Panetta earns ‘Friend of Agriculture’ award for supporting Central Coast farmers
Panetta recognized for bipartisanship, building coalitions in congress
– Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-19th District, was awarded the “Friend of Agriculture” award by the American Farm Bureau Federation. Panetta accepted the award during a meeting with the executive directors of the Farm Bureaus from San Luis Obispo, Monterey, Santa Cruz, and Santa Clara Counties.
“I am greatly honored to receive the Friend of Agriculture award from the AFBF and humbled to be recognized for my work in congress by our local Farm Bureaus,” Panetta said. “Our Central Coast farmers, producers, vintners, and ranchers are the backbone of our economy and the fabric of many communities in the 19th Congressional District. Despite the constant challenges that they face from volatile weather events, rigid mandates, uncertain markets, and a shrinking workforce, the people in agriculture have always impressed me with their amazing will to always work towards and find a pathway forward. The least that I can do as their U.S. Representative is to ensure that the federal government doesn’t hurt them, but rather helps them with the tools and investments that they need to continue their success.”
Panetta was also recently recognized as one of Capitol Hill’s top “bridgers” by the Bridge Pledge, a project focused on reducing polarization through collaboration in Congress. The Bridge Grade assesses members of congress based on collaboration, coalition building, consensus solutions, and commitment to bridging divides. The analysis found that 70% of lawmakers departing this year were classified as “bridgers,” raising concerns about the future of coalition-building leadership.
“For the most part, the people in the 19th Congressional District are sick and tired of the political divisiveness that they see on the news every day,” Panetta said. “That’s why, they demand, and deserve, a U.S. Representative who is willing to work with anybody to get stuff done in the U.S. Congress. Although I appreciate this recognition of my bipartisanship, I also know well that that’s just the foundation upon which I must continue to deliver federal services, investment, and legislation for my constituents in California’s 19th Congressional District.”
Panetta serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, the House Committee on Armed Services, and the House Committee on the Budget, where he works to build bipartisan coalitions on tax policy, national security, and fiscal matters. He is also a Chief Deputy Whip and serves on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
Rep. Panetta currently serves on the House Committee on Ways and Means, the House Committee on Armed Services, and the House Committee on the Budget, where he works to forge bipartisan coalitions to our nation’s tax code, security, and fiscal health. He also serves as a Chief Deputy Whip and is on the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee.
