WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Thursday the House Agriculture Committee held a hearing to review pending climate change legislation under consideration by Congress.

The Agriculture Committee heard testimony from Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and from representatives of conservation, energy and agriculture-related organizations.

"Many Members of the House Agriculture Committee have serious concerns about how climate change legislation being considered in Congress will affect the people living in their districts," Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson said. "This hearing has helped us better understand what is being proposed and what can be done to improve the legislation."

Written testimony provided by the witnesses is available on the Committee Web site: http://agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html .

A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website at a later date.

Witnesses

Panel I

· The Honorable Tom Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

· Mr. Bob Stallman, President, American Farm Bureau Federation, Washington, D.C.

· Mr. Steve Ruddell, Senior Associate, First Environment, Washington, D.C.

· Mr. Earl Garber, Second Vice President, National Association of Conservation Districts, Basile, Louisiana

· Mr. Fred Yoder, Past President and Climate Change Task Force Member, National Association of Corn Growers, Plain City, Ohio

· Mr. Roger Johnson, President, National Farmers Union, Washington, D.C.

· Mr. Ken Nobis, Treasurer, National Milk Producers Federation, St. Johns, Michigan

Panel III

· Mr. Ford West, President, The Fertilizer Institute, Washington, D.C.

· Mr. Glenn English, Chief Executive Officer, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Arlington, Virginia