WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Chairwoman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement regarding the nomination of Xochitl Torres Small to serve as Deputy Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
“I am very pleased that President Biden acted quickly and nominated Xochitl Torres Small for this important leadership role at USDA. As a Congresswoman and as the granddaughter of migrant farm workers, Ms. Torres Small fought for vulnerable, rural communities, and as Undersecretary of Rural Development, she gave a voice to the 60 million people who call rural America their home. In her time as Undersecretary, I have been impressed with Ms. Torres Small’s commitment to addressing challenges in our food supply chain, fighting the climate crisis, and creating good paying jobs in rural America. I know she will carry this experience with her as Deputy Secretary. I look forward to working with her to pass a bipartisan Farm Bill, and I plan to move her nomination through the Committee as expeditiously as possible.”