WASHINGTON, DC -- On January 23, Mrs. Brooke Rollins, President Donald Trump's nominee to be Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, appeared before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee for her confirmation hearing.
A native of Texas, Rollins is currently the president and CEO of the America First Policy Institute and served in the first Trump administration, including as the director of the Domestic Policy Council and as a senior adviser. She is a Texas A&M University graduate with a degree in agricultural leadership and development.
Throughout the roughly three-hour hearing, Rollins responded to questions on topics ranging from farm programs to nutrition and from conservation to labor issues.
“Throughout the past several weeks, I’ve met or spoken with all Republican and Democratic Members of the Committee — and I appreciate your insights, your concerns, and your counsel,” said Rollins in her opening statement. “It is clear we all agree farmers and ranchers are the cornerstone of our nation’s communities; they are stewards of the land— the original conservationists—and they are foundational to American life. Yet the demands of American agriculture and the stakes our farmers take have never been higher. When farmers prosper, rural America prospers, and I commit to you today, if confirmed, that I will do everything within my ability to make sure our farmers, ranchers, and rural communities thrive.”
Additionally, Rollins outlined her top, immediate priorities for the USDA including swift delivery of the economic and disaster aid in the American Relief Act and providing technical assistance and advocacy for a new Farm Bill.
The chairman of the full committee, Senator John Boozman (R-AR), said in his opening statement that Rollins “has the relationships across this new administration, and an understanding of the processes in which decisions are made in the executive branch, to best position our producers for success.”
On January 15, USA Rice helped draft and lead, and all seven state rice organizations joined more than 420 other agricultural groups in a letter to Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Boozman and Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) endorsing Mrs. Rollins to be Secretary of Agriculture and urging for her to be swiftly confirmed.
"USA Rice is proud to support Brooke Rollins to be the next Secretary of Agriculture, and, if she is confirmed, looks forward to working with her and her team to advance U.S. rice industry priorities and needs," said Peter Bachmann, USA Rice president and CEO. "With rice farmers and our broader industry facing yet another tough year, it is imperative that we quickly have an Agriculture Secretary in place to implement much-needed economic and disaster assistance for farmers, reverse the U.S.'s record agricultural trade deficit, and return USDA’s focus to production agriculture."
The committee has not yet scheduled a vote on Rollins' nomination. If favorably reported, her nomination will go to the full Senate for consideration.