United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

Founded in 1825 the committee was formed at the request of Senator William Findlay from Pennsylvania. Arguing that agriculture was as important to national progress as commerce and manufacturing, Findlay succeeded in persuading the full Senate to divide the Committee on Commerce and Manufactures into two separate committees. The Committee on Agriculture was formed by resolution on December 9, 1825. During the first four decades of the existence of this committee, the need for it was repeatedly called into question. At that time in America, nearly two-thirds of the population was directly engaged in agriculture. Following a debate over the necessity of various committees to have need of the services of a dedicated clerk, a Special Committee was formed to investigate ways to "reduce the number and increase the efficiency of the committees." On February 17, 1857, the Special Committee submitted a plan of reorganization for the committees that did not include the Agriculture Committee. During a special session of the Senate, on March 5, 1857, the Senate approved the Special Committees recommendations and the Committee on Agriculture was dissolved. In 1862, the country was embroiled in the Civil War, a large influx of immigrants was occurring and the nation was moving towards industrialization. That year, President Abraham Lincoln signed the Organic Act recreating the Department of Agriculture. It became the Committee on Agriculture and Forestry in 1884, a reflection of the growing importance of forests to the country's needs. It was renamed again to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry in 1977. Nutrition was added to the name after the Food and Agriculture Act of 1977 directed the Department of Agriculture to "conduct more human nutrition research, establish a national nutrition education program and develop a system to monitor America's nutritional status". ==Jurisdiction==

In accordance of Rule XXV of the United States Senate, all proposed legislation, messages, petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the following subjects are referred to the Agriculture Committee: • Agricultural economics and research. • Agricultural extension services and experiment stations. • Agricultural production, marketing, and stabilization of prices. • Agriculture and agricultural commodities. • Animal industry and diseases. • Crop insurance and soil conservation. • Farm credit and farm security. • Food from fresh waters. • Food stamp programs. • Forestry, and forest reserves and wilderness areas other than those created from the public domain. • Home economics. • Human nutrition. • Inspection of livestock, meat, and agricultural products. • Pests and pesticides. • Plant industry, soils, and agricultural engineering. • Rural development, rural electrification, and watersheds. • School nutrition programs. ==Members, 119th Congress==

The committee, under its various names, has been chaired by the below. Committee on Agriculture, 1825–1857 Committee on Agriculture, 1863–1884 Committee on Agriculture and Forestry, 1884–1977 Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, 1977–present ==Historical committee rosters==

118th Congress ;Subcommittees 117th Congress ;Subcommittees 116th Congress ;Subcommittees Source 115th Congress ;Subcommittees 114th Congress ;Subcommittees 113th Congress ;Subcommittees 112th Congress Subcommittees 111th Congress 110th Congress ==See also==