FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 12, 2007

Ranking Republican Goodlatte Announces Republican Members
Three Freshman Members Join Republican Committee Roster

WASHINGTON – Today, Agriculture Committee Ranking Republican Bob Goodlatte announced the Republican membership of the Committee. Three Freshman Members were added to the Republican Committee roster including Adrian Smith (NE-3), Kevin McCarthy (CA-22), and Tim Walberg (MI-7). Subcommittee assignments, as well as subcommittee Ranking Members, will be announced as the information is made available. The complete list of Agriculture Committee Republicans is included below.

“I welcome Reps. Smith, McCarthy, and Walberg to the Agriculture Committee and look forward to working with all of my Republican colleagues on the important agricultural issues we will face this year. As our farmers and ranchers work to meet America’s food and fiber needs, they face significant challenges including higher input costs, increased regulation, and devastating disasters. Unfortunately, these challenges are further compounded by a misperception of farm programs in many areas of the country as consumers become further removed from agricultural production. This year, as we prepare to reauthorize the 2002 Farm Bill, my colleagues and I will work to ensure that our farmers and ranchers can continue to produce a safe and affordable food and fiber supply for all Americans,” said Ranking Republican Bob Goodlatte.

Nebraska’s Third Congressional District has a long history with the House Agriculture Committee, and Rep. Adrian Smith plans to continue that tradition. Rep. Smith follows in the footsteps of his predecessors, Reps. Bill Barrett and Tom Osborne, who were also members of the House Agriculture Committee during their tenures in Congress. A fourth generation Nebraskan, Rep. Smith will work to promote fair agriculture trade and innovation in crops.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy represents the agriculturally fertile 22nd Congressional District of California, including most of Kern and San Luis Obispo Counties, and the northeastern portion of Los Angeles County. Before being elected to the House of Representatives, Rep. McCarthy served in the California State Assembly for four years and led the Republican Caucus as Leader for over two years. He and his wife, Judy, have two children and reside in Bakersfield, CA.

Rep. Tim Walberg represented an agricultural community for 16 years in the Michigan House of Representatives, which provided him the opportunity to listen to and learn from the farmers he served. Michigan's 7th Congressional District is state's leading producer of soybeans, corn for grain, sheep and lambs, horses, and grains, oilseeds, dry beans, and dry peas.

Agriculture Committee Republicans:

Bob Goodlatte, Ranking Republican, (VA-6)
Terry Everett (AL-2)
Frank Lucas (OK-3)
Jerry Moran (KS-1)
Robin Hayes (NC-8)
Timothy V. Johnson (IL-15)
Sam Graves (MO-6)
Jo Bonner (AL-1)
Mike Rogers (AL-3)
Steve King (IA-5)
Marilyn Musgrave (CO-4)
Randy Neugebauer (TX-19)
Charles W. Boustany, Jr. (LA-7)
John R. “Randy” Kuhl, Jr. (NY-29)
Virginia Foxx (NC-5)
K. Michael Conaway (TX-11)
Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1)
Jean Schmidt (OH-2)
Adrian Smith (NE-3)
Kevin McCarthy (CA-22)
Tim Walberg (MI-7)

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