The House GOP steering committee elected Rep. Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-15) on Wednesday to lead the House Agriculture Committee. He will be the first Chairman from Pennsylvania since John L. Dawson held the post from 1853-55.

“I am honored to lead the Committee on Agriculture and build on the accomplishments of the past two years as Ranking Member,” said Thompson in a press release. “The political landscape in Washington may be fractured, but as Chairman, I will prioritize the needs of our producers and rural communities—the backbone of this country. We will keep our foot on the gas to deliver principled solutions, robust oversight, and a Farm Bill that is responsive to the needs of the country’s farmers, ranchers, and foresters.”

Currently the committee’s top Republican and the ranking member of the House Agriculture General Farm Commodities and Risk Management Subcommittee, Thompson will be right in the middle of the 2023 farm bill debate.

“I want to congratulate my friend Congressman Glenn “GT” Thompson on his selection by House Republicans to serve as Chairman of our great House Agriculture Committee,” said outgoing chair Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.).  “Heading into the 2023 Farm Bill, I am hopeful and prayerful that the collegial spirit will continue and that the Agriculture Committee will be able to deliver a farm bill with strong Republican and Democratic bipartisan support.

Under House GOP rules, lawmakers are allowed to serve three terms as a ranking member or chairman before being term-limited out of the role.

Thompson said he highlighted his experience on the panel while making his pitch to members, noting his work on two farm bills and his leadership on issues including conservation, forestry and nutrition.

“My vision is basically looking to restore a robust economy. Certainly, that is an important part of that is markets for all of our commodity groups, all those farmers and farm families that work so hard to produce us the food and the fiber that we need but also what we need in rural America,” he said.