Standing committee of the United States Senate
Senate Agriculture CommitteeStanding committee |
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Active
United States Senate 118th Congress |
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History |
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Formed | December 9, 1825 |
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Leadership |
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Chair | Debbie Stabenow (D) Since February 3, 2021 |
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Ranking member | John Boozman (R) Since February 3, 2021 |
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Structure |
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Political parties | Majority (12) Minority (11) |
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Jurisdiction |
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Policy areas | Agriculture, Crop insurance, Farm bill, Farm credit, Food stamps, Food inspection, Forestry, Home economics, National forests, National grasslands, Nutrition, Rural development, Rural electrification, Soil conservation, Soil survey, Water conservation, Watersheds, Wilderness areas |
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Oversight authority | Agricultural Marketing Service, Agricultural Research Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Commodity Credit Corporation, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service, Farm Credit Administration, Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation, Food and Nutrition Service, Food Safety and Inspection Service, Foreign Agricultural Service, National Agricultural Statistics Service, National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service, United States Forest Service, USDA Rural Development |
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House counterpart | Committee on Agriculture |
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Subcommittees |
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Meeting place |
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328A Russell Senate Office Building |
Website |
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agriculture.senate.gov |
Rules |
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- Rule XXV.1.(a), Standing Rules of the Senate
- Committee Rules
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The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry is a committee of the United States Senate empowered with legislative oversight of all matters relating to the nation's agriculture industry, farming programs, forestry and logging, and legislation relating to nutrition, home economics, and rural development.[1]
The current chair is Democrat Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, and the ranking member is Republican John Boozman of Arkansas.
History
Founded in 1825 the committee was formed at the request of Senator William Findlay from Pennsylvania. Arguing that agriculture was as important to national progress as commerce and manufacturing, Findlay succeeded in persuading the full Senate to divide the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures into two separate committees. The Committee on Agriculture was formed by resolution on December 9, 1825.[2]
During the first four decades of the existence of this committee, the need for it was repeatedly called into question. At that time in America, nearly ⅔ of the population was directly engaged in agriculture.[2] As such, issues related to agriculture overlapped with areas covered by other committees and were often referred to those committees instead of the Agriculture Committee.[3]
Following a debate over the necessity of various committees to have need of the services of a dedicated clerk, a Special Committee was formed to investigate ways to "reduce the number and increase the efficiency of the committees."[4] On February 17, 1857, the Special Committee submitted a plan of reorganization for the committees that did not include the Agriculture Committee. During a special session of the Senate, on March 5, 1857, the Senate approved the Special Committees recommendations and the Committee on Agriculture was dissolved.[5]
In 1862, the country was embroiled in the Civil War, a large influx of immigrants was occurring and the nation was moving towards industrialization. That year, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Organic Act recreating the Department of Agriculture.[6]
It became the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in 1884, a reflection of the growing importance of forests to the country's needs.[7] It was renamed again to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in 1977. Nutrition was added to the name after the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 directed the Department of Agriculture to "conduct more human nutrition research, establish a national nutrition education program and develop a system to monitor America's nutritional status".[8]
Jurisdiction
In accordance of Rule XXV of the United States Senate, all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects are referred to the Agriculture Committee:
- Agricultural economics and research.
- Agricultural extension services and experiment stations.
- Agricultural production, marketing, and stabilization of prices.
- Agriculture and agricultural commodities.
- Animal industry and diseases.
- Crop insurance and soil conservation.
- Farm credit and farm security.
- Food from fresh waters.
- Food stamp programs.
- Forestry, and forest reserves and wilderness areas other than those created from the public domain.
- Home economics.
- Human nutrition.
- Inspection of livestock, meat, and agricultural products.
- Pests and pesticides.
- Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering.
- Rural development, rural electrification, and watersheds.
- School nutrition programs.[9]
The Agriculture Committee is also charged "to study and review, on a comprehensive basis, matters relating to food, nutrition, and hunger, both in the United States and in foreign countries, and rural affairs, and report thereon from time to time."[9]
Members, 118th Congress
Majority[10] | Minority[11] |
- Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Chair
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Tina Smith, Minnesota
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
- Cory Booker, New Jersey
- Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico
- Raphael Warnock, Georgia
- Peter Welch, Vermont
- John Fetterman, Pennsylvania
| - John Boozman, Arkansas, Ranking Member
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
- Roger Marshall, Kansas
- Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
- Mike Braun, Indiana
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
- Deb Fischer, Nebraska
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Subcommittees
Subcommittees[12] | Chair | Ranking members |
Commodities, Risk Management and Trade | Tina Smith (D-MN) | Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) |
Conservation, Climate, Forestry, and Natural Resources | Michael Bennet (D-CO) | Roger Marshall (R-KS) |
Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Local Food Systems, and Food Safety and Security | Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) | John Hoeven (R-ND) |
Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research | John Fetterman (D-PA) | Mike Braun (R-IN) |
Rural Development and Energy | Peter Welch (D-VT) | Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) |
Chairs
The committee, under its various names, has been chaired by the following senators:[13]
Committee on Agriculture, 1825–1857
Committee on Agriculture, 1863–1884
Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, 1884–1977
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, 1977–present
Historical committee rosters
117th Congress
Majority | Minority |
- Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Chair
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Tina Smith, Minnesota
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
- Cory Booker, New Jersey
- Ben Ray Luján, New Mexico
- Raphael Warnock, Georgia
| - John Boozman, Arkansas, Ranking Member
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
- Mike Braun, Indiana
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
- Deb Fischer, Nebraska
- Roger Marshall, Kansas
- Tommy Tuberville, Alabama
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Subcommittees
116th Congress
Majority | Minority |
- Pat Roberts, Kansas, Chair
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- John Boozman, Arkansas
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi
- Mike Braun, Indiana
- David Perdue, Georgia (until January 6, 2020)
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
- Deb Fischer, Nebraska
- Kelly Loeffler, Georgia (from January 6, 2020)
| - Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Ranking Member
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
- Tina Smith, Minnesota
- Dick Durbin, Illinois
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Subcommittees
Source [19]
115th Congress
Majority | Minority |
- Pat Roberts, Kansas, Chair
- Thad Cochran, Mississippi (until April 1, 2018)
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- John Boozman, Arkansas
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
- Steve Daines, Montana
- David Perdue, Georgia
- Deb Fischer, Nebraska
- Cindy Hyde-Smith, Mississippi (from April 10, 2018)
| - Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Ranking Member
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Joe Donnelly, Indiana
- Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota
- Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
- Chris Van Hollen, Maryland (until January 2018)
- Tina Smith, Minnesota (since January 2018)
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Subcommittees
114th Congress
Majority | Minority |
- Pat Roberts, Kansas, Chair
- Thad Cochran, Mississippi
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- John Boozman, Arkansas
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- David Perdue, Georgia
- Joni Ernst, Iowa
- Thom Tillis, North Carolina
- Ben Sasse, Nebraska
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
| - Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Ranking Member
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Joe Donnelly, Indiana
- Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota
- Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
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Subcomittees
113th Congress
Majority | Minority |
- Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Chair
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Tom Harkin, Iowa
- Max Baucus, Montana
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Joe Donnelly, Indiana
- Heidi Heitkamp, North Dakota
- Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
| - Thad Cochran, Mississippi, Ranking Member
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- Pat Roberts, Kansas
- Saxby Chambliss, Georgi
- John Boozman, Arkansas
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- Mike Johanns, Nebraska
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
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Committees
112th Congress
Majority | Minority |
- Debbie Stabenow, Michigan, Chair
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
- Ben Nelson, Nebraska
- Tom Harkin, Iowa
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Max Baucus, Montana
- Kent Conrad, North Dakota
| - Pat Roberts, Kansas, Ranking Member
- Mike Johanns, Nebraska
- Richard Lugar, Indiana
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- Thad Cochran, Mississippi
- John Thune, South Dakota
- John Boozman, Arkansas
- John Hoeven, North Dakota
- Saxby Chambliss, Georgia
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111th Congress
Majority | Minority |
- Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas, Chair
- Tom Harkin, Iowa
- Patrick Leahy, Vermont
- Kent Conrad, North Dakota
- Max Baucus, Montana
- Debbie Stabenow, Michigan
- Ben Nelson, Nebraska
- Sherrod Brown, Ohio
- Bob Casey, Pennsylvania
- Amy Klobuchar, Minnesota
- Michael Bennet, Colorado
- Kirsten Gillibrand, New York
| - Saxby Chambliss, Georgia, Ranking Member
- Richard Lugar, Indiana
- Thad Cochran, Mississippi
- Mitch McConnell, Kentucky
- Pat Roberts, Kansas
- Mike Johanns, Nebraska
- Chuck Grassley, Iowa
- John Thune, South Dakota
- John Cornyn, Texas
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See also
References
- ^ "Jurisdiction". Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ a b Register of Debates in Congress. December 9, 1825. pp. 5–6.
- ^ "Chapter 1: The Committee is Created: 1825–1857". The United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 1825–1998. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ Congressional Globe, December 23, 1856, pp. 182–184.
- ^ Journal of the Senate, March 5, 1857, p. 386.
- ^ Daniel J. Boorstin (1973), The Americans: The Democratic Experience p. 119, New York: Vintage Press.
- ^ U.S. Senate (1976). Temporary Select Committee to Study the Senate Committee System, p. 15. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
- ^ "Chapter 7: Borrowing and Credit: 1970–1979". The United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 1825–1998. Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ a b "Jurisdiction". The United States Senate Committee On Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry. Retrieved May 31, 2019. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ S.Res. 30 (118th Congress)
- ^ S.Res. 31 (118th Congress)
- ^ "Subcommittees". Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ "Chairmen of Senate Standing Committees 1789-present" (PDF). Retrieved September 23, 2020.
- ^ On March 4, 1851, upon convening in special session, the Senate resolved, "That the committees of the Senate at the Executive session shall be formed and constituted the same as at the last session of Congress, except where vacancies have occurred by the expiration of the term of any senator, and in such cases said vacancies shall be filled by the Chair." The terms of both the chairman (Daniel Sturgeon) and 2nd most senior member of this committee having expired, Presley Spruance has been included as chairman on this list.
- ^ At the beginning of the 107th Congress in January 2001 the Senate was evenly divided. With a Democratic president and vice president still serving until January 20, the Democratic vice president was available to break a tie, and the Democrats thus controlled the Senate for 17 days, from January 3 to January 20. On January 3 the Senate adopted S. Res. 7 designating Democratic senators as committee chairmen to serve during this period and Republican chairmen to serve effective at noon on January 20, 2001.
- ^ On June 6, 2001, the Democrats took control of the Senate after Senator James Jeffords (VT) changed from the Republican Party to Independent and announced that he would caucus with the Democrats.
- ^ "Subcommittees". Retrieved March 25, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Subcommittees". Retrieved September 27, 2018.
- ^ "U.S. Senate: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry". www.senate.gov. Retrieved April 11, 2018.
External links
- Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee (Archive)
- Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov.
- The United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 1825 – 1998 (including Committee membership lists),
- Government Printing Office: Committee reports, 106th Congress-present
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Farm Credit Administration
- Rules of the United States Senate