WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) delivered the following opening statement at a hearing to consider the nominations of Dudley Hoskins to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Dr. Scott Hutchins to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics at the United States Department of Agriculture.
The following is Chairman Boozman’s opening statement as prepared for delivery:
“Good morning and welcome. It is my privilege to call this hearing to order. Today we will consider the nominations of Mr. Dudley Hoskins to be Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Dr. Scott Hutchins to be Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics.
“We welcome both of you to the committee and congratulate you on your nominations. Thank you for your willingness to serve.
“Our farmers and ranchers continue to face challenges ranging from high input costs, elevated interest rates, an uncertain trade environment, and an ineffective farm safety net. Farmers across the country continue to struggle and are in desperate need of updated, responsive risk management tools.
“Secretary Rollins has led by example and has been a champion for agriculture, but the challenges facing farm country highlight why it is so important she get her team in place. Today is another step towards making that happen.
“Starting with Mr. Hoskins, the Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area is one of the most diverse and far-reaching responsibilities of USDA. From beef grading to organic agriculture; from foreign animal disease response to specialty crop pests. This mission area touches every farmer, every rancher, every processor, every marketer—every stakeholder in the agriculture value chain.
“This mission area houses two key federal agencies—the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Agricultural Marketing Service. They do critical, often unnoticed work and play a vital role in keeping our nation’s food system functioning.
“U.S. agriculture is currently facing threats from numerous pests and diseases. Right now, all eyes are on Mexico and the threat of New World Screwworm. The secretary’s decision to close the border to live-animal imports was not a light decision. Ensuring Mexico has proper protocols in place and eventually reopening the border will not be an easy task. This is why I believe it is so important to get Mr. Hoskins confirmed as soon as possible.
“Now to Dr. Hutchins. The Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics is charged with advancing scientific knowledge related to agriculture through research, extension, and education. This mission area manages four key agencies, collects and disseminates critical data, and is the primary link between the federal government and our nation’s premier agricultural institutions—our land-grant universities. These serve to develop the next generation of our agriculture workforce, as well as conduct world class research.
“This mission area also works to ensure that the timely research outcomes and discoveries developed at our land-grant institutions and by USDA’s chief in-house research agency, the Agricultural Research Service, actually make it to the farm. The cooperative extension service, truly a hallmark of U.S. agriculture, is the bridge between innovation and the producer.
“I am grateful that Mr. Hoskins and Dr. Hutchins are nominated for such important roles at USDA, and I look forward to hearing their plans to serve American agriculture.”