Washington – the election of President Donald Trump to lead the US Department of Agriculture said during her confirmation on Thursday that she has a lot to learn about the highly pathogenic bird flu or the flu of birds, viruses, which sits havoc in the poultry and dairy farms industry in the country and stuffing milk.
The explosion affected over 136 million herds of poultry and almost 1000 dairy herds and infected 67 people, and one person has died so far. Public health experts still assess the risk of infection for the general public as low, but strictly monitor the spread of bird flu among agricultural employees and farm animals, as well as household cats and other mammals.
. Four -hour interrogation She showed that Brooke Rollins probably has support for securing the confirmation of the Senate, although members of both political parties aroused concerns about the decline of family farms, hollowing the rural America, the speed at which USDA provides the assist of a disaster for farmers and the future of nutrition programs.
Tariffs and trade
Rollins also received many questions from both Democrats and Republicans about the Trump plan about raising tariffs to import, probably leading to retaliatory tariffs to American export and negative repercussions for farmers and food prices.
“As for the president’s tariff program, I think that this is probably not a surprise to anyone sitting in this room, that in his opinion it is a very important tool in his set of tools to continue or bring America back to the lead of the world and ensure that We assure us that we have a prosperous economy – said Rollins. “But like him and we in the first administration also understands the potential destructive influence for our farmers and our ranch.”
Michigan Democratic Senator Elissa Slotkin raised concerns about what happened during the first Trump administration after he placed tariffs on the Allied nations, as well as in China. She called Rollins to make sure that Trump would understand that it would probably happen if she put a steep tariffs to other countries.
“President Trump announced 25% tariffs for Chinese products – batteries, TVs, medical devices,” said Slotkin. “China took revenge and applied 25% tariffs on soy, fruit, pork and other items. Then we entered the trade war; We started adding more things to the list, they have already started adding more things to the list. He acted and was not forward and in front and back.
“Suddenly our farmers throughout the country shout a bloody murder because … no one wanted to buy our things because he had a 25% tariff. We felt it very sharply. “
She said that Trump’s earlier administration pulled billions of the Commodity Credit Corporation to assist farmers who were hurt by retaliation.
“This emergency fund is the same fund that helps us in such things as bird flu with which we are now dealing with all over the country,” said Slotkin.
Republican Senator Kentucky Mitch McConnell said he hopes that the country would not follow the same path as before in relation to tariffs and commercial wars.
“It seems to me that trade has become a word for many Americans who implies work exports,” said McConnell. “At Kentucky, we consider trade as exports of products and this is an extremely important part of what we do.”
Colorado Democratic Senator Michael Bennet told Rollins that “he is sympathetic to some commercial policies, which President Trump is trying to support.”
“But agriculture is already in a difficult place … and we don’t want it to be in a more difficult place as a result of what is happening here,” Bennet said.
Then he asked Rollins if he believes that her responsibility as the Secretary of Agriculture would be “going to the oval office and say:” You have not thought about the unintentional consequences that will flow to American agriculture if you implement these trade policies. “”
Rollins said that her role, if confirmed, would “defend, honor, raise our entire agricultural community in an oval office, around the table, through the inter -waging process. And to make sure that each decision made in the coming four years has this front of the mind when these decisions are made. “
Bird flu
Rollins was less sheltered, informing senators how she should cope with the ongoing bird flu or the explosion of H5N1.
Fermers of poultry and USDA had had to deal with the virus in domestic herds for years, but only a year ago did not start infecting dairy herds.
It will spread to another part of American agriculture and growth of farmers catching the virus have led to the response of many agencies from the federal government, which included the administration of strategic readiness and reaction, control centers and disease prevention, food and medicine administration as well as USDA as well as USDA and USDA.
“There are many that I have to learn. And if this is confirmed, it will be, as I mentioned in my opening statement, one of the most important priorities, “Rollins said, referring to her earlier comments about” dealing with explosions of animal diseases “.
Democratic Senator Minnesota Amy Klobuchar, who asked Rollins what a plan was to limit the spread of bird flu, and then questioned her about a recent requirement that prevents some public health officials from public health before external communication.
“I will notice that yesterday the administration announced that it would stop external communication from public health from CDC to these bird animal (and) animal diseases,” said Klobuchar. “These important ads helped producers ‘relevance thanks to the latest information on the spread of diseases, employees’ health. And although I know that it was not under USDA, I just encourage you to talk to them about it. We are worried. “
Impact of mass deportations on AG
Rollins was pressed during the interrogation on how wide deportations can affect the agricultural industry and food reserves throughout the country. Senators also asked how she planned to keep a pipeline that transfers food from farms to the tables of people from collapsing if mass deportations were carried out.
“President Trump led and was mostly elected to the priority of the security of borders and mass deportation,” said Rollins. “He and his team are, I assume that they are currently introducing plans to start this process. Of course, first with those who committed crimes when they are here. “
Rollins said that she planned to cooperate with the Lori Chavez-Dederemer nominee for the secretary, if it was confirmed, in matters related to working strength.
Rollins testified that she wanted to make changes to H2A Visa for transient agricultural workersAlthough she did not describe what they can pull these changes.
Democratic California Senator Adam Schiff asked Rollins if the potential sudden falling of agricultural workers due to mass deportations can lead to higher food prices “in a clear way with what the president said.”
Rollins said that although it was hypothetical, it was that “we must wonder.”
“I think it’s a very honest point,” Rollins said. “The president has inflation of food and food costs one of his most important priorities. I worked with him. I have been part of his team for many years. I believe in his vision and his commitment to America and his promises. In this way, I think that we will be able to find in our set of tools what we must do to solve all hypothetical problems that ultimately turn out to be really moving in the coming months and years. “
Rollins was the director of the National Policy Council during Trump’s first administration, before he became the president and general director of America First Policy Institute Think Tank.
Asset He announced Rollins as his election of the Secretary for Agriculture In November, writing that “he has the experience of a practitioner, as well as deep political references both in the field of non -profit and the government at state and national level.”
Rural development
During the trial, Rollins also satisfied the needs of rural communities, including apartments, childcare and food assistance, during a detailed exchange with a democratic minnesota senator Tina Smith.
“Sometimes I think that people forget that the USDA rural development page is really important,” said Smith. “I will be truthful, I’m afraid that work is done there-these efforts that are not well understood-to become the target of cutting out the budget.
“I also know that American farmers and ranchers really trust USDA on these issues. They do not want these programs to be grown to other agencies, in which we all worry that they will simply pay less attention. “
Rollins said that if she was confirmed, she would be excited “to present a vision and build a program around the revival, restoring and restoring rural America.”
Smith also asked about the program supplementing the nutritional assistance program or Snap, saying that nutrition programs, many of which are managed by USDA, are “fundamental to healthy Americans.”
“In Minnesota, rural communities have the highest uncertainty of food in the whole state,” said Smith. “In this country, 9 out of 10 (poviats) with the highest rates of food uncertainty is rural.”
Rollins testified that she believed in work requirements, although she admitted that she had no extensive knowledge about SNAP.
“I don’t quite understand, but I plan to get more in weeds, if it is confirmed,” Rollins said. “Working with you all to make sure that your fears are part of this education process for me.”
Smith took the opportunity to notice that SNAP has work requirements, but there are exceptions if people “look after a child or a power person”, or if they “take part in an alcohol or drug treatment program” or if they “already work in some other programs. “
Last updated 18:23, January 23, 2025
