Simmons named Democratic staff director on House Ag Committee

Veteran House Agriculture Committee staffer Anne Simmons has been named to serve as the panel's Democratic staff director.  Simmons currently serves as the committee's senior policy advisor. She has been on the panel's staff since 1993. Before that, she was on the staff of then-Congressman Tim Johnson of South Dakota. Simmons was raised on a corn, soybean and livestock farm near Spencer, Iowa, and graduated from Cornell College in Mt. Vernon, Iowa. “Anne brings both a thorough understanding of Capitol Hill and an in-depth knowledge of Agriculture Committee issues to this position,” said Collin Peterson of Minnesota, the committee's ranking member. “She has long been a trusted advisor to Agriculture Committee leaders and will serve an important leadership role in upcoming farm bill reauthorization discussions.”