On Tuesday morning, a significant announcement was made regarding the House of Representatives Ag Committee. Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.) emerged victorious in her bid to replace Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) as the ranking member. The vote, which took place behind closed doors, saw Craig secure 121 votes while Jim Costa (D-Ca.) received 91. Craig is in her third term as a congresswoman, while Costa has been a part of the House for over two decades. Scott had to withdraw from the race due to health concerns that raised alarms among Democrats in Congress, as reported by The Hill.
Reactions from Across the Ag Landscape
Rep. Jim Costa
Costa expressed his gratitude, stating, "I'd like to extend my sincere thanks to Congressman David Scott for his remarkable service and leadership in American agriculture over the past four years. I also offer my congratulations to Rep. Angie Craig on her election as the ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. I am eager to collaborate with my colleagues to successfully pass a farm bill in the 119th Congress. By working together, we have the potential to achieve stronger outcomes for our communities, whether they are rural or urban."American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)
AFBF President Zippy Duvall released a statement on Tuesday, offering his congratulations to Craig. He said, "Farm Bureau extends its warm congratulations to Rep. Angie Craig on her nomination to serve as the next ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee. Rep. Craig has a long-standing history of working in a bipartisan manner to address the needs of America's farmers and ranchers. In these challenging times, where farmers face economic headwinds such as inflation, high supply costs, and declining commodity prices, her leadership is more crucial than ever. If these challenges are not promptly addressed with a new and modernized farm bill, they could quickly escalate into a crisis. Congress has postponed action on this matter for too long. Now is the time to take action. We are prepared to work closely with Rep. Craig to ensure the passage of a new 5-year farm bill and to address other critical issues affecting agriculture and rural America."National Corn Growers Association
Kenneth Hartman Jr., president of the National Corn Growers Association, stated, "We are delighted to congratulate Rep. Craig on securing the role of ranking member on the House Committee on Agriculture for the 119th Congress. Rep. Craig has been a steadfast ally of farmers in general and a fierce advocate for corn growers specifically. We are thrilled by this development and look forward to collaborating with her in the coming year as we work to advance legislation that is of great importance to our growers. Additionally, we want to express our gratitude to Ranking Member David Scott (D-Ga.) for his unwavering dedication to our issues. He has been a true leader, and we are excited to continue working with him in the next Congress."Growth Energy
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said, "Congresswoman Craig is a dedicated champion for rural America and will undoubtedly make an exceptional leader on the House Agriculture Committee. She has a deep understanding of the value of biofuels and how crucial they are for the continued success of American agriculture. We offer our congratulations on her new role and eagerly anticipate continuing our collaborative efforts with her to reduce emissions, lower consumer costs, and support our farmers by expanding the use of American biofuels."Minnesota Farmers Union
Minnesota Farmers Union President Gary Wertish remarked, "It is great news that Rep. Craig will be representing her caucus during negotiations as Congress works towards passing disaster relief and a farm bill. Rep. Craig has a proven track record of bringing people together to find bipartisan solutions. We are pleased that she will be joining Sen. Klobuchar as a leading voice in farm bill discussions. Sen. Klobuchar has long been a staunch advocate for rural Minnesota, visiting every county in the state annually. She is a tireless advocate for antitrust enforcement and a friend of family farmers."AGree Coalition
Kristin Weeks Duncanson, owner and partner at Highland Family Farms and a member of the AGree Initiative, said, "As a significant advocate for farmers and producers, Rep. Craig has developed a genuine understanding of agriculture across the nation. She has actively promoted food and agriculture policy that takes conservation into account by serving as a true bipartisan champion. This is evident in the substantial number of bills she has co-sponsored or authored with colleagues from both sides of the aisle. We are looking forward to working with her and the 119th Congress to pass legislation that ensures economic and environmental resilience for producers."
