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Klobuchar Participates in First Ag Committee Hearing; Hires National Farm Leader for Her Staff

January 10, 2007

(Washington, D.C.) U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar participated today in her first hearing as a member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry, chaired by Senator Tom Harkin of Iowa. Klobuchar also announced that former National Farmers Union president Dave Frederickson has joined her staff in Minnesota. He will be responsible for public outreach on farm and rural issues.

Klobuchar said she was delighted that Frederickson has joined her Senate staff. "He brings a tremendous wealth of experience and knowledge about agriculture and its importance to our state and nation." Klobuchar said.

A Minnesota native and fourth-generation family farmer, Frederickson served in the Minnesota Senate from 1986 to 1992 and then as president of the Minnesota Farmers Union from 1992 to 2002. He was elected president of the National Farmers Union in 2002 and retired in March 2006. Klobuchar said 2007 is an important year in Congress for agriculture because the farm bill is up for reauthorization. "My first priority is to make sure we put together and pass a strong farm bill that's good for Minnesota farmers," said Klobuchar. "Agriculture contributes $53 billion and 400,000 jobs to Minnesota's economy, so we need to make sure it continues to prosper."

Klobuchar said she wants the new farm bill to include a fair support system that offers security for Minnesota farmers and ensures permanent disaster relief to help farmers deal with factors that are beyond their control. She also wants increased incentives for development of renewable energy sources, including biofuels.

Today's committee hearing focused on agriculture and rural America's role in enhancing national energy security. Those presenting testimony included Loni Kemp, a senior policy analyst with The Minnesota Project.

"Developing homegrown renewable energy is good for our nation's energy future and it's good for the economic future of rural America," said Klobuchar. "We need to invest in the farmers and workers of the Midwest, instead of continuing to send our energy dollars to the oil cartels of the Mideast."