Steny H. Hoyer
09/24/2025 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 09/24/2025 15:59
Maryland Delegation Members, County Executive Fight to Keep Beltsville Agricultural Research Center Open
WASHINGTON, DC - On Monday, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-05), U.S. Senators Chris Van Hollen and Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), U.S. Representatives Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jamie Raskin (MD-08), and April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Prince George's County Executive Aisha Braveboy visited the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Beltsville Agricultural Research Center (BARC) for a tour of the facilities and briefing from officials on its critical work, and underscored their commitment to keeping the center open as the Trump Administration plans to shutter it.
"BARC has been the leading engine of innovative agricultural research for decades," Congressman Hoyer said."Shuttering BARC and scattering its staff across the country would undermine its critical mission to protect the health and safety of the American people. In 1986, I introduced legislation that would prohibit the closure of BARC without Congressional approval and over the last 40 years I've worked to strengthen these protections so that our experts can continue developing solutions for issues including nutrition and food safety. My colleagues in the Maryland Delegation and I will keep fighting to protect BARC and will continue to stand up for the agricultural community and the American people."
"For over a century, BARC has been this country's premier agricultural research facility - the source of important scientific breakthroughs that have strengthened American agriculture and helped put food on our tables. We saw firsthand that they need additional resources for critical maintenance - which we are actively working to provide. We also know that the dedicated researchers at BARC are engaged in essential work and studies that cannot be replicated elsewhere. Displacing this crown jewel of agricultural research and sidelining its talented scientists would prevent many future discoveries and block the development of new techniques that our farmers need to succeed. That's why we will keep fighting to keep BARC open - and keep it in Prince George's County," said Senator Van Hollen.
"BARC is a world leader in agricultural research, a model of American exceptionalism, and a standard we can't afford to lose. The Trump Administration's attempt to close BARC is misguided and wrong. Team Maryland remains committed and united in saving BARC," said Senator Alsobrooks.
"The federal government has invested a lot of money and human capital into BARC. These investments have continued the long standing world class agricultural research that talented and dedicated scientists perform on behalf of farmers and consumers. The proximity to NOAA and NASA and other federal agencies creates a dynamism and synergy unique to this facility. Moving it costs too much and destroys or delays the good work being done for taxpayers. I will continue, with my colleagues in the Maryland Federal Delegation, to fight for BARC to stay here in Beltsville," said Congressman Ivey.
"Shutting down the Henry A. Wallace Beltsville Agricultural Research Center would set our agricultural research gains back many years, perhaps decades," said Congressman Raskin. "The Trump Administration's attempts to strip federal facilities from the National Capital Region are not efforts to improve our government's research capabilities, but to dismantle them. Farmers and ranchers depend on the cutting-edge research conducted by expert civil servant scientists right here in Maryland. Let's not mess with success."
"As the only Marylander on the House Agriculture Committee, I've seen the impact BARC has made in production, food security, and innovation - not to mention the billions of dollars it brings into this economy. Today's tour truly showcased why we're fighting for its survival," said Congresswoman McClain Delaney. "An efficient government is one that supports key centers like BARC, and I'm grateful to fight for its rightful place in Maryland alongside our devoted delegation."
"I'm a going to continue to work tirelessly with our federal delegation to keep BARC as a valued asset in Prince George's County. I think we have to continue to question choices that interrupt operation of a facility like BARC, a jewel in the crown at USDA that has been central to groundbreaking research, as well as one that presents a life-changing dilemma for federal employees and their families," said County Executive Braveboy.
Steny H. Hoyer published this content on September 24, 2025, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on September 24, 2025 at 21:59 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]