Frank D. Lucas

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate those comments by the chairman.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Common Cents Act. This bill has been over a year in the making with my colleagues Mrs. McClain and Mr. Garcia from California, and I am proud of the product that we put forward today.

The 1 cent piece, or the penny as it is commonly known, does indeed cost almost 4 cents to produce, and 2024 was the 19th consecutive year the U.S. Government lost money keeping the 1 cent piece in circulation.

That is why this year, the President rightly ordered the Department of the Treasury to stop wasting hard-earned taxpayer money to produce the coin and why we are excited to move forward in codifying this action.

The Common Cents Act also gives flexibility to the Mint to produce a nickel with cheaper materials. In 1866, Congress mandated the nickel be produced from an alloy of copper and nickel, and we haven't updated the composition since. This bill gives the Mint the flexibility to produce a cheaper coin, while retaining Congress' responsibility of coining money.

Finally, the bill provides certainty for businesses in their cash transactions with customers without mandating price controls from the government.

We are also proud to boast the endorsements of the National Retail Federation, the National Grocers Association, the United Steelworkers International Union, and the American Bankers Association, among many others.

I must take one moment and note with the passing of the 1 cent piece, it is a coin that was mandated in the 1792 Mint Act, a coin that when it was originally produced in 1793 by the United States Mint in that very fledgling facility in Philadelphia, represented 1 cent of pure copper.

Over time, with inflation and the changing consumer patterns, we went to the smaller 1-cent piece we now use in 1857. Now, all of this time later, the 1-cent piece has passed its prime and time.

Yet, it was a coin that was important to commerce from the founding of the country. It was an important coin because every American at least had a few cents in their pocket, even in the toughest times, over the last 200 years.

Now we move forward. Again, I thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle on the Financial Services Committee for making these wise decisions in codifying it.

Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 629) to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1978 to remove barriers to agricultural producers in accessing funds to carry out emergency measures under the emergency conservation program, and for other purposes.

Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include extraneous material on the bill under consideration.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of S. 629, the Emergency Conservation Program Improvement Act of 2025, introduced by Senator Fischer of Nebraska.

The Emergency Conservation Program and the Emergency Forest Restoration Program are two critical cost-share programs available to landowners following a natural disaster. Given the natural disasters we have witnessed, including wildfires, hurricanes, and flooding, these programs have remained critically important.

Wildfires continue to present significant challenges, especially in the West, due to their increasing intensity and the extensive number of acres burned each year. Forest managers and wildfire experts have predicted that 2026 will be a particularly challenging fire year. So far this year, we have already witnessed approximately 2.7 million acres burned in over 34,000 fires, and it is only June.

Recently, devastating wildfires have occurred in the plains of Nebraska, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas, instead of just being confined to the forest and mountains of the West. This year, we saw approximately 300,000 acres burn after multiple wildfires ignited in Oklahoma and Kansas this past February.

In addition, due to Hurricanes Helene and Milton, we have observed significant needs for emergency assistance resulting from the devastation in southeastern States, including the Carolinas, Georgia, and Florida. Natural disasters have inflicted great damage on private property across the country at no fault of the landowners.

Under ECP, landowners can receive both technical and financial assistance for repairs and restoration of land adversely affected by natural disasters, including floods, hurricanes, wildfires, and droughts. Additionally, EFRP provides financial assistance to nonindustrial private forest landowners to support recovery efforts following similar natural disasters.

While these programs are critical, participants have reported ongoing issues with payment delays and insufficient upfront assistance to cover the costs of urgent conservation needs.

To address this issue, S. 629 allows for advanced payments of up to 75 percent of the total project cost for both programs, clarifies eligibility for cost-share payments, and allows for a longer period for the use of ECP payments.

In addition, since receiving recommendations from both the Government Accountability Office and the USDA Office of Inspector General, USDA has indicated that the Department is taking actions to improve the integrity and the administration of ECP. Given the significant challenges that our producers and forest landowners are facing in the aftermath of recent natural disasters, as well as the increased risk of extreme fire damage this year, it is my hope that we can enhance this program's integrity, while also providing timely assistance to those in great need.

Mr. Speaker, I support this legislation and encourage my colleagues to vote favorably.

Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time to close.

Mr. Speaker, I simply want to thank my colleague for her efforts on this piece of legislation and on the floor today.

The challenges that this bill is designed to address are real, and they are not just one particular locality, whether it is Hawaii, various States on the East or West Coasts, or across the country. We need to pass this legislation to make the process work more efficiently.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage all of my colleagues to vote for this piece of legislation, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. Chair, I am pleased to stand here today to offer my enthusiastic support for the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2026.

As the former chairman of this committee, I have been down this road before, and while passing a comprehensive farm bill is never easy, the rewards can be seen in tangible ways in every facet of our communities.

They can be seen not just on the farms but in the grocery stores, the universities, the fire stations, the community facilities, and rural hospitals across this great Nation.

To my colleagues who will cast their vote tomorrow, whether you represent a top agricultural district, small town, or a booming metropolis, the policies in this bill will affect you.

This bill will ensure that American farmers can continue to raise the food and fiber that ultimately finds its way into your home, and it will ensure that the next generation can continue that legacy.

I urge my colleagues to vote ``yes'' with me on final passage, and I thank Chairman Thompson for bringing forth this bill today.