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<br />New Federal Agriculture Secretary: On Jan. 6 the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee approved the
<br />nomination of Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns to replace Ann Veneman as the U.S. Secretary of
<br />Agriculture. The Governor testified that "Growing up, I also learned a simple lesson about Mother
<br />Nature.... In the mid-1960s, it didn't rain in Mitchell County and my family lost our entire crop. Drought
<br />was unusual for northern Iowa. But, drought is not unusual for many of our states. This experience,
<br />combined with the knowledge I've gained from serving as Governor during a severe drought, has driven
<br />my aggressive work to better prepare for and respond to drought."
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<br />Governor Johanns observed, "I believe an analysis of our nation's long-term drought preparedness and
<br />response is in order. As co-lead governor on drought for the Western Governors' Association, I teamed up
<br />with Governor Richardson, of New Mexico, and others, to advocate on a bipartisan basis for an integrated
<br />drought monitoring system. By establishing an early warning system, we could better forecast future
<br />drought cycles, thereby allowing for better preparation."
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<br />U.S. House of Representatives Committee Leadership:
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<br />. Resources Committee -- Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) has announced his priorities for his second
<br />term as House Resources Committee Chairman to be strengthening the Endangered Species Act
<br />(ESA) and increasing domestic energy supplies.
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<br />. Transportation and Infrastructure -- Rep. Don Young (R-AK) will serve a third term as Chair of
<br />the Committee. He listed one of his goals as including the passage of the Water Resources
<br />Development Act (WRDA).
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<br />U.S. Senate Committee Leadership: Senator Pete Domenici (R-MN) will remain chairman of the Senate
<br />Energy and Natural Resources Committee. He listed the passage of an energy bill as his highest priority.
<br />He added that water legislation would continue to be a top priority. He said he is considering legislation
<br />that will create and fund a rural water program within Reclamation.
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<br />Other tentative committee assignments have also been made in the Senate, with committee chairs, ranking
<br />members and western members as follows:
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<br />. Agriculture - Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Chair, and Tom Harkin (D-IA) as the ranking minority
<br />member, with Pat Roberts (R-KS), Craig Thomas (R-WY), Mike Crapo (R-ID), Kent Conrad (D-
<br />ND), Max Baucus (D-MT), Ben Nelson (D-NE), and Ken Salazar (D-CO);
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<br />. Appropriations - Thad Cochran (R-MS), Chair, and Robert Byrd (D- WV), with Ted Stevens (R-
<br />AK), Pete Domenici (R-NM), Conrad Bums (R-MT), Bob Bennett (R-UT), Larry Craig (R-ID),
<br />Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Sam Brownback (R-KS), Harry Reid (D-NV), Patty Murray (D-
<br />W A), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), and Tim Johnson (D-SD);
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<br />. Budget - Judd Gregg (R-NH), Chair, and Kent Conrad, with Domenici, Wayne Allard (R-CO),
<br />Michael Enzi (R-WY), Crapo, John Ensign (R-NV), John Cornyn (R-TX), Murray, Ron Wyden
<br />(D-OR), and Tim Johnson.
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<br />. Commerce, Science and Transportation - Stevens, Chair, and Daniel Inouye (D-HI), with John
<br />McCain (R-AZ), Burns, Hutchison, Gordon Smith (R-OR), Ensign, Dorgan, Barbara Boxer (D-
<br />CA), Maria Cantwell (D- W A), and Ben Nelson.
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<br />. Energy and Natural Resources - Domenici, Chair, and JeffBingarnan (D-NM), with Craig,
<br />Thomas, Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Burns, Smith, Wyden, Dorgan, Johnson, Feinstein, Cantwell
<br />and Salazar.
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