In his role as chairman of the House Agriculture subcommittee on department operations, nutrition and foreign agriculture, U.S. Rep. Bill Emerson will preside over hearings this month related to welfare reform.

The agriculture committee has primary jurisdiction over the food stamp program and several other nutrition programs, including the emergency food assistance program.

Emerson said his subcommittee will review the present welfare maintenance system, with the goal of making recommendations to the full committee for changes in the law.

Hearings are scheduled for Feb. 7, 8, and 9 and Feb. 14 in Washington.

"We are going to hear recommendations from state leaders, congressional leaders, agriculture representatives, private organizations and welfare recipients about how we can improve the system," Emerson said. "These hearings will give us an opportunity to firmly lay out what is right and what is wrong about welfare, and build from there."

The Cape Girardeau Republican has been a member of the House Agriculture Committee since joining Congress in 1981. When Republicans took control of the House, Emerson assumed chairmanship of the panel's primary subcommittee.