Boyda gets spot on agriculture committee

Kansas Rep. Nancy Boyda on Tuesday was named to a seat on the House Agriculture Committee, a key panel as Congress begins writing a new farm bill this year.

Boyda, a Democrat who defeated Republican Rep. Jim Ryun last year, said she was “thrilled” to have seats on two of her top choices for committees. She was appointed to the Armed Services Committee last month.

“My goal on the Agriculture Committee will be to ensure that independent farmers and rural areas have the resources they need to participate in the 21st century economy,” Boyda said in a statement.

The agriculture panel establishes and reviews farm policy and deals with issues that include rural development, renewable resources, disaster assistance and international trade.

Boyda is lobbying House Democratic leaders to serve on the Veterans’ Affairs committee as well.