Late last week the newly sworn-in legislators announced new committee and subcommittee assignments for the 111th Session of Congress, including key committees for the dairy processing industry. The agriculture committees of the U.S. Senate and U.S. House of Representatives have both been finalized, as well as the House Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy & Poultry.

Senate Agriculture Committee Newly appointed Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Michael Bennet (D-CO) have been added to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry. The two will join returning Democratic committee members Senators Tom Harkin (IA) (chair), Pat Leahy (VT), Kent Conrad (ND), Max Baucus (MT), Blanche Lincoln (AR), Debbie Stabenow (MI), Ben Nelson (NE), Sherrod Brown (OH), Bob Casey (PA) and Amy Klobuchar (MN).

The lone new Republican member of the committee is Senator Mike Johanns (NE). He will join returning Republican committee members Senators Saxby Chambliss (GA) (ranking member), Richard Lugar (IN), Thad Cochran (MS), Mitch McConnell (KY), Pat Roberts (KS), Chuck Grassley (IA) and John Thune (SD).

House Agriculture Committee Democrats added 11 new members to this committee. They are: Representatives Kurt Schrader (OR), Debbie Halvorson (IL), Kathy Dahlkemper (PA), Eric Massa (NY), Bobby Bright (AL), Betsey Markey (CO), Frank Kratovil, Jr. (MD), Mark Schauer (MI), Larry Kissell (NC), John Boccieri (OH) and Walt Minnick (ID). They will join returning committee Democrats Collin Peterson (MN) (chair), Tim Holden (PA), Mike McIntyre (NC), Leonard Boswell (IA), Joe Baca (CA), Dennis Cardoza (CA), David Scott (GA), Jim Marshall (GA), Stephanie Herseth Sandlin (SD), Henry Cuellar (TX), Jim Costa (CA), Brad Ellsworth (IN), Tim Walz (MN), Steve Kagen (WI), Earl Pomeroy (ND) and Travis Childers (MS).

Republicans added four new members to the committee. They are: Representatives Phil Roe (TN), Blaine Luetkemeyer (MO), Glenn Thompson (PA) and Bill Cassidy (LA). They will join returning committee Republican Representatives Frank Lucas (OK) (chair), Bob Goodlatte (VA), Jerry Moran (KS), Timothy Johnson (IL), Sam Graves (MO), Mike Rogers (AL), Steve King (IA), Randy Neugebauer (TX), Michael Conaway (TX), Jeff Fortenberry (NE), Jean Schmidt (OH), Adrian Smith (NE) and Bob Latta (OH).

Representative David Scott (GA) will replace Representative Leonard Boswell (IA) as chair of the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy & Poultry. Representative Randy Neugebauer (TX) will be the ranking member, replacing Representative Robin Hayes (NC), who did not win re-election. IDFA staff members have already met with Rep. Scott on the priorities of the dairy processing industry.

Several other key committees with jurisdiction over important issues for IDFA are still forming and have not yet been finalized. These committees include the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee and House Commerce Committee, which have jurisdiction over food safety and nutrition issues, and the Subcommittees on Trade of both the Senate Finance Committee and House Ways & Means Committee.