David Scott will take over from Collin Peterson
By Diego Flammini
Staff Writer
Farms.com
The Democratic Caucus has selected its next leader of the House Agriculture Committee.
Congressman David Scott, who represents Georgia’s 13th district will succeed Minnesota’s Collin Peterson as chair of the committee.
Peterson served as chair of the committee since 2007. His loss in the 2020 elections created the opportunity for Scott, who won the chairmanship with a 32-19 vote over California’s Jim Costa.
With his election, Scott becomes the first African American and first representative from Georgia to lead the 46-person committee.
The industry is facing several issues that require attention, he said.
“I will use this critical opportunity to represent the values of our entire caucus and advance our priorities for trade, disaster aid, climate change, sustainable agriculture, SNAP, crop insurance, small family farms, specialty crops and rural broadband,” he said in a Dec. 3 statement.
The rural/urban divide also is another topic he will work to address, he added.
Industry organizations look forward to working with the new chairman.
Scott’s experiences, both professionally and personally, make him a good fit for the position.
“His legislative experience, a childhood working on his grandparents’ farm, and being the first African American chosen to lead the committee all give him a unique perspective needed to tackle the challenges facing rural America,” Zippy Duvall, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation, said in a Dec. 4 statement.
“Congressman Scott is a devoted friend of America’s cattle producers and I congratulate him on being selected by his colleagues to lead the House Agriculture Committee,” Colin Woodall, CEO of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, said in a Dec. 2 statement. “His leadership and expertise on cattle issues demonstrates his commitment to helping producers succeed.”
Republicans also chose who will lead their party in the House Agriculture Committee.
The House Republican Steering Committee elected Rep. Glenn Thompson from Pennsylvania to replace Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas, who is retiring.
“The challenges ahead of us are considerable, but we will continue to put farm families first and ensure our country has the most safe and affordable food supply chain on the planet,” Thompson said in a statement on Dec. 2.
Scott and Thompson’s tenures will begin in January for the 117th Congress.