Agricultural News
The Confirmation Process Begins- Sonny Perdue Shows Understanding of Ag and a Good Grasp of Major Issues Raised by Senate Ag Committee Members
Thu, 23 Mar 2017 12:11:34 CDT
The confirmation process has begun for USDA Secretary Nominee Sonny Purdue, who spent a little more than two hours with the Senate Ag Committee on Thursday morning. The former Georgia Governor was praised by former Georgia Senator and former Chair of the Senate Ag Committee Saxby Chambliss and by House Ag Committee member David Scott. Purdue talked of his background and the passion that he has for agriculture.
After his opening statement, Purdue took questions from many of the members of the Committee before Senator Roberts concluded the hearing as members were rushing off to vote and to attend other meetings. Roberts says the committee will not be voting on Perdue's nomination today, but will work to schedule business meeting ASAP.
Among the topics that Perdue was asked to weigh in on- Trade, Economic Conditions in Farm Country, Overregulation by Federal Government, the Trump Budget which asks for major cuts in USDA spending, Dairy Policy and more.
Radio Oklahoma Ag Network Farm Director has built an audio look at several of the responses given by Sonny Perdue to lawmakers- including questions posed by Senator Roberts, ranking Minority Member Stabenow and Iowa Senator Joni Ernst. Click on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to his answers posed to him by these Senators.
Senator Roberts asked about trade and US Agriculture and about writing the next farm bill. Perdue says he is already starting to build good relationship with Secretary Ross of the Department of Commerce and Ambassador Lighthizer in USTR to make sure they understand the importance of trade to US Agriculture and the importance of US Ag Exports to the US Economy.
On the 2018 Farm Bill process, Perdue told the Chairman he looks forward to providing whatever resources the Committee needs to do their work of crafting legislation in the days ahead.
Senator Stabenow talked about the Trump Budget with Perdue, who acknowledged that he had no input on the proposed twenty one percent cut in discretionary spending within USDA- adding he knows how to do more with less but that sometimes it's important to fight for the money and resources needed to do a job right.
Senator Ernst talked about the federal government often overreaching with regulations- and Nominee Perdue pledged he understood what she is hearing from farmers on that subject- and that he wants to regulations off the backs of farmers so they can do what they do best- producing food for citizens here in the US and around the world. Perdue signaled he had already had an early conversation with EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt about establishing a better working relationship between EPA and USDA- he's confident that will happen.
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