Patrick Leahy: “Senator Pat Roberts has dedicated his life to serving the Nation and the people of his home State of Kansas, and I would…”

“Senator Pat Roberts has dedicated his life to serving the Nation and the people of his home State of Kansas, and I would like to take a moment to recognize his retirement. During his 40 years of service in the U.S. Congress, Senator Roberts has become a leader on agriculture, rural health and education, and defense policy. Senator Roberts is the first Member of Congress to chair the Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee in both the Senate and the House of Representatives. Through his work on this committee and other, and across Congress, Senator Roberts has served with honor and distinction, keeping foremost in mind the interests and needs of Kansans. Pat has been a true partner on the Agriculture Committee. His methodical approach to bipartisanship mirrors my own efforts when I served a chairman of that committee and worked with Senator Dick Lugar to write and advance farm bills, nutrition laws, and conservation policies. Under Pat's chairmanship, the committee was able to reach a compromise on the 2018 farm bill, allowing for the inclusion of several key policies to enhance rural development, support our farmers, and fund vital nutrition programs. I know from negotiating the 1990 farm bill as committee chairman that reaching a bipartisan and bicameral consensus on such a substantial and sweeping piece of legislation is no simple task. Pat's leadership through the process showed his deep commitment to providing for the American people.…”