On April 29, 1820, Congressman Lewis Williams of North Carolina introduced a resolution to the House to create a committee to oversee the nation’s agricultural sector. The full House later approved the resolution, formally establishing the Committee on May 3, 1820.

“For 200 years, the House Agriculture Committee has brought the issues facing farmers and ranchers and the rural communities they call home together with the needs of consumers in the city, to make sure all Americans have food, fiber, and fuel,” said Peterson. “The work we do has seen us through challenges on the farm and in our nation more broadly, ranging from the Civil War and Reconstruction, to two World Wars, the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl, the farm crisis in the 1980s, and now to our current challenge with this pandemic. We’ve never shied away from the tough tasks before us, and we won’t start now. Americans need policy that ensures their food is available and their communities are strong. That was our job 200 years ago, and it’s still our job today.”

“Today marks 200 years of service from the House Agriculture Committee to America’s farmers and ranchers, who have dedicated themselves to this country for far longer,” said Conaway. “American agriculture has kept this nation fed and clothed through many difficult times in our history, including the global health pandemic we are currently facing. Now more than ever, we are reminded of the important role these hardworking individuals play in our daily lives, and our duty to stand with them as Members of the House Agriculture Committee.”