WASHINGTON — Rep. Marc Molinaro, R-Red Hook, has been selected to serve on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure for the 118th Congress.
Farming has been a focus of Molinaro’s interest since 2009 when he served as a state assemblyman on the Minority Agriculture, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation Task Force, which heard testimony from farmers and agricultural organizations about challenges they face in upstate New York.
“Everyone in New York is affected by the future of agriculture and in these tough economic times, it is important that we learn from the state’s farmers what we can do to protect our local farms that are so vital to our state’s economic health,” Molinaro has said. “Agriculture continues to play a vital role in New York State’s ever-evolving economy.”
The House Committee on Agriculture has jurisdiction over issues related to agriculture and conducts oversight over the Department of Agriculture,” Molinaro Communications Director Dan Kranz said. Notably this year, the committee will be tasked with writing the 2023 Farm Bill. This measure determines policy and funding levels for the next five to 10 years on agriculture and food assistance programs such the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure has jurisdiction over aviation, maritime transportation, highways, bridges, mass transit and railroads as well as aspects of clean water management, wastewater management and flood damage reduction, Kranz said.
The committee also has broad oversight over many federal agencies including the Department of Transportation, Amtrak, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Army Corps of Engineers. The committee will also be tasked with overseeing the rollout of the 2022 bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which authorized historic federal investments for modernizing the nation’s infrastructure systems.
With the presence of Amtrak and several county airports in the 19th Congressional District, transportation is another primary interest for Molinaro.
“I’m proud to serve on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure,” he said. “These assignments allow me to work on issues that matter to our community, and importantly, give upstate New York a seat at the table as Congress deliberates over the next Farm Bill and the rollout of the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.”
Rep. Glenn Thompson, who represents the 15th Congressional District in Pennsylvania, and chairs the House Committee on Agriculture, called Molinaro a proven leader.
“The House Committee on Agriculture will hit the ground running to address the many headwinds facing farm families and rural America,” Thompson said. “I look forward to welcoming him to the committee as we fight for farm families in New York and across the nation.”
Missouri Republican Rep. Sam Graves, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure
Rep. Sam Graves, chairman of the House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure welcomed Molinaro to the fold.
“I’m confident he will be a valuable member of our committee as we work to develop solutions to improve our infrastructure, strengthen transportation programs and help alleviate ongoing energy and supply chain problems on behalf of the American people.”
Molinaro’s 19th District includes Broome, Chenango, Columbia, Cortland, Delaware, Greene, Sullivan, Tioga and Tompkins counties, and parts of Otsego and Ulster counties.