Kansas congressional delegation applauds Perdue’s bipartisan confirmation as agriculture secretary

Sonny Perdue

The Senate’s confirmation of former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue to serve as agriculture secretary on Monday was lauded by U.S. Sens. Jerry Moran (R-KS), Pat Roberts (R-KS) and U.S. Rep. Roger Marshall (R-KS).

Roberts, the chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, said he was pleased to favorably report Perdue out of the committee after a hearing on March 23, and to work in a bipartisan fashion to confirm Perdue on an 87-11 vote in the Senate. Perdue was officially sworn in as agriculture secretary on Tuesday.

“During his confirmation hearing, Gov. Perdue demonstrated a real understanding of the challenges facing the agriculture industry and a willingness to work together to find solutions,” Roberts said. “The Agriculture Committee received many letters in support of his nomination, including support from six former U.S. secretaries of agriculture representing both Republican and Democratic presidents and another from nearly 700 organizations across the agriculture and food value chain.”

Farmers, ranchers and business owners in rural areas have survived drought disease, floods and tornadoes throughout the nation’s history, Roberts said, yet they continue to produce the most abundant, affordable food and fiber supplies in the world.

“And, on top of all this, farmers, ranchers and rural businesses have been burdened by regulations from agencies across the federal government,” Roberts said. “I’ve heard time-and-time again that costly and hard-to-understand regulations have and are endangering the ability of our producers to stay in business. Members of the Agriculture Committee have a lot of work to do over the next two years, including reauthorization of the farm bill, and, we intend to do that work in the bipartisan fashion that has served us so well in the past.”

Moran said he met with Perdue in Washington, D.C., in February to discuss some of the unique challenges and opportunities facing Kansas farmers and ranchers.

“Farmers and ranchers in Kansas and across the country count on the USDA to assist with much-needed research, promote American products overseas to increase market access, provide rural housing services, and maintain the crucial safety net that empowers our agricultural producers to succeed,” Moran said. “These tasks, which impact the livelihoods of millions of Americans, require strong, active leadership. I look forward to seeing Gov. Perdue get to work on behalf of the ag community.”

Marshall, meanwhile, congratulated Perdue on his confirmation as secretary of agriculture, noting that Perdue’s leadership would be especially relevant as producers around the world face surpluses and depressed commodity prices.

“Throughout this long process, one silver lining has been the broad, bipartisan support shown for Perdue, and support coming from all over the ag community,” Marshall said. “It shows that agriculture can still put partisanship aside for the good of our country, economy and our producers. I welcome the chance to work hand-in-hand with the secretary as we help producers navigate existing programs and as we look toward the 2018 farm bill.”

Perdue’s background — which includes growing up on a farm, military service as a veterinarian, an agribusiness career and a successful tenure as governor of Georgia — makes him a good fit to lead the USDA at a critical time for the nation’s farmers and ranchers, Marshall added.

“In addition to farm and nutrition policy, I expect Perdue to be a sound champion for trade, something I have heard time and again from Kansans concerned about our ability to open new markets for products made in Kansas,” Marshall said. “Secretary Perdue’s experience as an exporter and governor leading trade missions will be invaluable as this administration pursues trade policy.”