U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., has been named the top Republican on the Senate Agriculture Committee, giving him a mark in the history books.

Roberts is the first member of Congress to serve as both chairman and ranking member of the House Agriculture Committee and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee.

“I am honored to continue working on behalf of America’s farmers and ranchers in this new position,” Roberts said.

“Our nation is blessed with the safest, highest-quality and most affordable food and fiber in the world. I look forward to working with Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow. We have a history of working together on the Agriculture and Finance Committees, and I know we will make a great team for American Agriculture,” he said.

Roberts was chairman of the House Ag Committee from 1995-97. The last Kansan to hold the ranking member post on Senate Ag was U.S. Sen. Bob Dole, R-Kan., who served in that job from 1975-78.