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August 31, 2009 Jay Finegan, 287-1445
Rep. Jeff Gifford Named to National Panel on Energy and Agriculture

AUGUSTA – State Rep. Jeff Gifford has been named to an influential national committee that deals with major energy and agricultural issues under the auspices of the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL). Maine House Speaker Hannah Pingree recently announced the appointment, which takes effect immediately.

Rep. Gifford (R-Lincoln) will join the NCSL’s Standing Committee on Agriculture and Energy. The panel has jurisdiction over state and federal agriculture and rural development legislation, natural resources legislation and energy and electric utilities legislation. It has recently addressed such issues as energy security, water allocation dispute resolution and cost-benefit analysis of environmental regulations.

Rep. Gifford said the assignment will mesh well with his responsibilities in the Maine Legislature, where he serves on the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. “I’m honored by this appointment, and I’m looking forward to sharing information and ideas with legislators from other states,” he said. “Both agriculture and energy are important issues in Maine. Our energy costs are among the highest in the country, which makes it tough for Maine companies to compete. Hopefully, I’ll be able to learn from the experience of other states. NCSL committees are national in scope, and the idea is to pool our knowledge base and share best practices.”

As a member of the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee, Rep. Gifford belongs to a policy panel that oversees a huge range of important agencies and functions. The committee’s jurisdiction includes the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Conservation, the Land for Maine’s Future program and the Maine Land Use Regulation Commission. It also has oversight responsibility for agricultural fairs, products and marketing; animal welfare; food safety, inspection and labeling; dairy industry; pesticides regulation; nutrient management; farmland preservation; state parks; historic sites; public lands, and coastal islands registry.

Rep. Gifford said one of the strengths of the NCSL is its firm support for state sovereignty. “At a time of growing federal encroachment on states’ rights, we’re fortunate to have this strong advocate for federalism,” he said. The NCSL, based in Denver, is a bipartisan organization. Its committees have no actual legislative authority. Instead, they attempt to educate Congress and federal agencies as to state concerns regarding the most pressing state issues.

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