WASHINGTON, Dec. 21 (UPI) -- U.S. Sen. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., has been chosen to head the Senate Agriculture Committee, replacing Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Miss.
The conservative senator will take over the panel when the 109th Congress convenes in January. The committee oversees the farming, forestry and food sectors and will begin preparations for drafting a new farm bill in 2006.
Cochran will now chair the Senate Appropriations Committee.
Chambliss will step down from his seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee as a result of the move, which has him leapfrogging more senior members of the panel who chose to retain their current leadership and committee chairman posts.
House Agriculture Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., is expected to remain at his position.
In other changes, Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska will chair the Senate Commerce Committee while Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., will chair the Indian Affairs Committee.
All the moves, most of which the result of GOP caucus term limits on committee chairman, are still subject to caucus approval, which is expected when lawmakers return in January.
