(NAFB) – The Senate Agriculture Committee Thursday advanced the nomination of Rostin Behnam as Chairman and Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Behnam has served as a Commissioner on the CFTC for the past four years and was nominated for a second term earlier this year.

Committee Chair Debbie Stabenow, a Democrat from Michigan, says, “As we navigate what the future of financial markets looks like for farmers, families, and small businesses, I know we can trust Chairman Behnam’s leadership and expertise to protect our economy.”

Behnam previously served as senior counsel to Senator Stabenow and the Senate Agriculture Committee.

Ranking committee member John Bozeman, an Arkansas Republican, adds, “Behnam has proven himself to be a capable leader during his tenure as acting chairman of the CFTC.”

The Committee held a hearing on the nomination of Behnam late last month. Benham was nominated to the CFTC in July of 2017 by then President Donald Trump.