House Agriculture Committee Ranking Member Collin Peterson today made the following statement after Representatives were appointed to the conference committee that will negotiate the 2013 Farm Bill.

“Appointing conferees might be a sign that, after repeatedly delaying and undermining the Agriculture Committee’s work, Republican Leaders are finally getting serious about the farm bill. Conferees are committed to working together and getting a farm bill done but bringing divisive resolutions to a vote and appointing conferees outside the Agriculture Committee has made our jobs a lot harder.

“The Democratic conferees represent our caucus and bring a great deal of expertise to the process. I am hopeful that if Republican Leadership can be reasonable and leave the conference committee alone to do its work that we will be able to finish a five-year, comprehensive farm bill this year.”

The following Democratic Members will serve on the Farm Bill conference:

Leader’s Representative:
Congresswoman Marcia Fudge of Ohio, Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus

House Committee on Agriculture:
Ranking Member Collin Peterson of Minnesota
Congressman Mike McIntyre of North Carolina
Congressman Jim Costa of California
Congressman Tim Walz of Minnesota
Congressman Kurt Schrader of Oregon
Congressman Jim McGovern of Massachusetts
Congresswoman Suzan DelBene of Washington
Congresswoman Gloria Negrete McLeod of California
Congressman Filemon Vela of Texas

House Committee on Foreign Affairs:
Ranking Member Eliot Engel of New York

House Ways and Means Committee:
Ranking Member Sandy Levin of Michigan

LINK: Republican Conferees

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