Agriculture

Ever since I arrived in Washington, I have been working to improve the future of agriculture in Oklahoma. I recognize the importance of the family farm to our state and to this nation. I served as a conferee on the 2002 and 2008 Farm bills. Additionally, I have worked to provide tax relief, less government regulation and promote fair trade in agriculture. I will continue to be a strong voice for production agriculture and work to ensure that farmers have the necessary resources to not survive, but to thrive.

As Ranking Member of the Agriculture Committee, I have long been a champion of voluntary agriculture conservation programs. During the drafting of the 2002 Farm Bill, I worked to secure the largest ever increase in programs such as Environmental Quality Incentives Program, the Conservation Reserve Program, and many others. In the 2008 Farm Bill, I advocated for renewable energy provisions to be included in the farm bill which would allow rural areas to play a larger role in making the U.S. less dependent on foreign sources of energy. I am proud that the 2008 Farm Bill devotes a funding stream to renewable energy research, development, and production.

The 111th Congress saw the Agriculture Committee in the center of the debate on President Obama's controversial cap-and-trade legislation. H.R. 2454, which passed the House of Representatives on June 26, 2009 by only seven vote, has stalled in the Senate and it doesn’t appear as though any real action will be made on it during this Congress. It has very little support with the American people, and would be especially harmful to Oklahomans who would get hit by it both coming and going with higher production costs for farmers and ranchers and higher taxes for energy producers. As the Ranking Member of the Committee, I led the fight against this damaging legislation and will continue to be a vocal opponent of it.

The Agriculture Committee will also spend much of the 111th Congress focused on implementing the 2008 Farm Bill. This can be an arduous process, especially considering there is a new administration running the Agriculture Department. However, I will work closely with Chairman Peterson and other members of the committee to ensure that cuts are not made to agriculture producers – farmers and ranchers.

I have been proud to receive recognition from various agriculture groups for my work in support of their concerns. The American Farm Bureau Federation has presented me with its “Friend of Farm Bureau” award for supporting Farm Bureau issues in Congress in 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006. In both 2002 and 2003, the National Farmers Union recognized me with the “Presidential Award for Leadership” for issues important to rural America. NFU also recognized me with the “Golden Triangle Award”, which is given to those who have demonstrated outstanding leadership on issues affecting family farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. In 2002 the Oklahoma Wheat Commission presented me with their “Staff of Life” award for voting in favor of wheat growers and farmers 100 percent of the time. And for two years running, the National Association of Wheat Growers named me one of only 11 “Wheat Champion” Members of Congress for superior action in Congress in support of the wheat industry.

Press Releases Related to Agriculture

• (2-27-2009) Obama Administration out of Touch with Agriculture
• (2-26-2009) Rep. Frank Lucas Criticizes Ending Direct Payments to Farmers in Letter to USDA Secretary Vilsack
• (1-16-2009) Lucas Names Nicole Scott as Staff Director for House Agriculture Committee

 

Frankly Speaking on Agriculture

• (06-23-2010) National Tragedy Should Not Be Exploited to Pass Harmful Cap-and-Tax Legislation
• (03-05-2010) Reining in the EPA
• (01-20-2010) Change We Don't Want
• (12-04-2009) Cap-and-Tax Bad for Farmers, Rural America
• (07-24-2009) USDA Study on Cap & Trade Bill Is an Incomplete Analysis