Agricultural News
Congressmen Ask CFTC To Fill Vacant Ag Advisory Committee Post Quickly
Thu, 23 Feb 2012 15:30:18 CST
Two influential Congressman have stepped up to request that the concerns of agricultural producers whose confidence in the commodities markets has been shaken since the MF Global bankruptcy and the Dodd-Frank reform act was passed not be ignored.
Representative Frank Lucas, chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and Representatiive Michael Conaway, chairman of the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, recently sent a letter to the chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, Gary Gensler. The Congressman asked Gensler to appoint a chairman to the CFTC's Agricultural Advisory Committee. The post has been empty since its last chairman retired last October.
This is the text of the Congressmen's letter:
As you know, the markets under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission's (CFTC) authority are critical to the agricultural community. Accordingly, for more than 20 years, the Commission has had an Agricultural Advisory Committee that serves as the voice of our farmers and ranchers at the Commission.
The Agricultural Advisory Committee is intended to "be utilized by the Commission in assessing issues affecting agricultural producers, processors, lenders and others interested in or affected by the agricultural commodities markets." As such, it is not only a representative of America"s producers, but it is also an important resource for the CFTC.
Recently, it has become more important than ever to have a strong advocate for our farmers and ranchers at the CFTC. Yet, the Ag Advisory Committee has been without leadership and inactive since October.
Since the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, the number of businesses in the agricultural sector that will be both directly and indirectly impacted by CFTC regulations has increased substantially. As the CFTC proceeds with rulemaking, the Agricultural Advisory Committee should play a critical role.
The Agricultural Advisory Committee should also serve an important function in the wake of the MF Global bankruptcy. The collapse of MF Global has had a profound impact on our farmers and ranchers out in the countryside, and unfortunately, it has diminished their long-standing confidence in the futures markets. Any efforts by the Commission to respond to MF Global through policy changes should have the benefit of the insight of the Agricultural Advisory Committee.
Commissioner Dunn was an ardent advocate of the agricultural industry within the Commission. To uphold the high standard he set, it is important that the Committee have the leadership necessary to ensure its active role within the Commission, As such, I would ask that you appoint a Chair of the Agriculture Advisory Committee as soon as is practical to ensure that its voice continues to be heard during this critical time at the Commission.
Frank D. Lucas, Chairman
Committee on Agriculture
K. Michael Conaway, Chairman
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
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