Representative Gillibrand Named To Agriculture Committee

Representative Gillibrand Named To Agriculture Committee

Congresswoman Kirsten Gillibrand (NY-20) today announced that she has been appointed to the House Agriculture Committee by the Steering and Policy Committee of which she is also a member. The placement provides New York's rural communities with a well positioned advocate in the development of our regional and national agriculture policy.

Representative Gillibrand said, "The small farms of upstate New York will now have a much needed voice on this committee to ensure that national policies consider the benefits of maintaining small dairy and produce farms in our nation's agriculture base. New York State is one of our nation's top producers of agricultural products, and much of that production is in the 20th Congressional District."

Agricultural issues are vital to the regional economy of the 20th District and our high quality of life. In the last Congress there was only one Northeast Democrat representing these interests on the committee, and none from New York. The district contains over 4,000 farms, including a large number of dairy, maple and apple farms.

The Agriculture Committee is responsible for establishing farm policy for agriculture and rural America. This placement is particularly important because the five-year farm bill will be up for re-authorization this year. Congresswoman Gillibrand will have a say in diverse topics such as energy independence, renewable energy, rural development, disaster assistance, crop insurance and price supports.

This is the second committee assignment for Congresswoman Gillibrand. She was previously named to the influential Committee on Armed Services.

http://gillibrand.house.gov/pr011107.shtml