AFBF congratulates new House Agriculture Committee chair and ranking member

The House Democratic Caucus approved Representative David Scott, D-Georgia, to serve as the chairman of the House Agriculture Committee. Representative Glenn “GT” Thompson (R-Pa.) will serve as the ranking member of the Agriculture Committee after being selected by the Republican Steering Committee.

The following statement may be attributed to American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall:

“We at the American Farm Bureau Federation congratulate Representative Scott on his selection to be the next chair of the House Agriculture Committee. For almost two decades Congressman Scott has worked on behalf of farmers and ranchers,” said American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall. “His legislative experience, a childhood working on his grandparents’ farm, and being the first African American chosen to lead the committee all give him a unique perspective needed to tackle the challenges facing rural America.

“We congratulate Representative Thompson on his selection as the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. Congressman Thompson’s rural American roots and his bipartisan spirit have been a driving force in addressing the needs of America’s farmers and ranchers.

“We have the opportunity to work together to address the pressing needs of rural America during the 117th Congress. We must strengthen the farm bill and find a fair solution to the farm labor shortage. We look forward to creating partnerships that build on the strides we’ve made in climate-smart practices. And, it’s essential we finally bridge the digital divide that has kept rural America from accessing the full potential of the nation’s broadband.

“All this can be done when we focus on a common goal. Farm Bureau stands ready to work with Agriculture Committee leadership in addressing the important issues facing America’s farmers and ranchers.”

“I am honored to have been chosen by my colleagues in the Democratic Caucus to serve as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee,” Scott said in a news release. “I was born on my grandparents’ farm in rural Aynor, South Carolina, during the days of segregation, and the hardships, of those, on whose shoulders I now stand. I owe this historic selection as the first African American Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee to a diverse coalition of members from across our nation. And I will use this critical opportunity to represent the values of our entire caucus and advance our priorities for trade, disaster aid, climate change, sustainable agriculture, SNAP, crop insurance, small family farms, specialty crops, and rural broadband. The fault lines dividing our rural and urban communities are running deep, and climate change is now threatening our nation’s food supply. As Chairman, I will lead the fight to rise up and meet these challenges.”

Congressman David Scott has served as a Member of Congress and the House Agriculture Committee since 2003. In his various leadership roles on the House Agriculture Committee, Congressman Scott has chaired the Subcommittees on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit as well as Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. Scott played a key role in ushering through the three last Farm Bills, including by serving as a conferee, securing critical disaster aid for our farmers, strengthening the food and nutrition programs that help our families, seniors and school children and securing $80 million for new scholarships for students attending 1890 African-American land-grant colleges and universities.

Congressman David Scott grew up living and working on his grandparents’ farm when his parents moved north to find work.  During his 18 years in Congress, he has developed a deep understanding of the critical issues facing farmers today and the practical challenges posed by an agricultural lifestyle.  He also understands the critical role agriculture plays in our economy and the importance of policies that preserve our place as the #1 exporter of agricultural products.