WASHINGTON, DC – As the dust settles from a unique set of circumstances in Georgia, the state now has two new Senators and the Democratic party has control of the U.S. Senate. In a runoff election, Republican David Perdue lost to challenger Jon Ossoff while Kelly Loeffler lost in a special election to Democratic-challenger Raphael Warnock. These two losses by the Republican party, bring major changes to the Senate Agriculture Committee. First, unless Ossoff or Warnock are awarded a seat on the Ag Committee, Georgia will lose representation there. Looming larger, however, is the leadership of the Committee moving back to Michigan Senator Debbie Stabenow who served as Chairwoman between 2011 and 2015. According to the American Soybean Association (ASA), Stabenow has already pledged to lead efforts “to create a voluntary climate exchange and climate policy for farmers and ranchers.” Stabenow’s view of a successful climate policy would be producer-led, voluntary, and bipartisan. ASA supported her bipartisan Growing Climate Solutions Act last year. Democrats will now have full control of the White House, the House of Representatives, and the Senate for the first time since 2009.
(SOURCE: All Ag News)