Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology

The Conservation, Research, and Biotechnology Subcommittee is a specialized division of the House Committee on Agriculture that focuses on a distinct set of agricultural policy areas. As a subcommittee, it conducts initial hearings and reviews legislation before matters can advance to the full Agriculture Committee, which holds the authority to report bills to the House floor.

The subcommittee's jurisdiction covers policies related to resource conservation, pest and disease management including pesticides, bioterrorism, adulteration and quarantine matters, agricultural research and extension programs, and biotechnology development. This specialized focus allows the subcommittee to develop expertise in how farmers and ranchers manage natural resources, protect crops and livestock from threats, and adopt new agricultural technologies.

The subcommittee is chaired by Rep. Frank D. Lucas (R-OK), a senior member of the Agriculture Committee with extensive experience in farm policy. Rep. Jill N. Tokuda (D-HI) serves as Ranking Member. The 19-member panel includes 10 Republicans and 9 Democrats, reflecting the current House majority. While no bills have been formally referred to the subcommittee in the current session according to the provided data, the panel has actively reviewed legislation addressing topics ranging from forest resilience and water rights to agricultural research coordination and habitat conservation.