The American Agri-Women (AAW) presented Sen. John Hoeven of North Dakota and Rep. Mike Conaway of Texas with its “Champion of Agriculture” awards. This news release from the group – the nation’s largest coalition of farm, ranch and agribusiness women – says the the award goes to outstanding members of the U.S. Congress for their steadfast courage in upholding the ideals of American agriculture to their peers.
Hoeven … is a strong proponent of the ag industry and supports AAW positions on private property and water rights. He is a cosponsor of the Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015, which was introduced by Senator John Thune of South Dakota earlier this spring. This bill helps family farms thrive from generation to generation.
Hoeven serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture and was a member of the conference committee that negotiated the final 2014 Farm Bill.
“Sen. Hoeven supports many of our legislative positions. For instance, he share our concern about the overreach of regulatory agencies, such as EPA and the ‘Waters of the U.S.’ definition of the Clean Water Act. He also supports programs that balance conservation concerns and private land use,” says AAW President Sue McCrum, who is part of a fifth generation family farm in Maine. “We respect his bipartisan approach to politics and are pleased to recognize him as a 2015 Champion of Agriculture.”
Conaway serves as chair of the House Committee on Agriculture [among other key committees in the House].
“Rep. Conaway works to ensure that farmers and ranchers are supported, not hindered, by the federal government. He also works to reduce the regulatory overreach of agencies such as the EPA that adversely affects farmers’ and ranchers’ ability to produce food,” says AAW President Sue McCrum, who is part of a fifth generation family farm in Maine. “We are pleased to thank him for his support for him by recognizing him as a 2015 Champion of Agriculture.”
Past recipients include Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma; Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, Sen. Debbie Stabenow of Michigan, Rep. Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Rep. Dennis Cardoza of California, Sen. Pat Roberts of Kansas, Rep. Collin Peterson of Minnesota and Sen. James Inhofe of Oklahoma.