National Corn Growers Association John Linder today recognized Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos (D-17) with NCGA’s 2021 President’s Award. The President’s Award is given annually at NCGA’s Corn Congress summer meeting to a leader who has worked to advance issues important to corn growers and agriculture.
“Congresswoman Bustos has worked tirelessly during her tenure in Congress to represent agriculture, rural America and corn farmers through her advocacy for low-carbon ethanol, support for inland waterway infrastructure essential for moving our crop to export markets and ensuring a role for rural areas when it comes to addressing climate change,” said Linder. “It is an honor to present Representative Bustos with this year’s NCGA President’s Award. We thank her for being an agriculture champion in Congress.
In a video to Corn Congress delegates and attendees, Bustos discussed her passion for agriculture, the environmental and economic benefits of corn ethanol and the importance of the Next Generation Fuels Act, which she introduced in the previous session of Congress and is working to reintroduce soon.
“As someone who comes from a long line of farmers and represents nearly 10,000 family farms in the Congressional District I serve, this distinction not only means a great deal to me professionally, but personally as well,” said Congresswoman Bustos, Chair of the House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management. “Ever since I joined the House Agriculture Committee in 2013, the National Corn Growers Association has been a valued partner in advancing the issues important to our growers and producers. I am so grateful for their partnership and cannot thank them enough for this tremendous honor.”
Bustos is a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee, where she chairs the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management that oversees crop insurance and commodity policy. She also served on the bipartisan and bicameral Conference Committee that lead to the successful passage of the 2018 Farm Bill. The Congresswoman is also a member of the House Appropriations Committee, where she serves on three subcommittees, Defense, Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs. In her fourth term in Congress, Bustos also serves on the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.