Washington, DC – Rep. Frank Lucas of Oklahoma issued the following statement after his colleagues in the House Republican Conference elected him to serve as Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee in the 112th Congress.

"It is an honor to continue in this leadership role of the Agriculture Committee where I have served since I was first elected to Congress. As a lifelong farmer from a diverse, agricultural state, I have lived the real world challenges farmers and ranchers face across the country. I will continue to be a strong voice for production agriculture and rural America.

"Oversight is a primary responsibility of Congress and we must fulfill that duty to the American people.  We will hold oversight hearings of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which has demonstrated a fondness for overreaching regulations that defy Congressional intent and threaten production agriculture and rural economies.  

"I will work with my colleagues to enact legislation that eliminates the obstacles for job growth and entrepreneurship throughout rural America.

"And, I will work to make sure we write a market-oriented, fiscally responsible farm bill that will provide America’s farmers and ranchers with the necessary tools and certainty they need to produce the safest, most affordable, most abundant food, fiber, feed and fuel supply in the history of the world," said Rep. Frank D. Lucas.  

Rep. Lucas is the first Oklahoman to Chair the House Agriculture Committee.

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