WASHINGTON, DC – Former House Agriculture Committee Chairman David Scott of Georgia has died at the age of 80, leaving behind more than two decades of leadership in farm policy, rural advocacy, and agricultural education.
Scott represented Georgia’s 13th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives beginning in 2003 and served as chairman of the House Agriculture Committee during the 117th Congress from 2021 to 2023.
During his time in Congress, Scott was a strong supporter of farm bill programs, nutrition assistance, agricultural research, rural development, and expanded trade opportunities for U.S. producers. He was also closely tied to the 1890 National Scholars Program, which helps students attend historically Black land-grant universities to study agriculture and related fields.
Current House Agriculture Committee Chairman Glenn “GT” Thompson called Scott “a friend, a brother in the Lord, and an institution on the House Committee on Agriculture,” saying his policy legacy will live on for years to come.
Farm-Level Takeaway: Scott’s support of the 1890 National Scholars Program, which helps students attend historically Black land-grant universities to study agriculture, will be a strong legacy.