Tom Vilsack

I support this proposal as a short term solution to help put money back in the pockets of producers until prices recover.

I and several of my colleagues have been advocating for an increase in MILC payments since this crisis began.

Increasing the Dairy Price Support Program to $12 equivalent price as suggested by Senators Leahy and Kohl would bring immediate relief to dairy farm families across the nation.

There is no question that innovation is going to make a significant difference in terms of costs.

If the offset program is administered properly and fairly with credible and verifiable offsets that, at the end of the day, farmers and ranchers will benefit from this.

It is vital that America demonstrate how the inclusion of agriculture and forests in a domestic approach to climate change can, in fact, produce real and lasting benefits to both landowners and the climate.

the cost of inaction, I think, is unacceptable.

I believe it is crucial that we engage the participation of farmers, ranchers and forest landowners.

It is time we invest in the farmers of the Midwest instead of the oil cartels of the Mideast.

I commit to them, and to you, that the USDA will maintain a close partnership in our work on climate change and renewable energy.

I always would get very frustrated with the Federal Government, why we don't have a comprehensive, logical transportation policy in this country.

I know land-use planning and transportation planning are normally thought of as a State and local issue, but having some notion of what can we do from the Federal standpoint to kind of marry those two areas better together was something I…

Climate change is one of the great challenges facing the United States and the world.

I have seen a real desire and interest in embracing renewable energy.

Our goal is to work with folks.

I think the transition from an economy that is based on pollution and waste to an economy that is focused on clean energy and clean technology plays to the great strength of America.

Speaker Pelosi first received the gavel, she decided we would be a CO2-emissions-neutral complex here.

America cannot allow its economy to be left behind; America must lead.

We need to do everything we possibly can to allow them to continue to provide the very important and vital service to rural communities.

The President has called upon Congress to pass legislation that tackles climate change.

Passing legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives would send an important message that America is ready to lead.

I fully agree with that.

I think there is a serious risk of inaction.

the energy costs for coal are going to go up significantly, recognizing that there is a direct correlation between energy costs and farming.

For every $5 we invest in that specific program, we get $9.20 of economic activity.