SPRINGFIELD, IL — Today, Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski (IL-13) convened the first meeting of her bipartisan Agriculture Advisory Council at Lincoln Land Community College in Springfield. 

Budzinski was recently appointed to the House Committee on Agriculture, which is tasked with drafting the 2023 Farm Bill – one of the largest pieces of must-pass legislation in Congress this year. Congresswoman Budzinski will utilize her Agriculture Advisory Council for recommendations on the priorities she will pursue during Farm Bill negotiations. 

“As we start writing the next Farm Bill, it’s critical to bring the voices of family farmers and agriculture stakeholders to the table. Today, I launched a bipartisan Agriculture Advisory Council to do just that,” said Congresswoman Budzinski. “I’m proud to have a diverse coalition of stakeholders from across Central and Southern Illinois as I start my work on the House Committee on Agriculture and the important negotiations surrounding the 2023 Farm Bill. I look forward to being a strong advocate for our region throughout that process.” 

The Agriculture Advisory Council is composed of agricultural stakeholders from across the 13th Congressional District – including family farmers, faculty from the University of Illinois, Richland Community College and Lincoln Land Community College and representatives from agricultural commodity organizations such as the Illinois Corn Growers Association, Illinois Soybean Association and Illinois Pork Producers. The council also includes leaders from the Illinois USDA and two members from the Illinois General Assembly.  

Congresswoman Budzinski was appointed to the House Committee on Agriculture this month. She serves on three subcommittees, including the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Risk Management and Credit, the Subcommittee on Conservation, Research and Biotechnology and the Subcommittee on Commodity Markets, Digital Assets and Rural Development.