Following her meeting with Secretary of Agriculture nominee Tom Vilsack, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, released the following statement:
“Today I had a productive meeting with Secretary of Agriculture nominee Tom Vilsack about the incoming Biden administration’s plans to address hunger and food security, and the challenges facing our nation’s farmers, all of which have been exacerbated by the pandemic. Having previously served in this position, Tom is eminently qualified and is committed to helping farmers weather the current crisis, combatting food insecurity and to rebuilding our rural communities. During our conversation, I urged Tom to focus on policies that will increase SNAP benefits to keep Americans fed, strengthen the farm to food bank supply chain, help farmers overcome their debt, and stabilize milk pricing. Tom will be a strong leader in the face of the country’s growing challenges and I look forward to working with him to build a stronger and more equitable agriculture industry.”