By Eric Timmons, etimmons@qconline.com

U.S. Rep. Cheri Bustos, D-East Moline, has been appointed to the House Agriculture Committee.

Last month, she was named to the House Transportation Committee.

In a conference call with reporters on Friday, Rep. Bustos said she was pleased with her committee appointments and would try to use them to support the economy of the 17th Congressional District.

Agriculture is the "No. 1 industry in our congressional district," she said.

The last Congress failed to pass a new long-term farm bill, and Rep. Bustos said she hopes a five-year bill can be approved this year.

"We need a five-year farm bill, and Democrats and Republicans need to work together to make that happen," Ms. Bustos said in a statement.

As part of the fiscal cliff compromise on taxes and spending agreed on this week, a farm bill extension was approved until Sept. 30. The farm bill governs crop subsidies and food aid for the poor.

On the transportation committee, Rep. Bustos said she will advocate for funding the Interstate 74 bridge project. She said she met with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood on Wednesday to discuss the bridge.