Chris Van Hollen: “as the United States is facing its worst hunger crisis since the Great Depression and family farms are struggling…”

“as the United States is facing its worst hunger crisis since the Great Depression and family farms are struggling, President Biden has nominated Thomas Vilsack to reprise his role as Secretary of Agriculture and capably steward the Department to address these critical needs and support our rural communities. Mr. Vilsack served as Agriculture Secretary for all 8 years of the Obama administration, overseeing investments in rural communities, healthier school meals, and better food safety standards. He also chaired the first White House Rural Council, which streamlined the effectiveness of Federal programs serving rural America, engaged stakeholders on issues and solutions in rural communities, and promoted and coordinated private-sector partnerships in those communities. Our agricultural landscape has changed over the last 4 years, and we must accelerate our transition to net-zero agriculture by incentivizing practices like crop-covering and carbon sequestration. Agricultural conservation practices are also critical for achieving the pollution- reduction targets for nitrogen, phosphorus, and sediment under the Chesapeake Bay TMDL. I look forward to working closely with Mr. Vilsack to advance our climate goals. Additionally, as communities of color experience disproportionate economic hardships as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic in addition to decades of discrimination within USDA, I will hold Mr.…”