WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he will return to the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry. Senator Casey has been a member of the Agriculture Committee since he took office in 2007.
“I am pleased to return to the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry as the committee will begin work on the new Farm Bill,” said Senator Casey. “This committee is vital to Pennsylvania’s number one industry - agriculture. I look forward to working with my colleagues on policy to promote Pennsylvania agriculture and better help Pennsylvania’s farm families.”
As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Senator Casey secured victories in the 2008 Farm Bill for Pennsylvania’s specialty crops, dairy farmers and conservation programs. From strengthening the safety net in the MILC program for dairy farmers to establishing the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Conservation to help farmers meet their goals to restore the Bay, Senator Casey fought to improve the Farm Bill so it was more fair and equitable for Pennsylvania agriculture.
Senator Casey also worked to increase funding and commodity purchases for nutrition programs in the 2008 Farm Bill. With one in ten Pennsylvanians receiving food stamps and many food banks facing shortages during this economic downturn, these legislative improvements made significant differences in the lives of many throughout the Commonwealth.
In addition to the 2008 Farm Bill, Senator Casey has also worked within his committee role to reauthorize the federal child nutrition programs, making the most historic investment in child nutrition programs since their inception. This reauthorization was completely paid for and received unanimous approval by the full Senate.
Senator Casey has received the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau’s Friend of the Farm Bureau Award and the National Farmers Union’s Golden Triangle Award.
###