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Stabenow says rural communities are afterthought of administration

The Ranking Member of the Senate Ag Committee says the nation’s agriculture department has been left without leadership since the beginning of the Trump administration and strongly supports Sonny Perdue to serve as the next ag secretary.

“Based on President Trump’s decisions over the past few months, it’s clear, unfortunately that agriculture and small towns like those all over Michigan have been an afterthought.  It didn’t help that Governor Perdue was the very last cabinet Secretary to be nominated by President Trump.”

Senator Debbie Stabenow released a report by Democrat committee staff during Perdue’s confirmation hearing that shows how the Trump budget would eliminate funding for critical services to rural America.  “President Trump’s budget proposal makes it clear that rural America is not a top priority for his Administration. His proposal cuts USDA funding by 21 percent – the third largest cut to any federal agency.”

Stabenow says the next Secretary of Agriculture needs to be a champion for rural America and she voted in support of Perdue to be a strong voice for rural communities on the administration.