WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) issued the following statement on the Senate confirming Thomas Vilsack as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) today:

“No one can beat North Dakota’s producers and landowners. They are the backbone of our state’s economy, and the decisions made at the Department of Agriculture greatly impact them. I look forward to working with Secretary Vilsack to ensure North Dakota’s agricultural community has the tools it needs to keep feeding and fueling the world.”

Senator Cramer worked closely with the previous USDA Secretary on numerous topics, including farm assistance programs like the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program and the Market Facilitation Program. The senator is also a leading voice in Congress for protecting the private property rights of landowners. Last Congress, Senator Cramer helped introduce legislation to reform the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Additionally, Senator Cramer supports several pieces of legislation to assist North Dakota’s farmers and ranchers, including the PRIME Act, the Cover Crop Flexibility Act, and the New Markets for State Inspected Meat and Poultry Act.