Senator McConnell Honored by the American Farm Bureau

Press Release

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell was named a "Friend of Farm Bureau" on Friday by the American Farm Bureau Federation. The award is given each Congress and is based upon members' voting records and their accessibility and responsiveness to their states farmers. Senator McConnell was nominated for the award for the 113th Congress by the Kentucky Farm Bureau.

"Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's 2014 "Friend of Farm Bureau' Award was earned, not given," said Mark Haney, president of Kentucky Farm Bureau. "The American Farm Bureau Federation presents this honor to members of Congress who are accessible and responsive to volunteer leaders, listen to and vote in favor of our organization's priority issues, and keep agricultural and rural communities in mind when proposing and supporting legislation in Washington."

"I am proud to accept this award on behalf of the farmers of Kentucky whom I proudly serve in the United States Senate, and I am honored to be recognized for my work in support of our farm families," Senator McConnell said. "Kentucky farmers are vitally important to the Commonwealth's economy, and they work hard every day to put food on the table for American families. It's a privilege to represent them in the Nation's Capital."

Senator McConnell has worked hard over the years to assist Kentucky's farm families, including inserting language in the 2014 Farm Bill to allow hemp pilot programs to begin in Kentucky, securing a permanent increase in the death tax exemption to protect Kentucky family farms, and leading the fight to protect Kentucky's tobacco farmers, including securing the tobacco buyout, known as the "McConnell Miracle." Senator McConnell also is the only senator to have been awarded the Golden Plow award twice outright.

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