Senate Agriculture Committee
Messer joins crowded GOP field to take on Indiana Sen. Donnelly
Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, is considered one of the most vulnerable Democrats running for reelection in 2018, and Republicans are lining up to take him on. Rep. Luke Messer, who currently represents Vice President Mike Pence’s former district, is the latest to announce his candidacy.
Roberts cites ‘dysfunction’ at organic ag board, hints at farm bill action
At a hearing to gather ideas for the 2018 farm bill, Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts hinted at an overhaul of organic agriculture regulations, citing “uncertainty and dysfunction” at the National Organic Standards Board, which advises the USDA on what should be allowed in organic production.
Trump makes first Democratic nomination to CFTC
Senate staffer Rostin Behnam is in line to become one of five commissioners of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission under a nomination sent to the Senate by President Trump. He is the first Democrat Trump has nominated for the agency, which oversees futures trading.
Trump nominee for CFTC chair to get Senate vote
The Senate Agriculture Committee voted, 16-5, to clear for a floor vote the nomination of CFTC commissioner Christopher Giancarlo to become chairman of the agency that oversees the derivatives markets. President Trump, who named Giancarlo as acting chairman on the day he took office, is halfway through submitting nominations for the four other commissioners.
Realtors, key Senate Democrats oppose Perdue on rural development office
A month ago, Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue unveiled a USDA reorganization plan that creates a new sub-cabinet post, undersecretary for trade, and eliminates the position of undersecretary for rural development. Now two key Senate Democrats have appealed to Perdue to retain the rural development slot.
Leaders of Senate Agriculture Committee say no to farm bill cuts
Two days after President Trump proposed large cuts in food stamps and farm supports, the leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee spoke out against funding cuts as the panel prepares to write the 2018 farm bill.
Alabama FarmPAC backs Strange out of 19 Senate candidates
Less than a week after the filing deadline for the special Senate election this year, the political action committee of the Alabama Farmers Federation endorsed appointed Sen. Luther Strange out of 19 candidates in the race.
Co-chair of Trump campaign in Michigan will challenge Stabenow
Lena Epstein, co-chair of the Trump presidential campaign in Michigan last fall, says she will run against third-term Sen. Debbie Stabenow, the senior Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee. The 2018 race is rated as "likely Democratic" at present by political tipsheet Sabato's Crystal Ball.
U.S. senators push Trump officials for fair trade in dairy to Canada
With Robert Lighthizer now at work as U.S. trade representative, the leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee asked the Trump administration to push for fair trade in ultra-filtered milk sales to Canada.
Trump urges challenge to Senate Ag panelist Bob Casey
Fourth-term Rep. Lou Barletta of Pennsylvania says President Trump has encouraged him to run against incumbent Sen. Bob Casey, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, in 2018.
A solid majority likely in Senate for Perdue, says Grassley
Sonny Perdue can expect a broad and bipartisan vote in the Senate next week to become agriculture secretary, though it won’t be unanimous, said Iowa Sen. Charles Grassley.
It’s a day later but not a postponement for vote on Sonny Perdue
The Senate Agriculture Committee will try again today for a vote on Sonny Perdue to become agriculture secretary. Chairman Pat Roberts originally planned to hold a vote on Wednesday alongside a roll call vote by the full Senate but there was no such vote so the committee announced an "updated time" of today, immediately following the first floor vote in the chamber, expected around 9:45 a.m. ET.
Two Senate Ag members among ‘most vulnerable’ in 2018
Strange succeeds Sessions on Senate Agriculture Committee
Six weeks into the congressional session, the Senate Agriculture Committee has a new member, Luther Strange, an Alabama Republican and successor to Jeff Sessions, now attorney general for President Trump. Strange said that as a senator he wanted "to advance conservative principles and fight for a more lean and efficient federal government."
New staff directors for Senate and House Agriculture committees
Three new members on Senate Agriculture Committee
Democrats narrowed the Republican majority in the Senate in the November elections, so the Agriculture Committee will have 11 Republicans this session, unchanged from last year, and 10 Democrats, an increase of one. The committee has three newcomers: Republicans Steve Daines of Montana and Jeff Sessions of Alabama, and Democrat Chris Van Hollen of Maryland. Sessions is expected to leave the committee as soon as he is confirmed as attorney general.
Democrats add Van Hollen to Senate Agriculture Committee
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.
Child nutrition bill runs out of time, Roberts blames Democrats and House
A Congressional overhaul of child nutrition programs that cost $22 billion a year is dead, said Senate Agriculture chairman Pat Roberts, who blamed Senate Democrats and objections from the House. House and Senate committees took sharply different directions with their bills; neither chamber voted on a bill during the congressional session that is in its final days.
Senate Republicans renew bid to shift climate funds
Pointing to a “once-in-a-generation opportunity,” Republican staffers on the Senate Agriculture Committee proposed on Wednesday shifting more than $13 billion earmarked separately for climate mitigation into USDA land stewardship programs. Under Congress’ arcane budget rules, the transfer would result in a long-term increase of $1.8 billion a year for stewardship, they said, “subject only to congressional reauthorization.”