WASHINGTON - The U.S. House on Thursday formally elected Okla. Republican Rep. Frank Lucas as the Chairman of the House Agriculture Committee for the new Congress.

This after being the ranking minority member of the same committee before Republicans took control.

Lucas said foreign markets are critical to the rural American economy. Among his priorities, which include reigning in what he calls wasteful spending and Environmental Protection agency regulations, will be the implementation of three pending free trade agreements with Korea, Panama, and Columbia, as well as a reauthorization of the Farm Bill.

from Staff Reports