Tom Vilsack

We recognized the need for more venture capital and more capital to be placed and invested in rural America.

Everyone believes the system is broken.

I think we are seeing that. We are seeing algae plants. We are seeing agricultural waste being used in Florida.

We would appreciate the support of your office or any of the offices represented on this Committee.

Following that announcement, I sent a directive out to all of our units that, as we move forward with any new building construction, renovating facilities, that we look first to using wood.

I think one of the most important lessons is the importance of continued investment in research.

there are circumstances, unfortunately, where folks, because of the nature of their land, have had areas that have been, in a sense, flooded or ponds for an extended period of time who continue to receive crop insurance benefits.

I think we all have a responsibility to continue to conserve the national resources.

I think the long term, I think that there are still gains to be had.

I challenge anybody in the country to show me 200,000 folks who have contributed more to the American economy and more to the American nation.

I think it is important for the rest of the world to be willing to embrace technology.

If we want to grow businesses, create jobs, and increase incomes, we need to make sure America is built to compete.

I think we are faced with a fiscal reality and we are also faced with an economic reality.

The renewable fuel standard basically would allow us to reduce our imported oil by 17 percent.

We are focused, as we have been for some time, on reopening the beef industry in China.

The ethanol industry has provided real hope. It is a linchpin for revitalizing the rural economy.

You need to grow your way out of a deficit, and this research investment pays.

I had a very productive meeting with the Secretary of Agriculture of Mexico in December and we identified a number of issues, potatoes and beef on our side, a couple of issues involving specialty crops on his side, which we are in the…

We spend a billion dollars a day and we take hard-earned American dollars and we send them overseas.

This bill closes fewer than 50 miles of them.

I'm proud of their work.

ambitious, but sustainable and achievable.

It launches an important forest and watershed restoration program.

It sets aside some lands for recreation.

I can't see why Congress wouldn't want to give the agency the full backing of what the American people to say, we want you to go do good work, go forth and do good work creating jobs and restoring our National Forests because the status…