America finally has a new U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. The Senate voted 87-11 to confirm former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue as the 31st Secretary.
Nearly 13 weeks since President Trump nominated the 70-year-old Republican, Perdue finally got his day in the Senate. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) who introduced the vote to the floor, said it was clear that agriculture and small towns have been an afterthought in the Trump administration.
“For months rural America has not had a voice in this administration,” Stabenow said. “We need a Secretary who will be a relentless advocate for our nation’s farmers.”
Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) echoed Stabenow’s statements saying the importance of trade cannot be overstated and the re-authorization of the farm bill needs to be top priority.
“Now more than ever agriculture needs a voice, an advocate, and a champion at the highest level of government,” said Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) “Our farmers and ranchers have long been waiting for this important role to be filled. Once Governor Perdue becomes Secretary Perdue I know he will put the needs of farmers, ranchers, and rural America first.”
Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) said he fully expects Secretary Perdue to hit the ground running.
“We need an Agriculture Secretary that will ensure we are supporting rural communities, not pulling the rug out from under them,” Tester said.
Perdue, who served on Trump’s agricultural advisory committee during his presidential campaign, was born and raised on a family farm and graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in veterinary medicine.
Secretary Perdue had the bipartisan support of the six past Agriculture Secretaries and the support of more than 650 agriculture groups from across the nation.
