USDA Secretary of Agriculture nominee Sonny Perdue has been making the rounds in D.C. meeting with key members of Congress, and it appears lawmakers are quite pleased with Trump’s pick. Here is what a few had to say recently after their meetings:
U.S. Sen. John Thune (R-SD): “He is somebody who has a lot of experience, obviously, not only in government, but in agriculture. He’s a veterinarian. He’s had a working farm. He raises corn, soybeans, wheat – all the things that are important in South Dakota … He seemed to be somebody that gets it, and I think grasps the importance of making sure that we have a balanced approach to agriculture and to the management of our resources.”
U.S. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.): “Governor Perdue and I had a good conversation today about the Nebraska families who work hard to keep our state’s economic engine running and feed a hungry world. We also discussed regional differences in agriculture and the importance of sound policies that will enable Nebraska producers to grow their businesses and access new markets.”
U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND): “After meeting with Gov. Perdue today, I look forward to confirming him to this important post and working with him to get results for North Dakota farmers and ranchers. At today’s meeting, I highlighted the bill I just reintroduced to expand agricultural exports to Cuba and the importance of trade for farmers, and reinforced the need for a strong Farm Bill in 2018. Financing restrictions are the top barrier facing North Dakota farmers who want to sell their crops to Cuba, and my bipartisan bill would do away with that obstacle—supporting North Dakota farmers and American jobs in our state that depend on agriculture. Farmers and ranchers are the backbone of North Dakota’s economy, which is why I take this nomination so seriously.”
U.S. Sen. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.): “I enjoyed meeting with Governor Perdue and hearing more about the way he would approach leading the Department of Agriculture,” said Sen. Moran. “There are very few positions on the federal level with greater impact on the daily lives of millions of Americans than that of the Ag Secretary, and I made that clear to Governor Perdue today. I believe his extensive background as an advocate for Georgia’s agricultural producers, a veterinarian and an agribusiness owner gives him a clear understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing farmers and ranchers in Kansas and across the country.”
Even U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) has come around in support of Perdue saying after his meeting with the nominee, he felt that Perdue, “understands and appreciates the family farm and the contributions it makes to the economy.”
