Bustos Named to Key House Agriculture Subcommittees

Press Release

Today, Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (IL-17) was named to the General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee, on which she is the second-highest ranking Democrat, and the Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee of the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture. In addition, Bustos also serves on the U.S. House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.

"Advocating for our region's family farmers and rural communities will always be a key priority of mine," said Congresswoman Cheri Bustos. "I'll continue to fight for the crops we grow, the livestock we raise, and the agricultural products we manufacture. Through my service on the House Committee on Agriculture, I'll make sure our region's farmers have a seat at the table in Washington."

The General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee focuses on programs and markets related to corn, soybeans, feed grains, oilseeds and other crops grown throughout Illinois. In addition, it focuses on the Commodity Credit Corporation, risk management and crop insurance and commodity exchanges.

The Livestock and Foreign Agriculture Subcommittee focuses on livestock, dairy, poultry, meat and other commodities, including the inspection, marketing and promotion of such commodities. It also focuses on animal welfare, grazing, and foreign agricultural assistance and trade promotion.

Since taking office, Bustos has fought for the family farmers and rural communities of her region. Last Congress, Bustos worked hard to pass the first bipartisan long-term Farm Bill in years and continues fighting for Illinois biofuels by pushing for a robust Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). Her bipartisan Water Infrastructure Now Public-Private Partnership Act (WIN P3 Act), which was integrated into the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) and signed into law last June, will also help Illinois farmers by spurring upgrades to aging locks and dams on the Mississippi and Illinois Rivers while also saving taxpayer money.

Illinois' 17th Congressional District is the home to thousands of farmers and millions of acres of farmland. It is a world leader in agricultural products, including corn and soybean production, as well as hogs and cattle. It is also home to the world headquarters of Caterpillar and Deere and Co., and the National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria.

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