(Washington, D.C) U.S. Congressman Sam Graves a senior Republican member of the Committee on Agriculture and a senior member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, was named to the House - Senate conference committee convened by the two chambers to negotiate the final details of H.R. 2419, the 2008 Farm Bill

 

“There is still a lot of work to be done, but I am committed to passing a Farm Bill that works for Missouri,” said Graves. “America’s farmers and ranchers deserve certainty as they go into the field.”

 

Graves was appointed by the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to the conference. 

 

“Sam Graves, a respected and capable Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leader, has been chosen to represent the Committee on one of the most important agriculture measures to come before the Congress. Sam, himself a farmer and also a member of the Agriculture Committee, will do an outstanding job of representing the interests of the American people and the Transportation Committee in these important farm bill negotiations.” said U.S. Rep. John L. Mica (R-FL), Republican Leader of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

 

 “I appreciate the confidence of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. Having worked on the Farm Bill in the Agriculture Committee and as one of only a handful of farmers in Congress, I look forward to representing the need of our farmers and ranchers as the conference moves forward,” said Graves.

 

Graves has authored a number of provisions that will be considered in the conference negations including an amendment to allow the Secretary of Agriculture to permanently debar anyone convicted of defrauding the government from future participation in USDA programs.

 

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