Senator Richard Shelby is the senior United States Senator from the State of Alabama. He was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 1986 and is currently in his sixth term. Senator Shelby is the current vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, of which he previously served as chairman. He is a senior member on the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, as well as the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, of which he is the longest-serving member in the history of the committee. He also serves on the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Agriculture is the largest revenue-producing industry in the State of Alabama, generating more than $70 billion in economic impact per year. With over nine million acres of farmland and more than 40,000 farms, Alabama is a national leader in food production and a global competitor in poultry, catfish, timber, cotton, and livestock industries.
It is easy to forget that agriculture is at the heart of so many issues affecting Alabamians– from food and fiber production to the ever-expanding market for biodiesel and fuel. During my tenure in Congress, I have supported measures to assist farmers and the local economies that depend on them. I have also worked to ensure that Alabama farmers will continue to benefit from appropriate commodity supports and crop insurance, conservation and nutrition programs, and credit and rural development initiatives.
Rest assured that I will remain unwavering in my efforts to support our farmers, our state, and our rural communities.