Democratic lawmakers voiced concerns to the House Agriculture Committee on Wednesday about everything from President Donald Trump’s trade policies to the economic plight of Gulf Coast shrimpers.

The discussion was part of "Member Day," in which all House lawmakers are invited to speak before the committee. All but two members who spoke were Democrats. The talk was dominated in part by criticism of Republican cuts to national nutrition programs and the White House's treatment of farmers hurt by tariffs and high production costs. 

“The administration has prioritized rushing a $40 billion bailout to Argentina instead of ending the trade war that has contributed to increasing farm bankruptcies this year,” said Rep. Angie Craig, the committee's top Democrat. Trump’s aid package for crop growers announced Monday “fails to meet the moment of helping American farmers after a challenging crop year, particularly leaving specialty crop growers, sugar producers and foresters out in the cold." 

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Among Republicans, Rep. Tim Moore of North Carolina decried new hemp-related restrictions put in the legislation last month that ended a record-long government shutdown. Some cannabis groups contend it essentially amounts to a ban on hemp-derived products containing even non-intoxicating amounts of THC.

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"The bill included some major changes to the federal hemp policy without industry input and really without any stakeholder involvement," Moore said. "As enacted, this new law would effectively eliminate over 95% of North Carolina's hemp industry and put more than 220,000 American jobs at risk." 

Other concerns raised included: 

  • Rep. Vicente Gonzalez, D-Texas, said cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are hurting constituents in his district, where over a quarter of households are recipients of the food aid. He also raised concerns about U.S. shrimpers struggling due to increased foreign shrimp imports, labor shortages and immigration regulations, and the threat of New world screwworm.
     
  • Rep. Shontel Brown, D-Ohio, said based on her visits with crop growers, the Trump administration’s $155,000 cap on the planned bridge payments is too low to help many farmers, ranchers and dairy producers.

  • Pablo Hernandez, Democratic resident commissioner for Puerto Rico, pushed for support for a bipartisan bill that would put Puerto Rico on a path to be part of the SNAP program.

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