Skip to main content

Panetta Statement on the Confirmation of Sonny Perdue as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture

April 24, 2017

WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.) released the following statement about the confirmation of Sonny Perdue as the 31st Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA):

"Producers, shippers, and farm workers on the central coast of California deserve a strong voice in support of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs on which rural communities like ours depend. I hope that Secretary Perdue will be that voice and that he will stand firm against the administration's proposed 21% Agriculture budget cuts.

"I am eager to start productive conversations with Secretary Perdue about robust investments in basic and applied agriculture research for specialty crops and organic production, effective conservation measures, critical food safety initiatives, and increasing community access to fresh fruits and vegetables.

"During his confirmation hearing, Secretary Perdue called immigration reform one of his top priorities. I look forward to working with Secretary Perdue to address our country's broken immigration system to ensure certainty for both our growers and farmworkers."