| Standing committee | |
|---|---|
Active) United States House of Representatives 116th Congress | |
| History | |
| Formed | May 3, 1820 |
| Leadership | |
| Chair | David Scott (D) Since January 3, 2021 |
| Ranking member | Glenn Thompson (R) Since January 3, 2021 |
| Vice chair | Alma Adams (D) Since January 3, 2019 |
| Structure | |
| Seats | 47 |
| Political parties | Majority (26)
|
| Jurisdiction | |
| Oversight authority | Department of Agriculture |
| Senate counterpart | Senate Agriculture Committee |
| Subcommittees | |
| |
| Meeting place | |
| 1300 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. | |
) | |
| Website | |
| agriculture | |
The U.S. House Committee on Agriculture, or Agriculture Committee is a standing committee of the United States House of Representatives. The House Committee on Agriculture has general jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight of some federal agencies, and it can recommend funding appropriations for various governmental agencies, programs, and activities, as defined by House rules.
History of the Agriculture Committee
The Agriculture Committee was created on May 3, 1820, after Lewis Williams of North Carolina sponsored a resolution to create the committee and give agricultural issues equal weight with commercial and manufacturing interests. The committee originally consisted of seven members, from the states of Maryland, New Hampshire, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia. Thomas Forrest of Pennsylvania was the first chairman. The Agriculture Committee remained a seven-member body until 1835, when two more members were added. It was not until 1871 that the next two members were added. Since then it has gradually grown to its current size of 46 members.
The U.S. Senate counterpart to the House Agriculture Committee, the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, was created on December 9, 1825.
Role of the Agriculture Committee
The Agriculture Committee is not generally considered to be a particularly powerful one. However, it is an important committee to be on for Representatives from many rural areas where agriculture is the main industry. The committee has jurisdiction over agriculture, forestry, nutrition, water conservation, and other agriculture-related fields.
Jurisdiction
)
Members of the 115th Congress House Committee on Agriculture received belt buckles for their service.
As prescribed by House Rules, the Committee on Agriculture's jurisdiction includes the following:
- Adulteration of seeds, insect pests, and protection of birds and animals in forest reserves
- Agriculture generally
- Agricultural and industrial chemistry
- Agricultural colleges and experiment stations
- Agricultural economics and research
- Agricultural education extension services
- Agricultural production, marketing and stabilization of prices of agricultural products, and commodities (excluding foreign distribution)
- Animal industry and diseases of animals
- Commodity exchanges
- Crop insurance and soil conservation
- Dairy industry
- Entomology and plant quarantine
- Extension of farm credit and farm security
- Inspection of livestock, poultry, meat products, and seafood and seafood products
- Forestry in general and forest reserves other than those created from the public domain
- Human nutrition and home economics
- Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering
- Rural electrification
- Rural developments
- Water conservation related to activities of the Department of Agriculture
Members, 117th Congress
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 9 (Chair), H.Res. 10 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 62 (D), H.Res. 63 (R), H.Res. 92 (D)
Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chair[2] | Ranking Member[3] |
|---|---|---|
| Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit | Antonio Delgado (D-NY) | Michelle Fischbach (R-MN) |
| Conservation and Forestry | Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) | Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) |
| Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations | Jahana Hayes (D-CT) | Don Bacon (R-NE) |
| General Farm Commodities and Risk Management | Cheri Bustos (D-IL) | Austin Scott (R-GA) |
| Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research | Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) | Jim Baird (R-IN) |
| Livestock and Foreign Agriculture | Jim Costa (D-CA) | Dusty Johnson (R-SD) |
Historical membership rosters
115th Congress
| Majority[4] | Minority[5] |
|---|---|
|
|
116th Congress
| Majority | Minority |
|---|---|
|
|
- Subcommittees
| Subcommittee | Chair[6] | Ranking Member[7] |
|---|---|---|
| Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit | David Scott (D-GA) | Austin Scott (R-GA) |
| Conservation and Forestry | Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) | Doug LaMalfa (R-CA) |
| Nutrition, Oversight, and Department Operations | Marcia Fudge (D-OH) | Dusty Johnson (R-SD) |
| General Farm Commodities and Risk Management | Filemon Vela Jr. (D-TX) | Glenn Thompson (R-PA) |
| Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research | Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) | Neal Dunn (R-FL) |
| Livestock and Foreign Agriculture | Jim Costa (D-CA) | David Rouzer (R-NC) |
Chairmen since 1820
Notes
References
- ^ Sablan is an Independent, but caucuses with the Democrats.
- ^ Chairman Scott Announces House Agriculture Subcommittee Chairs for the 117th Congress
- ^ Thompson Announces Republican Agriculture Subcommittee Leadership for 117th Congress
- ^ H.Res. 6 (Chair), H.Res. 51
- ^ H.Res. 45, H.Res. 52
- ^ Peterson Announces House Agriculture Subcommittee Chairs for the 116th Congress
- ^ Conaway Announces Republican Agriculture Subcommittee Leadership for 116th Congress
See also
- List of current United States House of Representatives committees
External links
- Agriculture Committee Homepage, official website (Archive)
- Committee Rules (PDF), Agriculte Committee, official website
- House Agriculture Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov.
- House Agriculture Committee Hearings and Meetings Video. Congress.gov
- Past Committee Chairs, Agriculture Committee, official website