Tom Vilsack

It is important to note that this is in a sense effective the day the President signed the Farm Bill.

We are excited about the pilot employment and training opportunities to help put people that are on SNAP or looking for work to work.

I am a strong believer in the Renewable Fuel Standard. And I know it is controversial even in this Committee, but I believe it is important to have for jobs, for stabilizing farm income, for reducing our reliance on foreign oil, and for…

A strong agriculture sector is key to strong rural communities, supporting 9.2 percent of jobs in the economy.

Under President Obama's leadership, the United States has reached historic levels of investment in rural communities.

We hope to be able to allow folks to make application for assistance by April 15.

Eighty-five percent of the Nation's poorest counties are rural, and per capita income in rural America lags behind that in urban areas.

We believe that there are thousands of people who are getting sick that won't get sick under this new system.

This is about better service. It's not about saving money.

We're going to do it in 60 days.

As Senator Blunt suggested, we need to make sure that as we make decisions about a realignment of our Farm Service offices, and a modernization of them, that we actually match-up where the work actually is.

What we hope to be able to do is allow folks to make application for assistance by April 15.

We will have the new program in place by September.

We have significant safeguards built into all of our systems at USDA to make sure that individual identities are protected.

We're going to use that time to take, basically, take a look at where the work is.

The answer to your question is yes, we will.

we expect and anticipate that by April 15, folks will begin to apply for disaster assistance.

We can do more for farmers and ranchers who are challenged.

Our hope is that we get this done in 2014 so that we essentially can factor it into the budget.

we want to encourage producers to do what they need to do for their operations.

Drought alone was estimated to cost the United States $50 billion from 2011 to 2013.

This is absolutely not going to compromise our ability to get the farm bill done.

Secretary Vilsack has been very robust on his cost-savings measures which he has reported as $1.2 billion in tax dollars saved by the department.

it is important that [the Southeast Arizona Land Exchange] engage in a process of formal tribal consultation to ensure both tribal participation and the protection of this site.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has acknowledged the Oak Flat area as a 'special place' that should be protected from harm 'for future generations.'