Native Hawaiian farmers meet with Schatz to discuss Farm Bill priorities

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (D-Hawai‘i), held a virtual meeting with Native Hawaiian farmers and producers from across the state to discuss the needs and priorities of the Native Hawaiian community in the Farm Bill.

“The 2018 Farm Bill was the first to focus on the unique needs of Native communities because Native stakeholders organized and advocated through groups like the Native Farm Bill Coalition,” said Chairman Schatz. “I am working to build on that progress and amplify Native Hawaiian community voices in the Committee’s Farm Bill work. Native issues and agriculture issues are both bipartisan, so I’m hopeful we can find a way to work together to get things done.”

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the Farm Bill, modifies Department of Agriculture programs that address conservation, farm credit, rural development, research and extension activities, agriculture and food defense, historically underserved producers and much more.

The Committee will accept written comments on Native communities’ Farm Bill priorities at FarmBill@indian.senate.gov.