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Deputy ag secretary confirmation hearing underway

A Senate Ag Committee hearing got underway Wednesday to confirm Xochitl Torres Small as the next deputy ag secretary for USDA.

Testifying before the committee, Torres Small said her work as Under Secretary for Rural Development helped build her relationships with constituents and USDA employees. “The management side of the position would happily be front of mind for me every single day.”

She says the deputy ag secretary serves as a critical ambassador for agriculture.

“It means being a representative in front of Congress, in front of our sister agencies to make sure they understand farmers and ranchers’ needs, and in front of the people that we serve,” Torres Small said. “I would be a proud representative as deputy secretary.”

If confirmed, Torres Small would succeed Jewel Bronaugh who stepped down from the position in January.