Agriculture

“Milk provides the cornerstone of a healthy meal for our nation’s children,” Rep. Courtney said. “It packs valuable nutrients including protein, potassium, and calcium—a solid foundation for building a healthy menu in America’s schools."

“I’ve long seen industrial hemp production as a tremendous opportunity for our state’s agricultural sector and economy,” said Congressman Courtney.

“We believe that the MAFMC continues to shortchange New England states when it comes to commercial summer flounder quotas,” Courtney, Blumenthal, and Murphy argued in their letter. “New England fishermen—including many of our constituents who have spent their lives fishing in southern New England Waters—have consistently voiced their concerns regarding summer flounder quotas set by the MAFMC.”

“The passage of this bill is welcome news throughout eastern Connecticut. This farm bill agreement includes many important provisions aimed at providing support and a level playing field for established crops and farm commodities in our region, while breaking down barriers to developing others,” Courtney said.

“Without the federal funding provided by CDBG program, our local municipalities would struggle to fund valuable public services and housing assistance programs that are often taken for granted,” said Courtney. “CDBG has become a critical vehicle for getting federal dollars into the hands of local governments who need this annual cash infusion to maintain these services and programs. Proposals to eliminate CDBG would have a devastating impact on our region and our state, which is why I will continue to work across the aisle to preserve this vital program as Congress debates the 2019 budget in the weeks ahead.”

“With imported seafood making up 90% of American seafood consumption, our nation should be focusing on programs to expand and improve our domestic aquaculture industry,” wrote the members. “Sea Grant is a program that does just that—helping fishermen and shellfish farmers navigate a complex patchwork of state and federal coastal zone management regulations through technical assistance. Sea Grant works with local producers to grow and sustain their business models while connecting them to local resources to share best practices.”