The National Cotton Council (NCC) congratulates Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, on his re-election to a second term.
NCC Chairman Larry McClendon said that U.S. farmers, businesses and rural communities will continue to benefit from Senator Chambliss’ leadership. He said the Senator’s depth of knowledge of production agriculture has earned him the respect of his colleagues in Congress — Republicans and Democrats alike.
“This knowledge and respect enabled Senator Chambliss to play a key role in the preparation and eventual passage of the 1996, 2002 and 2008 farm bills,” the Arkansas producer/ginner said. “For example, he led a bi-partisan effort to break a log-jam in the (2008) farm bill debate and forge a bill that included most of the policy priorities for Southern production agriculture. He was the leading proponent of maintaining eligibility for program benefits for commercial agricultural operations. He worked with his fellow Senators to ensure that an ill-advised veto of the farm bill was overridden — not once but twice. Since passage of the bill, Senator Chambliss coordinated an effort with 19 other Senators urging USDA to expedite the regulation process and for those regulations to stay within the intent of Congress in their scope.”
American Cotton Producers Chairman C.B. “Chuck” Coley, a Vienna, Ga. producer, said Senator Chambliss “has been a tireless worker in championing the agricultural and rural interests not only of Georgia but the entire nation. His knowledge of production agriculture, conservation, nutrition and research programs is recognized and appreciated by farmers across the country.”
Both McClendon and Coley agreed that Senator Chambliss has stood strong for U.S. agricultural amid global trade talks.
“Some members of the World Trade Organization are demanding unfair cuts for U.S. agriculture and for cotton while offering no concessions of their own in return,” Coley said. “Senator Chambliss has repeatedly insisted that U.S. negotiators reject any unbalanced trade deal that requires deep cuts in U.S. programs and does not adequately open markets for U.S agricultural exports. As recently as July, U.S negotiators heeded his advice and rejected a bad deal for U.S agriculture and U.S. cotton.