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Stabenow Supports Perdue Confirmation, Releases Report Showing Urgent Need for Leadership at USDA

Senator Stabenow calls on Perdue to be an advocate for the small towns and rural communities targeted for harmful budget cuts

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), Ranking Member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, & Forestry, released a report by the Senate Agriculture Committee minority staff detailing the detrimental impact the Trump administration’s budget proposal would have on rural communities. Stabenow announced the report during remarks on the Senate floor in support of confirming Sonny Perdue to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which is in urgent need of leadership.

“We need a Secretary of Agriculture who will be a relentless advocate for our nation’s farmers and the important services USDA provides,” Senator Stabenow said on the Senate Floor. “For months, rural America has not had a voice in this Administration– and it shows. President Trump’s budget proposal makes it clear that rural America is not a top priority for his Administration.”

Last month, President Trump released his budget proposal calling to cut USDA’s discretionary budget by 21% -- the third largest cut to any federal agency. The report, entitled “President Trump is Turning his Back on Rural America,” examines the impact the proposed cuts would have in rural communities. Find Senator Stabenow’s full floor remarks as prepared for delivery here.

Find the full report here and the fact sheet here.

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