{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-calls-hearing-unprecedented-wave-consolidation-agricultural", "Rep. Johnson Calls for Hearing on 'Unprecedented Wave of Consolidation' in the Agricultural Industry", "2016-09-29", "2016", "2016-09", "Democrat", "House", "GA", "Hank Johnson", "J000288", "hankjohnson.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Subcommitee on Regulatory Reform and Antitrust Law (RRCAL), requested a hearing to address the alarming and unprecedented wave of consolidation in the agricultural sector:\n\u201cThe proposed DowDuPont, Bayer-Monsanto, and ChemChina-Syngenta mergers are some of the most significant developments in modern industrial history,\u201d Johnson stated. \u201cOur nation\u2019s farmers and consumers deserve more and better choices, not less innovation and higher prices. I believe that a hearing is necessary to provide additional oversight into this issue. A close examination of these transactions by the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law would offer a productive opportunity to discuss consolidation in these markets generally and whether potential reforms or stronger enforcement are necessary to encourage competition.\u201d\nRep. Johnson\u2019s letter to Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte is below.\nSeptember 29, 2016\nThe Honorable Bob Goodlatte  \n\tChairman  \n\tCommittee on the Judiciary  \n\tU.S. House of Representatives  \n\t2138 Rayburn House Office Building  \n\tWashington, DC 20515\nDear Chairman Goodlatte,\nI write to request a hearing to address the alarming and unprecedented wave of consolidation in the agricultural sector. The proposed DowDuPont, Bayer-Monsanto, and ChemChina-Syngenta mergers are some of the most significant developments in modern industrial history and may have devastating repercussions for our Nation\u2019s farmers and consumers. \u00a0\nToday, only six firms\u2014Monsanto, Syngenta, Bayer, DuPont, Dow and BASF\u2014operate the majority of the agricultural biotechnology, seed, and chemical sectors.[1] I am concerned that the proposed mergers of DowDuPont, Bayer-Monsanto, and ChemChina-Syngenta would result in even more consolidation in these markets, undermining innovation and resulting in fewer choices and higher prices for farmers and consumers.[2] Individually, these proposed mergers would likely reshape these industries in fundamental ways with far-reaching and indeterminable consequences. Collectively, these transactions are almost certain to reduce significantly competition. As Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) recently observed, this industry is \u201con the precipice of a significant structural transformation\u201d as the waves of consolidation in these markets have \u201cbecome a tsunami.\u201d[3]\nAmerican farmers and consumers deserve more and better choices, not less innovation and higher prices. I believe that a hearing is necessary to provide additional oversight into this issue. A close examination of these transactions by the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law would offer a productive opportunity to discuss consolidation in these markets generally and whether potential reforms or stronger enforcement is necessary to encourage competition.\u00a0\nIf you have any questions concerning this matter, please contact my subcommittee counsel, Slade Bond, at (202) 225-6906.\nSincerely,\nHenry C. \u201cHank\u201d Johnson, Jr.  \n\tRanking Member  \n\tSubcommittee on Regulatory Reform,\u00a0  \n\tCommercial and Antitrust Law  \n\tCommittee on the Judiciary\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://hankjohnson.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/rep-johnson-calls-hearing-unprecedented-wave-consolidation-agricultural"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8202390745282173, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}