DeLauro Welcomes Secretary Vilsack Before Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee

Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (CT-3), chairwoman of the House Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following opening statement during a subcommittee hearing at which Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack testified. DeLauro focused on the need to reform the agency to ensure it is fulfilling its mission and meeting the American people's needs, including strengthening food safety, improving nutrition programs, renewing attention on rural America, and investing in energy reform.

Below is the text of DeLauro's opening statement (as prepared for delivery).

The committee is called to order. Thank you and let me welcome everyone this morning, especially our witness Secretary Tom Vilsack.

I know this is your first opportunity to testify before Congress since being sworn in and I want to thank you for taking the time to be with us this morning, even as you continue to settle in and staff up.

Secretary Vilsack, I know you bring a lifetime of service and an impressive record on agricultural and nutrition issues to your new role. As Governor, you achieved a lot for family farmers, livestock producers and rural communities. Fighting hunger took center stage during your administration and you made rural development a real priority with the Iowa Values Fund. I know you are committed to protecting public health and building the framework for growth in small towns and communities across America. And I look forward to working with you and the many dedicated men and women at the USDA to make good on that commitment.

Of course, we also know that you are coming into a department desperate for reform. In recent years, the department has struggled to fulfill its own mission and meet the needs of the American people. Today, we have an opportunity to make the department a powerful force for good.

I believe we made an important first step by making critical investments with the Recovery package – $20.9 billion in nutrition programs and $1.2 billion for essential community facilities in rural areas such as health care, fire, rescue and public safety services, $3 billion for guaranteed loans to rural businesses and $340 million for watershed and flood prevention activities that are ready to begin work this year.

But we must go further, build on these resources, and commit to reforming the department on every front.

First, nutrition. This subcommittee has already held an oversight hearing this year on the reach and impact of USDA's nutrition programs – the school lunch program in particular. And I know you and the president are committed to confronting childhood obesity. As we implement the Farm Bill and begin work on Childhood Nutrition Reauthorization, we have a real opportunity to make concrete improvements in the health and lives of America's children.

I believe USDA should work to reduce barriers and increase resources for more direct connections between the demand and supply on the part of school food services and family farmers. More broadly, the department also has the opportunity to immediately improve resources to rural communities, open markets to local farmers and reduce health disparities in the process. Second, food safety. Americans should be able to assume that the food they serve their children is safe to eat. Unfortunately – from peanuts to ground beef to peppers to imported seafood – and just yesterday, pistachios – we have seen one devastating case of widespread food borne illness after the next. President Obama has already made it clear: this is not acceptable. And I hope that his proposed Food Safety Working Group can begin to bring the serious reform we need.

I have long been concerned about USDA's dual mission of promoting the products it is supposed to regulate. I believe this inherent conflict of interest at the agency has contributed to some of the food safety problems we have encountered over the years.

We must work to modernize the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) in a way that emphasizes prevention not just reaction – and recognizes that as long as the threats from food borne pathogens are constantly evolving so too must are food safety system. To stay ahead, we must continue to prioritize certain key principles: categorizing facilities based on risk, establishing performance standards for food-borne pathogens, frequency of inspections, and reporting requirements for companies.

Third, Rural Development. For too long, the importance of the nonagricultural economy in rural communities has not been reflected in USDA priorities. Today, even farmers are not earning their primary living from agriculture; 80 percent of farm household income is derived off the farm. The department needs to rethink its mission and its priorities, giving just as much attention to rural development as it does production agriculture.

That means working to reach more vulnerable families and workers in rural areas, including small farmers, low-resource farmers and minority farmers and landowners. Also coordinating with Health and Human Services, Commerce, and Transportation. And investing in rural infrastructure including Broadband -- not only to connect rural areas to the global community, but also to generate growth in rural America. I know this is a priority for you and I will be there fighting for it, right by your side.

Finally, Energy. Secretary Vilsack, I know you will continue working to ensure agriculture is an integral part of our push to make renewable energy affordable and accessible. On this critical issue we must prioritize research and conservation to find the right balance between our need to move to energy independence and minimizing the impact on the environment. While at the same time, we need to closely monitor the impact of increased mandates for biofuels on the environment and food prices. Each of these issues – Nutrition, Food Safety, Rural Development, Energy – they are a priority for this subcommittee – and they are ripe for reform within the US Department of Agriculture.

Secretary Vilsack I have confidence in your leadership of the department and your ability to bring the change it needs. I am glad we have you at the helm and I look forward to collaborating with you in the months and years ahead.

This is our opportunity to get the big things right for the American people – to make real changes that will affect their health and safety their quality of life and economic livelihood.

With that, I will ask Ranking Member Mr. Kingston if he would like to make an opening statement.