Confirmation Hearing on Tom Vilsack as Agriculture Secretary
The Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held Tom Vilsack's confirmation hearing on February 2, 2021 where Mr. Vilsack delivered his opening statement. The first thing we would like to acknowledge is his declaration that it is a “Fundamentally different time and I am a different person”
We hold Mr. Vilsack accountable for his past, but we also know that with time and age comes reflection and change. That being said, it is still early enough for this new administration to deliver on their commitments. We realize that this hearing is a monotonous event that does turn many people away, but it is important to know what these elected officials are promising to do for the systems that determine so much for our lives. So, we broke down Secretary Vilsack’s opening statement to summarize his main points. This way we can track his time in office to see if he is following through with his promises this time around.
Secretary Vilsack centered his speech around an idea that he took from Robert F. Kennedy who challenged others to think about “Why not” with his quote “Some men see things as they are and ask, "Why?" I dream things that never were and ask, "Why not?" All that to say, Secretary Vilsack believes we are faced today with many “Why not” opportunities and moments in agriculture, the food industry, and in rural America.
He stressed that the Department of agriculture has the responsibility to promote nutrition assistance and that additional relief will be provided for farmers, producers, ranchers…
He recognized essential workers on the farm fields and in processing facilities and alike to be particularly protected moving forward.
He promised to work collaboratively with congress to build back our rural economy better than it was before COVID-19.
He questioned, WHY NOT work with the reality of climate change as an opportunity to create new markets, incentives for soil health, carbon sequestration, methane capture and reverse by building rural economy based on bio manufacturing, protecting forests, turning waste material into a variety of products, creating more jobs in rural America, creating greater farm income stability, and reducing emissions.
He questioned, WHY NOT address food security that plagues millions of financially distressed people & families.
He questioned, WHY NOT address nutrition insecurity that causes millions of Americans (especially people of color) to cope with obesity, diabetes, and other chronic diseases.
He said “We can create a food system that makes healthy and nutritious food more available, convenient, and affordable to all Americans”
He committed to fully and completely address long standing inequities, unfairness, and discrimination that has been present in the history of USDA programs, and pledged to 0 tolerance for discrimination.
He ensured the implementation of programs that open up opportunity for all and lift the burden of persistent poverty for those most in need.
He expressed support for using existing USDA resources to expand local/regional agriculture with farm to schools programs, organic farming methods, and better risk management.
He pledged support for farm to prison programs, food hubs, helping farmers transition to organic, and more support for regional food systems. “It’s in everyone’s best interest to have this.”
It was great to hear Secretary Vilsack name climate change, racial justice, nutrition security, sustainable practices, and recovering from COVID-19 as top priorities for the USDA. He seems to understand the importance of better agricultural practices as well as regenerative agriculture. We look forward to following his time in office to see how he helps our food and agricultural systems during dire times. So let’s hold him to it!