United Egg: Government Relations - Congressional Updates

Government Relations

Congressional Updates

Congressional Chairmen

Colin Peterson (D-MN) is the House Agriculture Committee Chairman for the 109th Congress.

Peterson, who represents a heavily agricultural district in Western Minnesota that stretches all the way from the Southern part of the state to the Canadian border, was elected by the House Democratic Conference to serve as Chairman of the full House Agriculture Committee.

Congressman Tim Holden (D-PA) serves as Chairman of the Conservation, Credit, Energy and Research Agriculture Subcommittee. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over soil, water, and resource conservation; small watershed program; energy and biobased energy production; rural electrification; agricultural credit; and agricultural research, education and extension services. Holden is serving his eighth term representing the 17th district of Pennsylvania. He is familiar with the egg and egg products industries and has been supportive of efforts to export our products.

Congressman Bob Etheridge (D-NC) is Chairman of the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Agriculture Subcommittee. This subcommittee has jurisdiction over programs and markets related to cotton, cottonseed, wheat, feed grains, soybeans, oilseeds, rice, dry beans, peas, lentils, the Commodity Credit Corporation, crop insurance and commodity exchanges. First elected to Congress in 1996, Congressman Etheridge is a life long supporter of better education and a part-time farmer.

Congressman Mike McIntyre (D-NC) serves as Chairman of the Specialty Crops and Foreign Agriculture Programs Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over peanuts, sugar, tobacco, honey and bees, marketing orders relating to such commodities, foreign agricultural assistance and trade promotion programs. Congressman McIntyre was first elected to Congress in 1996. A Senior Whip on Capitol Hill and a member of the Majority Leader's Advisory Council, Congressman McIntyre also serves on the Steering Committee of the Rural Health Care Coalition and as Co-Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Responsible Fatherhood.

Congressman Joe Baca (D-CA) is Chairman of the Department Operations Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry Subcommittee. This subcommittee covers agency oversight, review and analysis, special investigations, food stamps, nutrition and consumer programs, forestry in general, forest reserves other than those created from the public domain, energy and biobased energy production and dairy. Baca has served in Congress since winning a special election in 1999. Mr. Baca represents the 43rd District of California, which includes the cities of Colton, Fontana, Rialto, Ontario and San Bernardino, as well as the areas of Bloomington and Muscoy.

Congressman Leonard Boswell (D-IA) chairs the Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over livestock, poultry, meat, seafood and seafood products, inspection, marketing, and promotion of such commodities, aquaculture and animal welfare. UEP’s Washington staff probably has the most interaction with this important subcommittee. Boswell, elected to Congress in 1996, represents an Iowa district that includes the state’s largest city, Des Moines, and a large rural population. Mr. Boswell is a voice for farmers and understands issues facing egg producers.

Congressman Dennis Cardoza (D-CA) chairs the Subcommittee on Horticulture and Organic Agriculture. His subcommittee has jurisdiction over fruits and vegetables; honey and bees; marketing and promotion orders; plant pesticides, quarantine, adulteration of seeds, and insect pests; and organic agriculture. Now in his third term in Congress, Cardoza has established a reputation as an effective, fiscally responsible legislator who delivers results for the Central Valley. Cardoza represents California’s 18th Congressional District, which includes Merced County and portions of San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Madera, and Fresno Counties.