BELLEVILLE, Ill. — He is one of the newest members of Congress, but Belleville Democrat U.S. Rep. Bill Enyart says he has a good grasp on what he believes is one of the most important issues to his constituents in the sprawling 12th U.S. House District.

“Without a doubt, what most people in our district care about is agriculture. It is vitally important to the district, and I was hired to represent the residents of this district,” he said.

One of the first things the attorney-turned-military man did when he landed in Washington after winning his first race for elective office was seek out a spot on the House Agriculture Committee.

“I sought it out because I knew it would be a good match with the interests of people in the district, so I’ve also been going around and talking to Farm Bureaus, implement dealers, cooperatives – everyone that has in interest in agriculture issues,” Enyart said.

He joins two other first-term representatives from Illinois – East Moline Democrat Cheri Bustos and Taylorville Republican Rodney Davis – who will serve on the ag panel for the 113th Congress.

There was a time in 1990s and into the late 2000s that Illinois had just one member on the House Ag Committee: Central Illinois Republican Tim Johnson. With three Illinoisans on the 46-member panel, the Land of Lincoln should have greater influence on ag-related legislation coming out of committee.

And there’s no more important piece of legislation the panel will focus on first than a new farm bill, Enyart said.

“It is by far the top priority. We must get a new farm bill in place as soon as possible. During our first committee meeting last month, both the chairman and ranking minority member emphasized how they had put together a bipartisan farm bill last year, and it is their goal to do it again quickly,” he added.

His district covers southwestern Illinois, including the Metro East area, but is largely a rural district. It encompasses part of Madison County and all of the following counties: Alexander, Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Monroe, Perry, Pulaski, Randolph, St. Clair, Union and Williamson.

“Congress can do better than keep farmers in limbo, and I look forward to developing common-sense reforms in the 2013 farm bill,” he continued. “We cannot let Washington dysfunction hamper the success of our farmers, and I am committed to ensuring that their voices are heard.”

The former adjunct general of Illinois and head of the Illinois National Guard, who was selected by party leaders in June 2012 to replace winning primary candidate Bill Harriman (who stepped aside for health reasons), said he’s not certain what changes are needed from the House Ag Committee’s farm bill and one approved in the full Senate last year to win approval of a new farm bill this year.

“I’m not quite sure what it will take at this point, but I’m certain we’ll get a bill out again with bipartisan support because, the bottom (line) is, we have to,” Enyart said.

He said he will support a new trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and the United States, something jumpstarted by President Barack Obama during his State of the Union address, but only if “it is a truly fair agreement.”

“It’s got to be a fair program and one that has Europe open to our agriculture products. It can’t artificially shut out our commodities, especially when they have been proven to be safe commodities,” said Enyart, referencing the EU’s ban on genetically modified products.

In addition to the ag panel, Enyart also sought out and received appointments to two of its subcommittees, for General Farm Commodities and Risk Management and for Livestock, Rural Development and Credit.