Van Orden Hosts Call with Wisconsin Third District Farmers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, Congressman Derrick Van Orden (WI-03) spoke with farmers from across Wisconsin’s Third District to provide an update from Washington, D.C. and answer questions pertaining to issues impacting Wisconsin’s agricultural community.

During the call, Rep. Van Orden highlighted his work to support farmers and agricultural producers, strengthen rural economies, and ensure the success of the agricultural industry in the Third District.

The Congressman addressed a variety of issues on the call:

Q: How can we be sure that the response to H5N1 is in proportion to the danger, and not some hyped-up caricature of possible danger?

A: “The reason that egg prices are $7 for a dozen is because the Biden administration didn’t address the problem, they just slaughtered millions of birds. We’re going to have to regrow our flocks and also do a much better job of biosecurity. Secretary Rollins met with poultry farmers and industry leaders and had a roundtable as a part of USDA’s ongoing response, so this is being addressed directly through the Executive Branch.

Q: What can we do to make sure that checkoff dollars are spent properly and effectively?

A: I support checkoff dollars being spent properly and effectively, but I do not support a federal effort to make checkoffs voluntary. Checkoffs were created by producers, for producers, to promote and provide research and information. 

Q: How do you plan to preserve SNAP funding?

A: “Any U.S. citizen receiving SNAP that truly needs it will continue to receive SNAP benefits. The issue is that every single dollar that is spent wastefully or fraudulently is a dollar that can’t go to feed a hungry child. I was raised in abject rural poverty by a single mother, and we were on food stamps. I’m also on the SNAP subcommittee because I understand the value of these programs. Any cut of benefits to an American citizen that is legally getting them is unacceptable. I’m not going to do that, and neither is President Trump.”

Q: What are you doing to reform the H-2A/H-2B programs?

A: “I volunteered to be on the Agriculture Labor Working Group, and we came up with 25 recommendations to address the problems within these programs. What we need to do first is address the millions of people that are here illegally. We’re going to put forth legislation that will require employers to show a history of employment, and we will deport those working here illegally. After a month, when those individuals want to come back to work in the U.S. and have the proper documentation to do so, that will be their start date, so they do not get to cut the line.”