and to serve the agricultural communities like those in my district and throughout the nation.
We generated substantial momentum through the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act, which included research support towards agriculture productivity improvement goals. This bill will sustain and strengthen this momentum, by empowering deeper cooperation between two of our top science agencies, enabling national research and agriculture capacities to fully realize the opportunities presented by new and emerging technologies.
The technologies that are being used on farms in my district are really cutting edge. For instance, on one particular farm in my district they use a giant machine to roam the field and shoot lasers at weeds. This is all done automatically and controlled by computers. We really are entering a high-tech era in precision agriculture, and the Federal government can help facilitate progress in this field through bills like the one before us today.
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