United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
From Free net encyclopedia
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 and health.Template:Ref
Contents |
History
Founded in 1825 the Committee was formed at the request of Senator William Findlay, a Republican 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.Template:Ref
During the first four decades of the extistence of this committee, the need for it was repeatedly called into question. At that time in America, nearly 2⁄3 of the population was directly engaged in agriculture.Template:Ref 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.Template:Ref
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."Template:Ref 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.Template:Ref
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.Template:Ref
It became the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in 1884, a reflection of the growing importance of forests to the country's needs.Template:Ref 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".Template:Ref
Members, 109th Congress
The Committee is chaired by Republican Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, and the Ranking Minority Member is Democrat Tom Harkin of Iowa.
Republicans
Democrats
Subcommittees
The Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry is divided into four subcommittees. Each subcommittee is chaired by a Republican who is not permitted to also chair the full committee. Each subcommittee also has a ranking Democrat opposition leader.Template:Ref
- Subcommittee on Production and Price Competitiveness
- Subcommittee on Marketing, Inspection, and Product Promotion
- Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation, and Rural Revitalization
- Subcommittee on Research, Nutrition, and General Legislation
ChairmenTemplate:Ref
Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, 1829-1857
- William Marks (NR-PA) 1829-1831
- Horatio Seymour (NR-VT) 1831-1833
- Bedford Brown (D-NC) 1833-1836
- John Page (D-NH) 1836-1837
- Perry Smith (D-CT) 1837-1839
- Alexander Mouton (D-LA) 1839-1841
- Lewis F. Linn (D-MO) 1841-1843
- William Upham (W-VT) 1843-1845
- Daniel Sturgeon (D-PA) 1845-1851
- Pierre Soulé (D-LA) 1851-1853
- Philip Allen (D-RI) 1853-1857
Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, 1863-1884
- John Sherman (R-OH) 1863-1867
- Simon Cameron (R-PA) 1867-1871
- Oliver P. Morton (R-IN) 1871-1872
- Frederick T. Frelinghuysen (R-NJ) 1872-1877
- Algernon S. Paddock (R-NE) 1877-1879
- John Johnston (D-VA) 1879-1881
- William Mahone (R-VA) 1881-1883
- Warner Miller (R-NY) 1883-1884
Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, 1884-1977
- Warner Miller (R-NY) 1884-1887
- Thomas W. Palmer (R-MI) 1887-1889
- Algernon S. Paddock (R-NE) 1889-1893
- James Z. George (D-MS) 1893-1895
- Redfield Proctor (R-VT) 1895-1908
- Henry C. Hansbrough (R-ND) 1908-1909
- Jonathan P. Dolliver (R-IA) 1909-1910
- Henry E. Burnham (R-NH) 1911-1913
- Thomas P. Gore (D-OK) 1913-1919
- Asle J. Gronna (R-ND) 1919-1921
- George W. Norris (R-NE) 1921-1926
- Charles McNary (R-OR) 1926-1933
- Ellison D. Smith (D-SC) 1933-1944
- Elmer Thomas (D-OK) 1944-1947
- Arthur Capper (R-KS) 1947-1949
- Elmer Thomas (D-OK) 1949-1951
- Allen J. Ellender (D-LA) 1951-1953
- George D. Aiken (R-VT) 1953-1955
- Allen J. Ellender (D-LA) 1955-1971
- Herman E. Talmadge (D-GA) 1971-1977
Chairmen of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, 1977-present
- Herman E. Talmadge (D-GA) 1977-1981
- Jesse Helms (R-NC) 1981-1987
- Patrick Leahy (D-VT) 1987-1995
- Richard G. Lugar (R-IN) 1995-2001
- Thomas R. Harkin (D-IA) 2001
- Richard G. Lugar (R-IN) 2001
- Thomas R. Harkin (D-IA) 2001-2003
- Thad Cochran (R-MS) 2003-2005
- Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) 2005-present
References
- Template:Note Template:Cite web
- Template:Note Register of Debates in Congress, December 9, 1825, p. 5
- Template:Note Register of Debates in Congress, December 9, 1825, p. 6
- Template:Note Template:Cite web
- Template:Note Congressional Globe, December 23, 1856, pp. 182-184.
- Template:Note Journal of the Senate, March 5, 1857, p. 386.
- Template:Note Daniel J. Boorstin (1973), The Americans: The Democratic Experience p. 119, New York: Vintage Press.
- Template:Note U.S. Senate (1976). Temporary Select Committee to Study the Senate Committee System, p. 15. Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office.
- Template:Note Template:Cite web
- Template:Note Template:Cite web
- Template:Note Template:Cite web
- Template:Note Template:Cite web
External links
- Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee
- Commodity Futures Trading Commission
- Farm Credit Administration