Casey named as chair of agriculture subcommittee

In addition to his duties on the Jobs, Rural Economic Growth and Energy Innovation subcommittee and the Livestock, Dairy, Poultry, Marketing and Agricultural Security subcommittees, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey will chair a third agriculture-related subcommittee.

The Pennsylvania Democrat is now the chairman of the Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Food and Agricultural Research subcommittee as part of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee.

“By chairing this subcommittee, Pennsylvania farm families, especially specialty crop farmers, will have a stronger voice in the upcoming debate on the Farm Bill,” a release from Casey’s office reads.

As part of the 2008 Farm Bill, Casey worked to increase funding and purchases for nutrition programs. He also serves as chair of the Joint Economic Committee and chair of the Near Eastern and South and Central Asian Affairs Subcommittee of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.