The Senate agriculture committee has two new members to start the year. Tina Smith, a Democrat from Minnesota, has joined the committee, along with Nebraska Republican Deb Fischer.
Smith was recently appointed to take the seat of resigned Senator Al Franken. She takes the committee seat of Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland, who is leaving the Senate Ag Committee to join the Energy and Public Works Committee. Smith will be the second Senator from Minnesota on the panel, joining Amy Klobuchar.
Fischer, of Nebraska, is a cattle rancher and former state legislator. She says she is looking forward to engaging on the farm bill, according to a statement on her website. Fischer started her time in the Senate in 2013, and takes the committee seat of Departed Alabama Republican Luther Strange.
From the National Association of Farm Broadcasting News Service.