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Stabenow questions Perdue on “climate change directive”

Ranking Senate Ag Committee chairwoman Debbie Stabenow of Michigan has written to Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue asking why the USDA is replacing the term “climate change” with “weather extremes.”  The Senator refers to a news report in the Guardian that says a series of internal USDA communications earlier this year are seeking to remove climate change and related phrases.

Stabenow says she’s a firm believer in science and when asked by reporters about the Guardian article at the Indiana State Fair, Secretary Perdue said he is, too, “I think science ought to direct our policy. Not what we believe or not what we think but what science tells us we should do, that’s what we want to do at USDA.” Perdue did not say the words “climate change” in his full response.

Politico reports a USDA spokesman said on Monday there was no such agency directive. In her letter, Stabenow wrote: “This censorship makes the United States less competitive, less food-secure, and puts (our) rural families and their communities at risk.”

Audio: Ag Secretary Perdue response at Indiana State Fair on Tuesday~

 

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