Supporting 2024 Farm Bill

Floor Speech

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Mr. BOST. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in support of the 2024 farm bill. The farm bill touches the lives of every person in this country no matter who you are or where you are from--rural, urban, or suburban.

That is why it is such an honor to be the southern Illinois voice on the House Agriculture Committee. I have been given the opportunity to build an incredible relationship with our farmers across my district, and I have sought their input in traveling around to meet with them where they are at. Their feedback has been critical in this process.

For me, this farm bill is a partnership with my people. Farmers and producers in my district understand the positive impact the farm bill has on rural communities.

In southern Illinois, agriculture is our second largest employer, just behind Scott Air Force Base. I am proud to serve the 10,000 producers in one of the most diverse agricultural districts in this United States.

In addition to growing staples like corn and soybeans, we are also home to a variety of specialty crops, livestock, and dairy. While each one might be different, they all share the same goal: a strong farm safety net.

Our farmers produce the food, fuel, and fiber that this Nation runs on. They play an essential role in our communities. It is only right that we support them and have their backs in times of need. That is why the farm bill exists. It is not just written for good times. It is also written for the bad.

When your crops fail, the farm bill provides a safety net. When you need a loan to save a family farm, the farm bill ensures access to credit. When your community needs an updated water system, the farm bill secures that funding.

When your rural home lacks internet access, the farm bill bridges that gap for broadband service. When you need help feeding your family, the farm bill supports healthy nutrition programs to make sure Americans don't go to bed hungry.

The farm bill has always been a top priority for me. By reinforcing crop insurance and boosting commodity reference prices, we are supporting the agricultural industries on their worst days and investing in tomorrow. This is vitally important.

Another key priority of mine is ensuring farmers not only feed folks at home but around the world. My district is blessed to be located between the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. We are strategically placed to export our commodities abroad. In 2022, Illinois exports for corn and soybean totaled over $3.5 billion.

The MAP and FMD programs play a critical role in moving commodities from farmers' fields to foreign markets. However, these programs are often oversubscribed and underfunded, leaving producers at a competitive disadvantage on the global market. We need to bolster these programs, expand into new markets, and strengthen our trade relations.

Lastly, we need to establish guidelines for large solar panel projects that are eating up acre after acre of prime farmland. My constituents have had enough. We must give local communities a say in the approval process.

That is why I am pleased that my bill, the SOLAR Act, has been included in this legislation. We are giving producers the flexibility to use solar energy on their farms while setting guidelines for large projects.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to restate my support for the farm bill. The bill is a big win for our farmers. It will have a big impact across the country, and I urge my colleagues on the Agriculture Committee to support this bill as it moves through the markup process tomorrow. I hope it will receive strong support on the House floor, as well.

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