WASHINGTON – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin C. Peterson of Minnesota issued the following statement on the passing of former Senator Richard Lugar (R-IN):

“Senator Lugar was not only a foreign policy expert, but as the Chair and Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, he was a tireless fighter for America’s farmers. He was a strong proponent of the farm bill’s locally-led and voluntary conservation title programs and part of the bipartisan support for biofuels that led to the RFS. Senator Lugar will be remembered as a problem solver who could work with anybody to get things done. He leaves a strong legacy of former staffers who continue in that leadership roles in all aspects of the ag sector.”