Climate, Trade Top GOP Pick Thompson’s Farm Panel Priorities

Glenn "GT" Thompson will serve as the top Republican on the House Agriculture Committee next year, the party conference announced.

Thompson will succeed ranking member Mike Conaway (Texas) following his retirement. The Republican steering committee recommended the Pennsylvania lawmaker over Reps. Austin Scott (Ga.) and Rick Crawford (Ark.), who were also vying for the position.

His selection will help solidify Republican priorities for the panel next year, as the chairmanship remains in flux after current leader Collin Peterson (D-Minn.)'s election loss.

Thompson's roots in dairy farming help him understand "what needs to be done to take America's agriculture industry to the next level, and he knows the needs of the hard working Americans who will get us there," the GOP conference's Thursday announcement said.

Thompson's Priorities

Thompson, who is heading into his seventh congressional term, has previously served as the committee's vice chairman and ranking member of three subcommittees.

The Republican conference announcement pointed to "his commitment to speaking up" as one of his best leadership skills, making him "the most frequent speaker on the House floor for the past seven years."

In his new role, Thompson pledged to restore a robust rural economy, help develop precision agriculture, identify climate solutions through voluntary conservation, and expand agricultural market opportunities with strong trade deals.

Farmers and ranchers also need a stronger safety net to mitigate weather-related disasters, such as Southern agriculture producers' losses during hurricanes and Iowa farmers' crops flattened by an August derecho, he said.

"There's no other committee that probably touches the lives more frequently in a day's time of the American family than the Agriculture Committee," Thompson said in an interview before the November election.

Thompson highlighted his ability to work with his Democratic colleagues, having served as a co-sponsor on several of Peterson's bills, such as assistance for meat processors (H.R. 7490) and whole milk for students (H.R. 832).

Democrats David Scott (Ga.) and Jim Costa (Calif.) are vying to succeed Peterson.