Agricultural and rural issues

Legislation covered here primarily flows primarily but not exclusively through two committees: The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee; and, the House Committee on Agriculture.
I follow this topic because Gettysburg, Pennsylvania is not only a historical community. It's also the heart of south central Pennsylvania agriculture. Our apples, soybeans, and corn account for a large percentage of south central PA's revenue.
For each time period below, I am also listing bills with more than twenty cosponsors. The short lists by no means encompass all legislation put forward and referred to committee!

Proposed legislation:

July 17, 2025 – August 22, 2025: Increasing market share for Black farmers; Save our Bacon Act, ensuring free movement of livestock-derived products in interstate commerce; spotted lanternfly R&D; reorganization of the USDA; encouraging state, local, and tribal governments to buy local foods; Enhance Access to SNAP (136 Democrats!); Keep Seniors Fed Act.

Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry Committee:
JOHN FETTERMAN sits on this committee.
Republican members: John Boozman (R-AR), Chair; Mitch McConnell (R-KY); John Hoeven (R-ND); Joni Ernst (R-IA); Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS); Roger Marshall (R-KS); Tommy Tuberville (R-AL); James Justice (R-WV); Charles Grassley (R-IA); John Thune (R-SD); Deb Fischer (R-NE); and Jerry Moran (R-KS).
Democratic members: Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Minority Member; Michael Bennet (D-CO); Tina Smith (D-MN); Richard Durbin (D-IL); Cory Booker (D-NJ); Ben Ray Luján (D-NM); Raphael Warnock (D-GA); Peter Welch (D-VT); John Fetterman (D-PA); Adam Schiff (D-CA); and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI).

House Agriculture Committee:
No one from south central Pennsylvania sits on this committee. Glenn Thompson represents PA-15, a very urban district with all of Delaware County, some of Chester County, Montgomery County, and Philadelphia. Rob Bresnahan represents PA-08, which encompasses all of Wayne, Pike, and Lackawanna Counties, along with portions of Luzerne and Monroe counties.
I will not track the House Agriculture committee forever. Just long enough to ask why neither Lloyd Smucker nor John Joyce sits on this committee. And hopefully get an answer.
Republican members: Glenn Thompson (R-PA-15), Chair; Frank Lucas (R-OK); Austin Scott (R-GA); Rick Crawford (R-AR); Scott Desjarlais (R-TN); Doug Lamalfa (R-CA); David Rouzer (R-NC); Trent Kelly (R-MS); Don Bacon (R-NE); Mike Bost (R-IL); Dusty Johnson (R-SD); Jim Baird (R-IN); Tracey Mann (R-KS); Rnady Feenstra (R-IA); Mary Miller (R-IL); Barry Moore (R-AL); Kat Cammack (R-FL); Brad Finstad (R-MN); John Rose (R-TN); Ronny Jackson (R-TX); Monica De La Cruz (R-TX); Zach Nunn (R-IA); Derrick Van Orden (R-WI); Dan Newhouse (R-WA); Tony Wied (R-WI); Rob Bresnahan (R-PA-08); Mark Messmer (R-IN); Mark Harris (R-NC); and, Dave Taylor (R-OH).
Democratic members: Angie Craig (D-MN), Ranking Minority Member; Shontel Brown (D-OH); David Scott (D-GA); Jim Costa (D-CA); Jim McGovern (D-MA); Alma Adams (D-NC); Jahana Hayes (D-CT); Sharice Davids (D-KS); Andrea Salinas (D-OR); Don Davis (D-NC); Jill Tokuda (D-HI); Nikki Budzinski (D-IL); Eric Sorensen (D-IL); Gabe Vasquez (D-NM); Jonathan Jackson (D-IL); Shri Thanedar (D-MI); Adam Gray (D-CA); Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-MI); Shomari Figures (D-AL); Eugene Vindman (D-VA); Josh Riley (D-NY); John Mannion (D-NY); April McClain Delaney (D-MD); Chellie Pingree (D-ME); and, Salud Carbajal (D-CA).

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