WASHINGTON, DC— U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) has been named the Chairman of the Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Food and Agricultural Research subcommittee of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. He is also a member of the Jobs, Rural Economic Growth, and Energy Innovation subcommittee and the Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Marketing, and Agricultural Security subcommittee.
“By chairing this subcommittee, Pennsylvania farm families, especially specialty crop farmers, will have a stronger voice in the upcoming debate on the Farm Bill,” said Senator Casey. “I look forward to working with my colleagues on policies that promote Pennsylvania agriculture and better help Pennsylvania’s farm families.”
Senator Casey is also the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and Chairman of the Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
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 program 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.
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