Garamendi gains seat on ag committee

Rep. John Garamendi on Wednesday credited “an outpouring of support” from local agricultural groups for helping to land him a spot on the House Agriculture Committee.

Garamendi, D-Walnut Grove, received a waiver from Democratic leaders allowing him to join a third committee. He also serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure and the Armed Services committees.

Garamendi vowed in a news release that he would be “a champion for California’s agricultural economy.”

“My highest priorities are promoting regional agricultural commerce and research, including our robust rice industry, our wide variety of specialty crops and the research at UC Davis; investing in conservation programs that are important for our environment and for our region’s many duck hunters; and ensuring food security to make sure that children and families in our communities don’t go to sleep hungry,” he said.

The 3rd Congressional District produces a wide variety of crops and commodities, including tomatoes, wine grapes, rice, hay, almonds and walnuts, with an annual market value of about $3 billion — including $549 million in Yolo County in 2011.

UCD researchers attracted $56 million from the U.S. Department of Agriculture alone during the fiscal year 2011-12.

Cory Golden

The Enterprise's higher-education and congressional reporter. http://about.me/cory_golden

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