The National Cotton Council (NCC) honored Senator Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) as the recipient of the 2013 Harry S. Baker Distinguished Service Award.
The award, named for the late California industry leader and past NCC President Harry S. Baker, is presented annually to a deserving individual who has provided extraordinary service, leadership and dedication to the U.S. cotton industry. Chambliss was honored during the National Cotton Council’s recent annual meeting in Washington, DC.
During the award presentation, NCC Chairman Jimmy Dodson, said that during every farm bill debate, including the most recent one, “Senator Chambliss has sought to ensure that U.S. cotton and peanut producers were not harmed by over-reaching statutes governing payment limits and payment eligibility. He also worked tirelessly at preventing the passage of legislation governing environmental issues that threatened to undermine agriculture’s viability.”
Dodson noted that Senator Chambliss also intervened on behalf of U.S. cotton in trade negotiations and responded to the needs of the entire Cotton Belt and to all cotton industry segments.
Senator Chambliss was first elected to Congress to represent Georgia’s 8th Congressional District in 1994 and served as the ranking member of the Agriculture Committee during the 110th and 111th Congresses. Elected to the Senate in 2002, Chambliss became chairman of its Agriculture, Nutrition & Forestry Committee in 2004. He was elected to a second Senate term in 2008.
Throughout Chambliss’ legislative career, he has been recognized numerous times by the public and private sectors for his work on agriculture, defense, budget and national security issues.
“He has demonstrated a depth of knowledge about production agriculture, conservation, nutrition, and research programs as evidenced by his work on the 1996, 2002, 2008, and 2014 farm bills,” Dodson said. “He has been an extraordinarily effective advocate for Georgia and for cotton.”
Source – National Cotton Council