Illinois’ 17th Congressional District will maintain its presence on the House Ag Committee. Newly elected Western Illinois Congresswoman Cheri Bustos has been assigned to the panel. The man she is replacing, outgoing U.S. Representative Bobby Schilling also served on the House Ag committee while in office for two years. Schilling was able to host a Farm Bill Field Hearing last March in Galesburg–one of only four in the nation. Bustos was sworn in this week after defeating Schilling last November. She will also serve on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Illinois’ 17th Congressional District is the home to thousands of farmers and millions of acres of farmland. It is also home to the headquarters of large manufacturing employers Caterpillar and Deere & Co., which employ thousands of workers.