Pryor to chair Senate Ag Approps Subcommittee
January 31, 2013 | 08:03 PM
Sen. Mark Pryor, D-Ark., confirmed Wednesday that he will chair the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee for the 113th Congress. Pryor succeeds Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., who retired.
Sens. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., and Tim Johnson, D-S.D., all have more seniority on the subcommittee than Pryor but they already have full committee leadership posts.
In a news release, Pryor emphasized the importance of the assignment to Arkansas.
“Whether it’s rice, cotton, or poultry, there’s no question that agriculture is critical to our state’s economy,” Pryor said. “As chairman of the subcommittee on Agriculture appropriations, I’ll fight to ensure that Arkansas receives its fair share of federal dollars so we can keep our agricultural sector strong.”
According to the University of Arkansas, agriculture is the state’s largest industry, contributing an estimated $17 billion to the economy each year. The agricultural sector also supports more than 275,000 jobs, $10.7 billion in labor income, and more than $3 billion in exports annually.
In addition to funding the USDA, Pryor’s subcommittee will also be responsible for funding the Food and Drug Administration.
The FDA has a significant footprint in Arkansas with the National Center for Toxicological Research in Jefferson County, which conducts research to make sure everyday products are safe, Pryor said in the news release.
