Rep. Schrier Re-Appointed to Agriculture Committee

Press Release

Congresswoman Kim Schrier, M.D. (WA-08) announced today that she will serve again on the Agriculture Committee. This Committee is in addition to her appointment to the Energy and Commerce Committee.

"As the only Member from the Northwest on the House Agriculture Committee, I am honored to continue to be a voice for our farmers and growers in the region. I plan on continuing my work to increase federal agriculture research funding to ensure our farmers can compete in the face of disease, pests, climate change, labor instability, and market volatility. Threats like Little Cherry Disease continue to impact our growers with the only recourse being removal of entire orchards. We continue to underfund R&D in this sector even though evidence shows that our country benefits by a $20 return for every dollar invested in agricultural research."

The House Agriculture Committee has jurisdiction over federal agriculture policy and oversight, as well as nutrition programs like SNAP.

"As a pediatrician, I remain committed to be a voice for children to make sure they have access to the healthy and nutritious food they need to thrive. In the face of this pandemic, we have seen more people facing food insecurity than ever," Rep. Schrier said.

The 8th district is home to more than 2 million acres of National Forest Service land--more than any other district in Washington State and among the highest acreage of all Congressional Districts. The Agriculture Committee has jurisdiction over forestry.

"Last year, our state and the entire West experienced a record-breaking number of fires. I will continue to be a strong advocate for the urgent need to make our forests and surrounding communities more resilient and less susceptible to wildfires. I plan on introducing legislation this year to increase prescribed burns on federally managed lands."

Rep. Schrier continued, "in many ways the work of the Agriculture Committee compliments the jurisdiction of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and I am eager to find places where energy, climate, and agriculture intersect."

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