We hope that you will work with us that and understand, again, the way that we come together to both recognize and respect one another's diversities.

I hope that given all of our support for organic agriculture and for specialty crops and all of that, which I am totally for, that we do not ignore the person who really produces the food and fiber for this country.

We face an economic crisis of historic proportions and ramifications which, I think, will very likely challenge USDA on almost all of its fronts.

The part of the budget devoted to firefighting has gone from 20 to 50 percent, taking away critical resources.

I think that was an important beginning first step in the process.

It is important and necessary for the USDA to continue to look for ways to expand income opportunities for farmers.

I will work with you. I commit to doing that.

What I learned from that experience and what I would share with this Committee is that discrimination comes in a variety of forms.

Today, our country and the Department of Agriculture again face historic challenges.

The Department of Agriculture was founded by President Lincoln as 'The People's Department.'

The last Iowan asked to serve as Secretary of Agriculture was Henry Wallace. He served with extraordinary distinction during a period of historic challenge.

It is a great honor and privilege to be nominated by President-elect Barack Obama to lead the Department of Agriculture at this crucial time.

There is no simple, easy answer or a quick answer to the question you have asked.

Discrimination in any form will not be tolerated in this Department.

None of us should be satisfied that there are children going to bed hungry.

Wellness and prevention have to be at the core.

I am committed to this.

We need to figure out ways and strategies in which we can create some sort of glidepath that basically provides stability in this industry.