California representatives earn 'Friend of Farm Bureau' awards

» October 25, 2006 «

Based on their votes to protect family farmers and ranchers, 20 members of Congress from California have been named Friends of Farm Bureau. The American Farm Bureau Federation, California Farm Bureau Federation and county Farm Bureaus present the awards at the end of each two-year session of Congress.

The Friend of Farm Bureau award is based on each member's voting record on issues that affect farmers and ranchers. To qualify, a member of Congress must have at least a 70-percent favorable voting record. Award recipients from California mostly scored higher than that.

"Because California is the nation's most productive and most diverse farm state, it's crucial for members of Congress to understand the issues affecting family farms and ranches," California Farm Bureau President Doug Mosebar said. "Their constituents may live in rural, suburban or urban areas of our state, but these representatives know that a healthy agriculture benefits all Americans."

Mosebar said Farm Bureau priorities in the last session of Congress included tax reform, permanent elimination of the federal estate tax, energy policy, updates to the Endangered Species Act and comprehensive immigration reform.

"Many of these issues take a long time to resolve, and Farm Bureau has made a commitment to remain actively engaged in Washington," he said. "That's why we're pleased that so many of our state's representatives qualify for the Friend of Farm Bureau award."

Members of Congress earning the Friend of Farm Bureau award will receive their awards individually from county Farm Bureaus in their district or from California Farm Bureau representatives.

The California Farm Bureau Federation, the state's largest farm organization, works to protect family farms and ranches on behalf of more than 88,000 members.

Editors note: A complete list of the 2006 Friend of Farm Bureau recipients from California follows.

Mary Bono, R-Palm Springs
Ken Calvert, R-Corona
Dennis Cardoza, D-Merced
Jim Costa, D-Fresno
John Doolittle, R-Roseville
David Dreier, R-San Dimas
Elton Gallegly, R-Simi Valley
Wally Herger, R-Chico
Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine
Darrell Issa, R-Vista
Jerry Lewis, R-Redlands
Dan Lungren, R-Gold River
Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Santa Clarita
Gary Miller, R-Diamond Bar
Devin Nunes, R-Visalia
Richard Pombo, R-Tracy
George Radanovich, R-Mariposa
Dana Rohrabacher, R-Huntington Beach
Edward Royce, R-Fullerton
Bill Thomas, R-Bakersfield

Contact: Dave Kranz
Phone: 916/561-5550
news@cfbf.com

Permission for use is granted, however, credit must be made to the California Farm Bureau Federation when reprinting this item.