Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.

Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss., will assert his authority and become the ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee in the 113th Congress, Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., announced in a statement today.

“Seniority is a well-respected and historic privilege in the U.S. Senate,” said Roberts, ranking member in the 112th Congress. “Sen. Cochran has my full support, and I will move his nomination when I bring the committee together for a vote later today. I expect it to be unanimous.”

“Rest assured, I will remain a strong and vocal champion for agriculture as a senior member of the committee,” Roberts said. “I will retain my Finance Committee seat and as a senior member of this committee, I am able to affect trade policy, especially ag trade, tax reform, and rural health care.”

“I look forward to working with Thad,” said Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. “We’ve had a great working relationship over the years. I understand he has a great staff.”

Cochran’s ascension to ranking member means that the commodity title in the farm bill is likely to be different from that passed by the Senate last year, which favored Northern growers.

On the question of what kind of commodity title will be written, Stabenow said “we’ve always known we have to develop a balanced bill.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., announced today that there will be nine Republican members on the Senate Agriculture Committee, one less than in the 112th Congress, leaving a ratio of 11 Democrats to nine Republicans.

The Republican members of the committee will be the same as in the 112th Congress, with the exception of Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., who was defeated in the primary election.


Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.
Roberts noted he will now assert his seniority as the ranking member of the Senate Rules Committee.

“This committee will become increasingly important as I expect to play a very vigorous role in defense of minority rights, which are under attack by the Democrat majority leader, as well as top line issues like campaign finance reform and federal election law,” Roberts said.

“No matter whether I hold the gavel, or whether I am the ranking member or whether I am a senior member, agriculture has always been a top priority of my efforts in public service. Nothing will change that. My message to Kansas farmers and ranchers is that I will continue to be your voice and your champion at every turn.”

Roberts wished Cochran the best in the new position, and said he would work with him and his staff to ensure a smooth transition.

“I look forward to working closely with Sen. Cochran in this new congress to pass a five-year farm bill that benefits producers, consumers and the taxpayer,” Roberts said.

In addition to Agriculture and Rules, Roberts remains a member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee, the Senate Finance Committee, and the Senate Select Committee on Ethics.

Meanwhile, House Agriculture Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla, said that he may delay markup on a new farm bill beyond the February 27 date he had previously announced, Congressional Quarterly reported.

Lucas made the comment in a brief interview off the House floor, CQ said.