Cattlemen welcome Sen. Roberts as 'Valuable in Ranking Member role'

By Agri-Pulse Staff

© Copyright Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.

WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 – It was no surprise when Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., was named Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee Tuesday. But confirmation of his selection by fellow GOP senators was immediately welcomed by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).

NCBA explained that working with elected officials in the U.S. House and Senate is critical to the association’s success in Washington, D.C. where NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall said Sen. Roberts has had a long history of defending U.S. beef producers and supporting the U.S. beef industry.

“The number of elected officials who understand and support the U.S. beef industry is dwindling. However, U.S. cattlemen and women should rest easier knowing that Senator Roberts is serving as ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee,” Woodall said. “From supporting efforts to expand export opportunities for U.S. beef to using a commonsense approach to federal government regulations, Senator Roberts has always been a staunch supporter of our business, and we look forward to working with him in his new role.”

Roberts, in his third term in the U.S. Senate, served eight terms in the U.S. House of Representatives where he chaired the House Agriculture Committee. Since being elected to the U.S. Senate, Woodall said Roberts has used his roles on both the Senate Agriculture Committee as well as the Senate Finance Committee to support the U.S. beef industry.

“There are few members of the U.S. House or Senate more committed to supporting the U.S. beef industry,” Woodall said. “Day in and day out, Senator Roberts is willing to step up and oppose regulations or legislation that will be harmful for U.S. cattlemen and women. We saw that in his opposition to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposed rule on livestock marketing and to the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to regulate us out of business. He has years of experience and brings a wealth of knowledge into his new role. We congratulate him and look forward to working closely with him to ensure a sustainable U.S. beef industry.”