On behalf of the National Hemp Association and our members in Kentucky, I want to express our deepest gratitude for your unwavering dedication to the people of Kentucky and the United States. Your announcement that this will be your last term serving in the U.S. Senate marks the end of an extraordinary chapter in public service, and we are grateful for all that you have accomplished over the past 40 years.
In particular, we want to thank you for your steadfast commitment to the agricultural community, especially farmers in your state who were losing their tobacco subsidy and sought your support to allow them to return to growing a crop grown by their grandfathers. Your leadership in championing the return of industrial hemp to our farmlands was a monumental achievement. Through your tireless efforts, hemp legislation was included in both the 2014 and 2018 Farm Bills—transforming the landscape of American agriculture. These legislative victories allowed farmers to once again cultivate hemp, opening up new possibilities for American agriculture and providing a pathway for the revival of a once-thriving industry.
While the hemp industry has not yet fully realized your vision of establishing a new fiber and grain commodity in this nation, your leadership laid the foundation for its continued growth. The National Hemp Association, along with our Kentucky members, will carry on the work that you started, driven by the same spirit of determination that has defined your career. We remain committed to the development of this opportunity, and we will continue to build on the progress you have made.
Thank you, Senator McConnell, for your service, your leadership, and your unwavering commitment to the people of Kentucky and to the future of American agriculture. Your legacy will be felt for generations to come, and we are grateful for all that you have done.
~Geoff Whaling, Chair, National Hemp Association