Alabama
Rep. Terry Everett has announced that he will seek the House agriculture committee
chair. The current chairman, Rep. Larry Combest of Texas, has said that he will
resign from Congress to spend more time with his family. Everett has served
on the agriculture committee for several years and is the current chairman of
the subcommittee on specialty crops.
“I believe the leadership and the consensus building
that I fostered during the challenging Farm Bill demonstrates
my ability to lead and develop sound agriculture policy that our farmers, ranchers
and nation can proudly support,” said Everett.
Rep. Everett believes that his strong association with Alabama’s
diverse farming interests gives him a unique perspective and understanding of
all agriculture interests from all regions.
“I believe I would be the most effective chairman
to lead the committee on agriculture, which oversees the feeding and cloth ing
of our nation. This
is an important opportunity
to set the direction of our farm policies for the 21st century, and to continue
to provide the support and framework necessary to allow the American agriculture
industry to be competitive and prosperous,” said Everett.
Rep. Robert Aderholt also sits on the House agriculture
committee. Outgoing Rep. Bob Riley and Earl Hilliard were previous members of
that committee. The election will be held on January 7.
Gov.
Don Siegelman named two new members to the Environmental Management Commission
on Monday, December 16, including a Birmingham engineer and the commissioner
of Conservation and Natural Resources.
Conservation Commissioner Riley Boykin Smith, who is
expected to leave that position when Gov.-elect Bob Riley takes office, will
be the commissioner in the at-large spot. Scott Phillips, regional vice president
for Malcolm Pirnie Inc. in Birmingham, will take the spot reserved for a well-driller.
Both choices were hailed as good
ones by environmentalists, although Brad McLane of the Alabama Rivers Alliance
questioned whether Phillips will have too many conflicts of interest. His firm
represents the Birmingham Water Works Board and a number of other clients with
water interests or water pollution permits.
The Environmental Management commission oversees the
Alabama Department of Environmental Management, hires and fires the director
of ADEM, and is supposed to set policy for the agency.
