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FEDERALhearing transcript

Congressional Oversight Hearing on USDA Farm Data Collection

Original title: OVERSIGHT OF USDA'S USE OF CENSUS OF AGRICULTURE AUTHORITY TO ACQUIRE FARMERS' PERSONAL FINANCIAL INFORMATION

January 1, 2016

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The Frame

What this does

This hearing addresses the scope of federal authority to collect private financial data from farmers during the , which impacts the privacy rights and reporting obligations of agricultural producers nationwide.

Who is mentioned in the record

Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.

Farmers and Agricultural Producers

They are the subjects of the Census of Agriculture and are required to provide information to the USDA.

U.S. Department of Agriculture

The agency is responsible for conducting the census and defending its data collection practices.

What changed

Last recorded activity January 1, 2016.

What's next

Next step not available in the current record.

Summary

The House Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research held a hearing to examine concerns regarding the USDA's use of its authority to collect personal financial information from farmers. The hearing featured testimony from Joseph T. Reilly, Administrator of the National Agricultural Statistics Service.

Key Facts

  • The hearing took place on December 9, 2015, in the Longworth House Office Building.
  • The primary subject is the oversight of the USDA's authority to acquire farmers' personal financial information via the Census of Agriculture.
  • Joseph T. Reilly, Administrator of the National Agricultural Statistics Service, provided testimony.
  • The hearing was conducted by the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research of the House Committee on Agriculture.
  • The subcommittee discussed concerns raised by producers regarding perceived abuse of data collection authority.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was this hearing held?
The subcommittee held the hearing to address concerns from farmers about the USDA's collection of their personal financial information during the .
Who testified at the hearing?
Joseph T. Reilly, the Administrator of the at the USDA, was the primary witness.

Why It Matters

This hearing addresses the scope of federal authority to collect private financial data from farmers during the , which impacts the privacy rights and reporting obligations of agricultural producers nationwide.

News Coverage

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Sponsors

Discoveries

Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.

policy shift90% confidence

Oversight of Data Collection

The hearing highlights a specific tension between federal data collection mandates and the privacy concerns of the agricultural community.

Connected Entities

personCollin C. PetersonRanking Minority Member of the Committee on AgricultureMap →
personRodney DavisChairman of the Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and ResearchMap →
personJoseph T. ReillyAdministrator of the National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS)Map →
organizationNational Agricultural Statistics ServiceThe USDA agency conducting the censusMap →
organizationU.S. Department of AgricultureFederal agency responsible for the Census of AgricultureMap →
personSuzan K. DelBeneRanking Minority Member of the SubcommitteeMap →

Sources

Open source document

www.govinfo.gov

Analysis Score

0–100
  • Significance65
    How much this matters to a regular citizen
  • Controversy50
    Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
  • Entertainment10
    Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
  • Buzz15
    Current news / social attention level

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