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House Ag Committee Confirms Four Natural-resources Appointees
Summary
The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee voted to confirm four nominees to boards and commissions that advise on forestry and natural-resources issues, advancing each to the calendar and rules committee. Nominees discussed conservation, extension work and private-landowner forestry before the roll calls.
The House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee on Nov. 7 confirmed four nominees to state boards and commissions overseeing forestry and related matters.
Representative Sharon Darby, sponsor of multiple confirmations, introduced Michael Biddle of Knoxville as a nominee and read a biography highlighting private-sector leadership, land-conservation work and a recent gubernatorial appointment to the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners. Biddle addressed the committee, thanked family members in the room and described prior community service.
The committee then considered Jean Philippe (presented as "Jean Philippe"), who the sponsor described as holding a master’s degree and a Ph.D. in natural resources from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, serving as a UT extension specialist and holding ISA arborist certification. Philippe described prior service as secretary of the Forestry Commission and work to connect urban residents to forest-land stewardship.
Jake Allman, who the sponsor said has more than four decades of experience in the forest industry and has served as vice president and part owner of American Forest Management, answered brief questions from committee members. Mark Rogers, introduced later, spoke about his work directing forest-management planning across the Cumberland Forest project and emphasized forest stewardship and water-quality protection.
Each nomination was put to a roll call. The clerk reported the following outcomes: Michael Biddle (16 ayes), Jean Philippe (16 ayes), Jake Allman (16 ayes) and Mark Rogers (15 ayes). All nominations advanced to the calendar and rules committee for consideration by the full House.
The nominees stressed private-landowner assistance, forest stewardship and conservation goals when they addressed the panel; committee members thanked them and raised customary questions about landowner outreach and program implementation.
The committee’s action sends the nominations to the next stage in the legislative process without additional conditions.
