Newly elected Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland will be the only Democratic newcomer on the Senate Agriculture Committee in the two-year session that opens Jan. 3, according to party leaders. Van Hollen will be the 10th Democrat on the committee, reflecting the closer balance of power between the Republican majority and Democratic minority.
“Chris has been a champion for the diverse needs of his state, including efforts to clean up the Chesapeake Bay as part of the farm bill,” said the senior Democrat on the committee, Debbie Stabenow of Michigan. “As we look ahead to a new Congress, I know we will have a strong team assembled on the Agriculture Committee to continue our fight for farmers and families in Michigan, Maryland, and across the country.” Van Hollen said, with its jurisdiction over the farm program, soil and water stewardship, and public nutrition programs, the committee “covers issues that are vital to Maryland’s success.”
Republicans are likely to continue to have 11 seats on the committee. There was no immediate word if there would be turnover among the GOP members. The biggest task facing the committee in the new session is expected to be writing the 2018 farm bill.
The Democrats on the committee for the new session are Stabenow, Pat Leahy of Vermont, Sherrod Brown of Ohio, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Michael Bennet of Colorado, Kirsten Gillibrand of New York, Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, Robert Casey of Pennsylvania and Van Hollen. In the new session, the Senate will have 52 Republicans and 48 Democrats; the split was 54-46 in the current session.