Tom Vilsack

An inclusive agriculture and rural life must be part of a shift to a bottom-up, middle-out system.

I hope that that factor is taken into consideration, given the importance of this Department

The goal of this budget, frankly, is to invest in a stronger America, and to expand our middle class

It would likely mean a loss of 40,000 rental assistance units in rural America.

I mean our heart goes out. As a former governor, I have toured many tornado damaged sites, and it is absolutely devastating to people.

Every dollar of research generates twenty dollars, or more, of economic opportunity.

It would mean 84,000 farmers couldn't access the technical assistance they need to embrace conservation practices.

What I can tell you, Senator, and I will get a specific answer to that hypothetical.

This budget is at a critical point, at a transformational point, in my view, in rural America, and in agriculture.

If those budget cuts, even the most conservative budget cut, that is to say, putting it back to levels of several years ago, would result, not in an increase in Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC)…

It would mean 6,600 farmers wouldn't get the credit they need to continue farming operations.

What I am happy to do is work with the Members of this Committee and others to pass the Farm Workforce Modernization Act (117th Congress--H.R. 1603), which could have solved this problem, Congressman.

This is fundamental to our whole approach to trade.

What you are hearing is uncertainty.

This is fundamental to our whole approach to trade.

What you are hearing is uncertainty.

I am told that by 2025, we will get that job done.

I am supportive of it, but let me just simply say I think you need to go beyond that.

We will never put at risk the farm bill programs. That is what happened before.

This is fundamental to our whole approach to trade.

What you are hearing is uncertainty.

Those safety nets are designed to keep people on the farm, and to keep them farming so they can do what every farmer that I know wants to do, which is to pass it on to the next generation.

I think it is an important one, and I think it has a rippling effect.

90 percent of our farmers need help.

We have got to figure out how we can create more revenue streams for farmers.