[Senate Hearing 109-713]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
S. Hrg. 109-713
NOMINATIONS FOR DR. GALE A. BUCHANAN, MARC L. KESSELMAN, BOYDE K.
RUTHERFORD, AND LINDA A. STRACHAN
=======================================================================
HEARING
before the
COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,
NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
UNITED STATES SENATE
ONE HUNDRED NINTH CONGRESS
SECOND SESSION
__________
MARCH 14, 2006
__________
Printed for the use of the
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.agriculture.senate.gov
______
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COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
SAXBY CHAMBLISS, Georgia, Chairman
RICHARD G. LUGAR, Indiana TOM HARKIN, Iowa
THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont
MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky KENT CONRAD, North Dakota
PAT ROBERTS, Kansas MAX BAUCUS, Montana
JAMES M. TALENT, Missouri BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, Arkansas
CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming DEBBIE A. STABENOW, Michigan
RICK SANTORUM, Pennsylvania E. BENJAMIN NELSON, Nebraska
NORM COLEMAN, Minnesota MARK DAYTON, Minnesota
MICHEAL D. CRAPO, Idaho KEN SALAZAR, Colorado
CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa
Martha Scott Poindexter, Majority Staff Director
David L. Johnson, Majority Chief Counsel
Vernie Hubert, Majority Deputy Chief Counsel
Robert E. Sturm, Chief Clerk
Mark Halverson, Minority Staff Director
(ii)
C O N T E N T S
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Page
Hearing(s):
Nominations for Dr. Gale A. Buchanan, Marc L. Kesselman, Boyde K.
Rutherford, and Linda Strachan................................. 1
----------
Tuesday March 14, 2006
STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY SENATORS
Chambliss, Hon. Saxby, a U.S. Senator from Georgia, Chairman,
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.............. 1
Harkin, Hon. Tom, a U.S. Senator from Iowa, Ranking Member,
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.............. 10
----------
WITNESSES
Buchanan, Gale A. Dr., Adel, Georgia, Nominated to be Under
Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics............... 2
Kesselman, Marc L., Bethesda, Maryland, Nominated to be General
Counsel of the Department of Agriculture....................... 4
Rutherford, Boyd K., Columbia, Maryland, Nominated to be an
Assistant Secretary of Agriculture............................. 6
Strachan, Linda A., Nominated to be an Assistant Secretary of
Agriculture.................................................... 8
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APPENDIX
Prepared Statements:
Harkin, Hon. Tom............................................. 22
Buchanan, Gale A. Dr......................................... 24
Kesselman, Marc L............................................ 30
Rutherford, Boyd K........................................... 32
Strachan, Linda A............................................ 37
Document(s) Submitted for the Record:
Talent, Hon. Jim............................................. 40
Biograpical information of Dr. Gale A. Buchanan.............. 43
Biograpical information of Marc L. Kesselman................. 154
Biograpical information of Boyd K. Rutherford................ 175
Biograpical information of Linda A. Strachan................. 191
Questions and Answers Submitted for the Record:
Chambliss, Hon. Saxby........................................ 216
Harkin, Hon. Tom............................................. 218
Nelson, Hon. Ben............................................. 226
Talent, Hon. Jim............................................. 235
NOMINATIONS FOR DR. GALE A. BUCHANAN, MARC L. KESSELMAN, BOYDE K.
RUTHERFORD, AND LINDA STRACHAN
---------- -
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
U.S. Senate,
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry,
Washington, DC.
The committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:06 a.m., in
room SR-332, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. Saxby
Chambliss, chairman of the committee, presiding.
Present or submitting a statement: Senators Chambliss,
Lugar, and Harkin.
STATEMENT OF HON. SAXBY CHAMBLISS, A U.S. SENATOR FROM GEORGIA,
CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
The Chairman. Good morning. We are here today to conduct a
hearing on four nominations to important posts at the U.S.
Department of Agriculture. The nominees are: Dr. Gale A.
Buchanan, to be Under Secretary for Research, Education, and
Economics; Marc L. Kesselman, to be General Counsel; Boyd K.
Rutherford, to be Assistant Secretary for Administration; and
Linda Strachan, to be Assistant Secretary for Congressional
Relations.
I have had the opportunity to meet with all four nominees
and review their backgrounds. We all appreciate their
willingness to come forward and to engage in public service.
While we welcome all the nominees, I do want to make a
special comment about my good friend and my fellow Georgian,
Dr. Gale Buchanan. Dr. Buchanan has been a dedicated public
servant for his entire life. He has been the dean and director
of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and
Environmental Sciences, the interim director of Georgia
Agricultural Experiment Stations, and the dean and director of
Alabama Agricultural Experiment Stations, and a professor at
the University of Georgia and Auburn. He spent some time at
Auburn, then decided to come to Georgia to get an education,
Dick.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. We are glad he made that step in the right
direction. He is also a retired colonel in the Army National
Guard. Dr. Buchanan has a distinguished record of service to
our country, and we are very pleased that he has agreed to come
to Washington and continue that service at the Federal level.
He has been a dear friend of mine for many years and Gale, we
welcome you to this committee today, as we do to all of you,
and we welcome you to public service in Washington.
Once again, I do want to welcome all the nominees. Thank
you for appearing before the committee today.
For the information of Senators and staff, I would ask that
any questions of the nominees for the record be submitted by 5
p.m. today in order to expedite the confirmation process.
Senator Harkin is going to be here shortly, and when he
does arrive, we will give him the opportunity to make any
opening statement.
At this time we are going to take statements from the
individual nominees, but before we do that, I will ask all four
of you if you will please stand up and raise your right hand's.
Do you swear that the testimony you are about to present is the
truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you
God?
Mr. Buchanan. I do.
Mr. Kesselman. I do.
Mr. Rutherford. I do.
Ms. Strachan. I do.
The Chairman. To each of you--and I will ask you to
affirmatively respond to this--do you agree that, if confirmed,
you will appear before any duly constituted committee of
Congress if so asked?
Mr. Buchanan. I will.
Mr. Kesselman. I will.
Mr. Rutherford. Yes.
Ms. Strachan. I will.
The Chairman. Let the record reflect that all responded
affirmatively. Thank you very much.
Dr. Buchanan, we will start with you, and, Mr. Kesselman,
Mr. Rutherford, Ms. Strachan, we will come this way. So, Dr.
Buchanan, we welcome any comments you have this morning, and
any introduction of your family members here.
STATEMENT OF GALE A. BUCHANAN, OF GEORGIA, TO BE UNDER
SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND
ECONOMICS, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Mr. Buchanan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman and distinguished
members of the committee. I want to thank you for the
opportunity of appearing before you today, and I would like to
have my full report included for the record, but I want to
speak from an abbreviated form.
The Chairman. Without objection.
Mr. Buchanan. I am honored and humbled to be nominated by
our President to be considered for the position of Under
Secretary of Agriculture for Research, Education, and Economics
in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
With me today is Carol, my wife and greatest supporter. Not
with me are our children--Judy, Kim, and Brad--and grandson
Stephen.
I have been associated with agriculture my entire life. I
was born and raised on a general farm in Madison County,
Florida, and growing up on a family farm, I learned early in
life the fundamentals of farming, acceptance of responsibility,
and the nature of rural life.
After graduation from high school, I enrolled at the
University of Florida where I received a degree in agronomy.
After a tour with the U.S. Army 2nd Infantry Division, I
returned to the University of Florida where I completed
requirements for a degree in weed science. Rounding out my
education, I enrolled at Iowa State University. In addition to
completing the requirements for the Ph.D. degree in plant
physiology, I learned something about Midwest agriculture. I
have also completed postdoctoral research in biochemistry at
the University of Georgia and in weed ecology/biology at the
Weed Research Organization in Oxford, England.
My first job was at Auburn University where I served as a
researcher and teacher in weed science and as an administrator
of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station.
In 1986, I relocated to the University of Georgia where I
served as resident director of the Coastal Plain Experiment
Station in Tifton and later as dean and director of the College
of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences in Athens. I retired
from the university in April of 2005.
I have also been involved in other activities that have
broadened my experience in agriculture. My brothers and I have
been engaged in a general farming operation growing corn and
soybeans.
I have been active in several scientific societies and
professional organizations both as a participant and in various
leadership roles. This includes leadership roles in the
National Association of State Universities and Land Grant
Colleges Board on Agriculture Assembly. I have served as
president of the American Peanut Research and Education
Society, the Southern Weed Science Society, and the Council for
Agricultural Science and Technology.
If confirmed, I look forward to continuing to serve because
I believe in American agriculture. It is among our most
important endeavors and enables the success of our country and,
indeed, our civilization. Successful agriculture makes all
other of man's endeavors possible. I also might add that
agriculture is an important part of our economy. A major
contributor to the success of agriculture is information,
knowledge, and technology gained through research and education
programs. Few would argue that one of the prime factors in
agriculture's success has been the effectiveness of these
programs that tie local, State, and the Federal Governments,
along with our universities, close together. Our system has
been so successful through these joint efforts that these
programs are the envy of much of the world.
I am confident that the continued strength and success in
the future of American agriculture is contingent upon strong
and effective research and education programs. Consequently, I
believe these programs must be supported and carefully nurtured
to ensure their future success. Agriculture will continue to
provide food and fiber but, in addition, will be called to play
a major role in addressing the Nation's energy needs in the
future. Clearly, this is a challenge, but a fantastic
opportunity. Research and education programs will make the
difference in this success.
In the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we have strong in-
house capabilities through ARS, ERS, and NASS, all supported by
the National Agriculture Library. Another of our great
strengths in agriculture is the unique relationship that brings
together the Federal Government and our States through CSREES.
This program ties the Department closely to the Nation's land
grant universities, including our 1862, our 1890, and our 1994
institutions as well as other universities that have
agricultural programs.
The position of Under Secretary carries an important
responsibility in working with each of these institutions as
well as with a multitude of other groups in assuring the
success of research and education programs.
If confirmed, I would look forward to being on the point in
working with you, the Department, the Nation's land grant and
other agricultural universities, American industry, and others
in assuring the success of research and education programs. I
pledge to you that, if confirmed, I will work as hard and as
effectively as I can to support American agriculture through
these programs in the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Thank you for your consideration, and I would like to
respond to your questions and hear your comments at the proper
time. Thank you, sir.
[The prepared statement of Dr. Buchanan can be found in the
appendix on page 24.]
[The biographical information of Dr. Buchanan can be found
in the appendix on page 43.]
The Chairman. Thank you.
Mr. Kesselman, again, we are pleased to have you here, and
I would state for the record that we have a statement from
Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee by way of introduction of
Mr. Kesselman and in support of Mr. Kesselman's nomination, and
it will be entered in the record.
The Chairman. Mr. Kesselman, we are happy to hear from you.
STATEMENT OF MARC L. KESSELMAN, OF MARYLAND, TO BE GENERAL
COUNSEL, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Mr. Kesselman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Senator Harkin, and
other distinguished members of this committee. Thank you for
providing me with the opportunity to appear before you today. I
am deeply honored to be here as the President's nominee for
General Counsel of the United States Department of Agriculture.
I would like to express my gratitude to President Bush for
nominating me for this position. If confirmed, it would be a
privilege to serve under the leadership of Secretary Johanns
and Deputy Secretary Conner. I also want to thank Senator
Alexander for his support.
With me here today is my wife, Risa Cherry Kesselman, along
with our daughter, Ileana. Our 6-month-old son, Adam, is at
home today. I want to thank Risa for her constant support and
encouragement. She is a talented lawyer and a dedicated public
servant in her own right.
My parents, Sally and Fred Kesselman of Memphis, Tennessee,
are also here. I am forever indebted to them for sacrificing so
much to give me the opportunities that led me here today. Also
joining me today are several friends and colleagues, and
several more people listening over the Web, including my
sister, who could not be here because she is abroad, and Risa's
parents and my grandfather, who couldn't make it for health
reasons.
Mr. Chairman, I appreciate the courtesies that this
committee has extended in advance of the hearing. If confirmed
I look forward to the opportunity to work with all of you and
your staff. I am committed to developing a close and
cooperative working relationship with this committee and with
the Congress. In all of our dealings, I would start with one
very simple premise: We all share the goal of a Department of
Agriculture that works for America's farmers, ranchers,
producers, consumers, and rural communities.
To achieve this goal, my primary role would be to provide
the best possible legal advice and counsel to the Department's
leadership team on the many challenging issues facing USDA.
Whether the issue of a particular day involves our Nation's 192
million acres of national forest lands, the food assistance
programs that serve one in five Americans every year,
protecting plant and animal health, or fighting to open export
markets for America's agricultural products, I will work
tirelessly and to the best of my ability to faithfully
discharge the duties of my office.
I am excited by the opportunity to contribute to the
important mission of the Department and, if confirmed, stand
ready to tackle the legal challenges confronting the
Department. I have worked as a lawyer in the Federal Government
and in the private sector. I began my legal career as a law
clerk for Judge Julia Gibbons, who was then Chief Judge of the
United States District Court for the Western District of
Tennessee. She was a key influence in shaping my legal career
and instilled in me a great respect for the law. I then spent
several years as a litigator with a private law firm and in the
Civil Division of the Department of Justice. In these jobs, I
learned the nuts and bolts of trying cases. I left private
practice for The Department of Justice for the opportunity to
represent the United States in constitutional matters.
I currently serve as the Deputy General Counsel of the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) where I provide legal
advice and analysis on a wide variety of statutory,
legislative, regulatory, administrative, and policy issues. In
this position, I have worked with USDA attorneys, and I know
firsthand that the Office of General Counsel has an
outstanding, highly experienced career legal staff. If
confirmed, I look forward to working with them and learning
from them.
I also look forward to contributing to the effective,
citizen-centered, results-oriented management of the Department
and its programs. It is, however, not sufficient that the
Department be run efficiently. It must also ensure equal
opportunity for all individuals. I share the vision expressed
by Secretary Johanns in his Civil Rights Policy Statement when
he said, ``We must strive for a workplace that respects
differences and embraces diversity. Our programs and services
must be accessible and delivered to all of our customers fairly
and with dignity. There can be no exceptions or excuses.'' If
confirmed, I will work to implement this vision.
In closing, I would like to thank the committee for holding
this hearing and for considering my nomination to be the
Department's next General Counsel. It would be an honor and a
privilege for me to serve our President and the American people
in this position. Should you see fit to recommend my
confirmation to the Senate, and should I be confirmed, I will
devote all of my energy and effort to doing the kind of job
that merits your confidence.
I would be very pleased to answer any questions you have.
Thank you again, Mr. Chairman.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Kesselman can be found in
the appendix on page 30.]
[The biographical information of Mr. Kesselman can be found
in the appedix on page 154.]
The Chairman. Thank you very much, Mr. Kesselman.
Mr. Rutherford, as we allow you to make a statement, I
would note for the record and will introduce into the record
without objection two letters of recommendation with respect to
your nomination--one from Mr. David R. Craig, County Executive
of Harford County, Bel Air, Maryland; also a letter from Mr.
Robert S. Downs of the law firm of Miles and Stockbridge in
support of your nomination. And these will be so entered.
[The letters of recommendation were not submitted for the
record.]
The Chairman. Mr. Rutherford, welcome.
STATEMENT OF BOYD K. RUTHERFORD, OF MARYLAND, TO BE ASSISTANT
SECRETARY FOR DEPARTMENTAL ADMINISTRATION, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE
Mr. Rutherford. Thank you, and good morning, Mr. Chairman
and Senator Lugar. I am honored to sit here before you today. I
am humbled by the President's nomination and the confidence he
and Secretary Johanns have in my ability to serve as Assistant
Secretary for Administration.
I am joined today by my family: my wife, Monica; my
daughter, Lauren; my mother, Dorothy Rutherford; and other
family and friends. Our youngest daughter, Kristen, could not
attend this morning as there is testing in Howard County,
Maryland, today. Also, our adult, Marshall, who lives in
Southern California, is unable to join us because of work
obligations.
I appreciate this opportunity to highlight my
administrative experience and qualifications for the position
that we are here to discuss today.
On January 16, 2003, I was nominated by Governor Robert L.
Ehrlich and later confirmed by the Maryland State Senate to the
position of Secretary of the Maryland Department of General
Services, or DGS. At DGS, we are responsible for security,
maintenance, construction, and engineering services of State
facilities, including the historic State House and legislative
office buildings in Annapolis. We are also the primary
procurement agency for the State, procuring over $1 billion in
contracts per year.
Our mission at DGS is to serve Maryland and its citizens by
ensuring State agencies are able to achieve their respective
missions in a safe, efficient, and effective manner.
Accordingly, we focus on customer service. Upon my arrival to
the department, I found that many of our customer concerns were
going unaddressed; in response, we initiated a concept that I
saw implemented during my tenure at the United States General
Services Administration that called for a single point of
contact. In the past, customer agencies would voice their
concerns with regard to facilities or other items to whomever
they came in contact with and often outside of the area of
responsibility. To correct this problem, we vested
responsibility for customer service within a newly created
Office of External Affairs, within the Office of the Secretary.
Now all divisional leaders know that customer concerns that are
outside of their division or cross divisions are to be referred
to External Affairs for follow-up and resolution.
My focus on customer service started in my early career as
a sales representative for the old Control Data Corporation. I
found success as a salesman by focusing on servicing existing
customers. By being personally responsive to the customer
needs, it engendered confidence on the part of our customers
and loyalty in the most competitive environments.
In addition to emphasizing customer service, the department
has been able to help Governor Ehrlich turn around the State's
budget challenges through improved efficiencies and more
effective resource utilization. With the support of an
excellent staff, DGS has been able to save the State over $78
million in the 3 years that I have served as Secretary. Now,
$78 million may seem small when compared to Federal budgets,
but it does represent at least 1 year of our general fund
budget in the department.
Before concluding, I would like to express my support and
appreciation for agriculture and its impact on our lives. Being
a city boy, as I was born and reared right here in Washington,
D.C., one might ask how did I get considered for this
opportunity. I asked that question myself.
First, the position of Assistant Secretary for Departmental
Administration is a management position. The chief function is
to ensure that the Secretary and the Department in general have
the tools and support necessary to carry out the important
mission of USDA. Unless USDA is able to operate efficiently and
effectively, it cannot provide the essential services needed to
ensure that American consumers continue to enjoy some of the
lowest costs and safest foods in the world.
Second, during my tenure in State government, I have grown
to understand the significant impact of agriculture on Maryland
as well as the national economy. Maryland is often looked at as
an urban/suburban small State. However, many people are
surprised by the impact of agriculture on the State's economy,
ranging from the fisheries on the Chesapeake Bay, the poultry
industry on the Eastern Shore, the horse breeding and training
facilities in the North/Central portions of the State, and all
the industries that support them contribute billions of dollars
to the State's economy.
Last, the area of bioenergy is a significant but small
overlap with some of the work I have been doing over the past
year at General Services. The Maryland Department of General
Services has been in the lead of supporting legislation
currently before the Maryland Legislature to require the use of
biodiesel in the State's diesel fleet. In addition, our
department is in the process of installing the first State-
operated ethanol filling station at the Baltimore State Office
Complex. Accordingly, I look forward to continuing this effort
as well as supporting the mission of USDA in expanding the use
of bio-based products.
In conclusion, if confirmed as Assistant Secretary of
Administration, I will make sure that Departmental
Administration is customer service oriented with a focus on
providing the services needed to allow the USDA to carry out
its mission.
I appreciate this opportunity to be before you today, and I
await your questions. Thank you.
[The prepared statement of Mr. Rutherford can be found in
the appendix on page 32.]
[The biographical information of Mr. Rutherford can be
found in the appendix on page 175.]
The Chairman. Thank you.
Ms. Strachan, we look forward to hearing your comments.
STATEMENT OF LINDA A. STRACHAN, OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO
BE ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR CONGRESSIONAL RELATIONS, U.S.
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Ms. Strachan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Mr. Chairman, Senator Lugar, thank you for considering my
nomination as Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for
Congressional Relations. I am honored to appear before you
today, and thank you for the opportunity to introduce my
family.
Behind me is my mother, Queet Strachan, and she is from
South Carolina; my brother, Steve, and his wife, Martie, and
they are from Wilmington, Delaware; my Uncle Bruce--and I could
go on. I have got two nieces, a godson, lots of aunts and
uncles--this whole section. So thank you for giving me the
opportunity to introduce them.
I wish to thank President Bush for nominating me for this
position and Secretary Johanns and Deputy Secretary Conner for
their support of my appointment. I have tremendous respect for
the Department of Agriculture and the community it represents.
I recognize the importance of rural America and agriculture to
our Nation. And, if confirmed, I look forward to having the
opportunity to work with this committee to promote our common
goals for U.S. agriculture.
At a very early age, my brother and I came to Capitol Hill.
We sat in the Senate Gallery and on the Senate floor speaking
was Senator Everett Dirksen. I will never forget his voice, and
I will never forget his presence. Little did I know that many
years later I would end up working in the Majority Leader's
office for Senator Baker, his son-in-law. I would like to
express my gratitude and respect to Senator Baker for teaching
me the ``ways of the Senate'' and for guiding me toward public
service.
Before coming to Washington, I was a 6th grade social
studies teacher in Virginia Beach, Virginia. And as part of a
lesson on the legislative process, my students and I drafted a
proposed bill. We worked with our State legislators and
actually got it introduced in the General Assembly in Virginia.
We went to Richmond to lobby for its passage, and as luck would
have it, we were successful in getting the bill passed and
signed by the Governor that year. Because of our efforts, the
Commonwealth of Virginia has an official State shell, and that
is the oyster shell. After this experience, I left teaching and
headed to Washington.
Mr. Chairman, I have spent 14 years in Federal service
working at the Department of State and the Environmental
Protection Agency. During this time, I learned the importance
of working closely and cooperatively with Congress, State and
local officials, as well as a broad range of constituent groups
on various policy initiatives.
Most recently, I worked for an agribusiness company,
Monsanto, which is headquartered, in St. Louis, Missouri. In
this position, I spent a significant amount of time traveling
throughout farm country. During my tenure, I gained tremendous
respect and admiration for farmers who work to provide
Americans with a safe and affordable food supply. I have had
the pleasure of working with several members and staff on this
committee and others on a variety of issues, including
biotechnology acceptance and conservation programs.
If confirmed by the Senate, I will apply the skills,
knowledge, and experiences I have gained over the years to
represent the views of the administration and the Department of
Agriculture on matters before this committee. If confirmed, I
pledge that I will make sure your views are accurately conveyed
and understood at the Department. I will keep the lines of
communication open and will strive to see that your concerns--
and those of your constituents--are answered in a timely
manner.
Mr. Chairman, thank you for giving me the opportunity to
testify today. It is a great honor for me and for my family.
Thank you for your consideration, and if you have any
questions, I will be more than happy to answer them.
[The prepared statement of Ms. Strachan can be found in the
appendix on page 37.]
[The biographical information of Ms. Strachan can be found
in the appendix on page 191.]
The Chairman. Thank you, and each of you, for your
comments, and we are pleased to see all your family here. They
are deservedly proud of you, and it says a lot that you have
got so many folks here in support of you. So welcome to all of
you.
Mr. Rutherford, as I told you in my meeting with you
previously, Governor Ehrlich is a very close personal friend.
He and I were elected to Congress together, and knowing the
great respect that he has for you, we are not going to worry
about you not being able to drive a tractor down there.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. We are going to let Dr. Buchanan drive that
tractor.
Mr. Rutherford. Thank you.
The Chairman. We are just going to let you make the good
policy. That is what that is all about.
Before I begin the questioning, I will turn to my ranking
member, my good friend Senator Harkin, for any comments he has
to make.
STATEMENT OF HON. TOM HARKIN, A U.S. SENATOR FROM IOWA, RANKING
MEMBER, COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY
Senator Harkin. Well, thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I
welcome our four nominees to the committee today, obviously all
well qualified to fill these positions.
First of all, Mr. Chairman, I know that Dr. Buchanan has
been a Georgian for about 20 years, but in reading his resume,
I see that he traveled to Iowa State University to get his
Ph.D., my alma mater. So I guess we can both claim him--OK?--as
one of our own from Iowa State.
[Laughter.]
Senator Harkin. General Counsel office, again, the position
must be filled by someone who appreciates the diversity of USDA
programs. Farm programs, crop insurance, conservation, food
stamps, school lunches--all those things have to be taken into
account and require the best legal advice.
We rely on the Assistant Secretary for Administration to
help keep the Department running and to make the most effective
and efficient use of the resources that we devote, Mr.
Rutherford. And again, we here in Congress really rely upon
having a good, conscientious person filling the position of
Assistant Secretary for Congressional Affairs. I have known and
worked with Linda Strachan for a number of years, with
Monsanto, and, again, I could not ask for a better working
relationship and keeping open lines of communication which are
just vital to us here in Congress. And I guess I did not know
that your tutor had been Senator Baker, but you had a great
tutor in Senator Howard Baker. And so I just have every
confidence that Linda Strachan will fill this position
admirably and well and will excel in these responsibilities.
So four good nominees, Mr. Chairman. I welcome them and
look forward to supporting them and hope we can get them
through as expeditiously as possible.
[The prepared statement of Senator Harkin can be found in
the appendix on page 22.]
The Chairman. Great. Thank you very much.
Dr. Buchanan, you know that one of my pet projects is
agricultural research or research in general, whether it is
agriculture, defense, science, health, whatever. I think it
certainly portends for the future of this country.
You have worked as an agricultural scientist and within the
experiment station and university system for virtually your
entire career, and we will take particular note that you did
get your Ph.D. at Iowa State, and in spite of that, we know
that you know an awful lot about agriculture.
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. Actually, those folks at Iowa State, Tom, are
becoming even more and more important, and, you know, we have
got a special issue that just came up in the last several days
where the University of Georgia and Iowa State collaborated on
our BSE issue. And Iowa State is such a great university,
particularly from an agriculture perspective.
As Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics,
you will have the opportunity and responsibility to lead the
entire U.S. agricultural research system. What issues or
problems have you witnessed in your past positions that you
would now like to address? What goals have you set for the
research, education, and economics mission? What would you like
to accomplish during your tenure in this position?
Mr. Buchanan. Thank you, Senator Chambliss. That certainly
is a good and far-reaching question and one that I have thought
about. And I guess if I had to sum up what I would really like
to accomplish, it is to do everything I can to strengthen the
research and education aspects throughout agriculture. And, of
course, clearly one of the first things you always look at is
how do you fund agricultural research and education, but I look
at more how we can find ways to work together among all various
entities. Having been involved in the land grant university
system and watched over the past several decades efforts to
develop more collaborative relationships among universities, I
think that is something that I want to try to do, that is to
strengthen cooperative relationships among all universities,
including The Agricultural Research Service, but even more
important is to find ways to get more agricultural research
throughout the existing universities. I know at the University
of Georgia anytime you can get scientists in other parts of the
university to work on agriculture-related problems, it is to
our advantage.
And so I think that if I had one single goal I want to do,
it is to try to build more collaborative relationships among
everybody that can contribute to the solving of problems in
agriculture.
Senator T4Harkin. Mr. Chairman, if you would excuse me, I
have an FDA hearing on Ag Appropriations at this very time, and
because of this BSE issue and FDA is here, I have got to go and
attend to that.
The Chairman. Sure.
Senator Harkin. So I apologize, but I just wanted to be
here, again, to welcome our nominees and say that on our side
we hope that we can get them through as quickly as possible.
They are all well qualified.
The Chairman. Thank you. Tell those appropriators we are
talking about ag research. We want more money.
[Laughter.]
Senator Harkin. I got my marching orders. Thanks.
The Chairman. Thanks, Tom.
Funding for agricultural research has not kept pace with
the Federal investments in other areas of science and research.
This is going to be one of your biggest challenges. Now, you
somewhat alluded to that. Setting aside that challenge, what
are the greatest scientific issues that you think are facing
agricultural research in the United States?
Mr. Buchanan. That is another good question, and, clearly,
they are the kinds of things that I have spent a lot of time on
during my last decade as dean and director of agriculture at
the University of Georgia. Certainly the whole area of food
safety is one that I think is critically important. Another one
is the emerging issue of energy, and that is one that we are
seeing more discussion about. But, clearly, that is an area
that we need to be working on.
I have personally been involved over the past few years in
trying to stimulate more interest in looking at things that on
the surface you do not think are necessarily related to energy.
For example, the cost of nitrogen. I think we have got to
develop more effective ways of growing our nitrogen rather than
depending upon nitrogen from petroleum products. So these are
the kinds of issues that I see as important.
Another thing, too, is it seems like we have a never ending
supply of new diseases and new problems. Just this past year or
the last couple of years, we have seen the soybean rust come on
like gangbusters. We still do not know what the potential for
that disease will be.
We have also seen tomato spotted wilt virus emerge as a
real problem, and I can remember, if we go back just a couple
of decades, you had never heard of it. But, also, we have other
diseases like citrus canker and citrus greening, in other parts
of the country. So keeping up with just the problems is a major
challenge, but when you add all those together, I think we have
a full portfolio of challenges for agricultural research in the
future.
The Chairman. Thank you. And for those of you who are not
from the South ``nitagen'' is the same as ``nitrogen.''
[Laughter.]
The Chairman. Mr. Kesselman, could you please describe for
the committee your qualifications to be General Counsel at
USDA?
Mr. Kesselman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the
opportunity to address my qualifications. Not only am I excited
by the opportunity to serve at USDA, but I feel that I am
ready.
My background is in both the Government and private
sectors. I have had the opportunity to litigate at the
Department of Justice and to work at OMB. At OMB we have a
chance to see issues across the Government--issues that will
ultimately go to litigation, regulatory issues, and legal
policy issues. I have also worked in the private sector where I
have represented regulated parties, and so I understand the
effects that Government regulations and actions and activities
have on real people in the real world.
I would also say from my experience working with USDA staff
that I appreciate and understand what a great and experienced
crew there is in the Office of the General Counsel. I would
look forward to working with the career attorneys, drawing upon
their expertise and using the skills that I have built at OMB,
The Department of Justice, and in private practice.
The Chairman. You mentioned that you have been at OMB and
at Justice. What involvement have you had with agricultural
issues in your career? And how familiar are you with the
programs and the organization of USDA?
Mr. Kesselman. Thank you, Senator. At OMB I have had an
opportunity to work with agencies across the Federal
Government, including USDA. One of the things that I do on a
daily basis is provide advice to people who are involved in the
rulemaking process. Some very big USDA rulemakings have come
through during the last couple of years, especially on the
animal health side with BSE regulations. There have also been
issues involving the COOL Program, animal identification, and
other issues be of significant importance to USDA. In some form
or another, we see many of USDA's issues at OMB. I would come
to USDA with a good idea of the types of challenges that face
the Department, and I am anxious to participate in resolving
those challenges because they affect every American's life.
The Chairman. Mr. Kesselman, I do not know whether Senator
Salazar will be here or not, but he very well may be, and I
thought he might ask questions related to this. But in all
fairness, we received a letter from Mr. Lupe Garcia of the
Hispanic Farmers and Ranchers of America regarding to your
nomination. He is not critical or objecting to your nomination,
but he has asked that we seriously subject you to examination
relative to some issues pending at USDA, and let me just cite
this. I think you are familiar with this.
He says, ``Inasmuch as there are numerous outstanding class
action lawsuits and legal actions currently pending against
USDA, the nomination of Mr. Kesselman warrants careful
scrutiny. Mr. Kesselman should be subjected to a full hearing
debate about his qualifications to be the next General Counsel.
Mr. Kesselman should be closely questioned concerning his
plans, if any, to deal with the numerous discrimination
lawsuits against USDA that are costing taxpayers millions of
dollars each year in legal fees and contributing to USDA's
reputation as the last plantation. That discrimination of the
sort that is both well documented and admitted should exist in
2006 is appalling and is all the more reprehensible that such
discrimination is perpetrated by a Federal Government agency
funded by taxpayers who pay for the privilege of being victims
of discrimination.''
So I want to give you the opportunity to address that
particular issue in response to the comments of Mr. Garcia.
Mr. Kesselman. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate the
opportunity to address the race relations issues that have been
the subject of litigation involving USDA. I am aware Hispanic
farmers, African American farmers, and other classes have filed
lawsuits.
I think that any discussion of that issue has to begin with
one very simple premise: discrimination on the basis of race,
national origin, ethnicity, gender, or any of the other
prohibited factors is wrong, both as a legal matter and as a
matter of principle. I would come to the position with that
fundamental belief.
I understand that there is litigation pending in the D.C.
Circuit in which Hispanic farmers have filed a class action
lawsuit for discrimination in the administration of credit
programs. The topic of the motion before the court is whether
or not the class should be certified. The court recently
resolved the issue as it applies to female farmers, but has not
yet resolved the issue as it applies to Hispanic farmers. I
think that decision will probably come down any time now, and
certainly, if confirmed, it would be my responsibility to deal
with that decision. In terms of a specific plan, I would work
with you, Mr. Chairman, with Senator Salazar with the citizen
who wrote this letter, and with any other stakeholders to make
sure that people feel they are being treated fairly. Decisions
about USDA's litigation posture must be made with the full
facts in mind.
The Chairman. Thank you for those comments. In my State we
have a number of minority farmers who are outstanding farmers.
Dr. Buchanan and I have had the opportunity to work with any
number of them, and we want to make sure that USDA is once and
for all rid of this tag that I think in a lot of instances is
unfairly given to them. So we look forward to working with you
as we move through this, and all the other complex and
controversial issues that might be forthcoming.
Mr. Rutherford, USDA has over 100,000 employees, 14,000
offices and field locations, $128 billion in assets, and
provides approximately $100 billion in loans, loan guarantees
and insurance. Obviously, it is a major job to administer such
a large organization. While you have overseen large entities in
your career, USDA is one of the largest organizations in the
world. How does your background prepare you for this kind of
responsibility?
Mr. Rutherford. Thank you for that question, and you are
absolutely right, it is going to be a challenge. It is a large
organization, but I believe my history, and particularly in
Maryland, with the administration of the Department of General
Services, which essentially serves as a back office or backbone
for the entire State Government has prepared me for the
challenge. We touch every agency, every department throughout
the State. We house and provide the equipment and services for
the several hundred thousand employees that work for the State,
as well as provide security. While we are not directly
responsible for their programs, we are the support agency for
other State governmental functions.
I would look at my role, if confirmed, in departmental
administration, in a similar manner, as the support function
for the mission of USDA. And as I said initially in my
statement, we would need to make sure that we are operating in
an effective and efficient manner to make sure that mission can
be carried out.
The Chairman. Thank you. For years USDA has faced
information technology challenges, including the inability of
agencies within the Department to share information with each
other. Given your experience in State and Federal Government,
are there strategies that USDA should pursue to better manage
its information technology infrastructure?
Mr. Rutherford. Well, first of all, I would need to explore
what the challenges have been in the past and currently. Not
being on board, I don't know exactly what their challenges are.
However, what I found is that in most cases there's a
communications challenge. There's also what can often happen--
and I'm not saying that this is going on at USDA--is that you
can have proprietary or people having silos, and they don't
want to share their information or work together. And one of
the things I think I have been able to do is to bring different
philosophies together. I'm trying to be nice in terms of
sometimes you have strong personalities that can head different
agencies and different departments, and it can be a challenge
to bring them together. But once you recognize those and cut
through the silos, I think you can address most of those
challenges, and we will look forward to work on that area.
The Chairman. This idea of spreading information technology
to rural America is something Senator Lugar, I know, has a
particular interest in. I have a very keen interest in it, and
I have expressed to both Secretary Johanns, as well as Teresa
Lassiter, the Director of FSA, that as we look at consolidating
or eliminating FSA offices around the country, all of that is
fine and good, but we cannot forget the fact that our farmers
have got to have access to their Government and their U.S.
Department of Agriculture. I hope that we are going to give
some serious thought, as we go through this process, to make
sure that those farmers who are moving ahead in this new world
of information technology, and as they do not have access to an
FSA office that may be close by, that we can give them access
to USDA through technologies, so that they can sit in their
offices or in their homes, instead of having to go to an FSA
Office that may be further away than what they are used to. I
think it is going to be a critically important decision and
process that you will be involved in, so we look forward to
engaging in this with you down the road.
Ms. Strachan, you have been involved in congressional
relations for a number of years. Are there lessons from your
private sector experience that you think would be useful at
USDA?
Ms. T4Strachan. T1Mr. Chairman, I think I had some
wonderful experiences in the private sector that I can bring to
Department of Agriculture. I was fortunate to be able to
participate in educational opportunities, helping staffers
learn about agriculture outside of the Washington area, to see
new technologies, and meet with researchers who are working on
interesting projects that are bringing value to the American
farmer. Those are the type of activities that I would like to
continue at the Department, if confirmed.
The Chairman. I believe it is important to have open lines
of communication between Congress and USDA, and I think you
have a unique ability to be able to do that based upon your
previous employment and your contact with all of us up here on
the Hill, who have known you for many years, and have had the
opportunity to work with you for years. How do you plan to move
forward and facilitate that communication, with USDA, and the
Hill?
Ms. Strachan. I'm very fortunate, if confirmed, to work
with Secretary Johanns and Deputy Secretary Conner, who also
share the same view about keeping the lines of communication
open and making sure that the Hill is briefed, as your
constituents need to know. The fact that there are a lot of top
drawer tickets coming up regarding agriculture, it is very
important that we set up a process that you are regularly
briefed on any upcoming issue. If confirmed, I would make sure
a process was definitely in place.
The Chairman. Good. Let me just say I am in my 12th year on
the Hill now, and this Secretary of Agriculture has been the
most open and the one that has been in communication with the
Hill more so than any other Secretary of Agriculture during my
12 years. We work very closely together because we do have that
open dialog, and we look forward to working with you to
continue that.
Senator Lugar?
Senator Lugar. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I join
you in welcoming our nominees, and congratulating the President
on the four excellent choices. I look forward to supporting
each one of you, and encourage our colleagues to do that.
Let me just say, Ms. Strachan, I join Senator Harkin and
Senator Chambliss in congratulating you in having Howard Baker
as a mentor. He is a very good friend of all of ours, but even
more importantly, the epitome of good relations between the
Congress, the administration and the public, and, obviously,
your career has manifested that in many ways.
Ms. Strachan. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Lugar. I would like to have you here and look
forward to working with you.
Ms. Strachan. Thank you, Senator.
Senator Lugar. Mr. Rutherford, I was struck by the
conclusion of your statement as one of the things that I think
is especially important. When you point out, you say, last bio-
energy is a small but significant overlap between one of the
administration's priorities and what I have been working on for
the past year. And you point out that in Maryland you have been
working to get legislation to require the use of bio-diesel in
the State's diesel fleet, and put up an ethanol filling
station.
I do not know what the constraints on you will be in USDA,
but I hope that they will not be severe as you perceive, think
through in a much larger context. That is, all the vehicle in
one form or another come under the purview of USDA, that they
would have a bio-diesel capability or a flexible fuel
capability, or that they might even be hybrid in terms of their
capabilities energy-wise. It seems to me that at this point, as
the President has stated, we are addicted to oil, that we have
to, in the course of a fairly short period of time, diminish by
75 percent our dependence upon Middle Eastern oil for a variety
of reasons. That really requires an extraordinary shift in the
whole transportation system of our country, and the leadership
that can be offered by departments such as USDA, which have, as
Senator Chambliss has pointed out, a strong interest really in
people that we are serving, farmers who are now growing for
energy, as well as growing for food, and the symbiotic
relationship between the administration of the Department and
that emphasis is just absolutely critical.
I have no idea how far and how rapidly you can proceed. I
would hope that it would be a very strong process, because
usually testimony on these things points out that Rome was not
built in a day, that these things take time, that in the
fullness of time, maybe three administrations down the trail,
certain things will happen, when really the Congress hopes that
things will happen in 2006. The strength of our country will be
manifested to others really in this timeframe, and without
getting into the problems of foreign policy that should verge
really upon this situation. The fact is that we are not as
credible as we need to be as a Nation. In terms of moving
toward non-energy independence, but simply an ability to hold
our own against other powers that do not wish us well.
So I am most hopeful, and I will be eager to hear of your
progress, and look forward, as I know others will on this
Committee, as supporting that.
In the same framework, Dr. Buchanan, your research efforts
have covered a myriad of fields. But I would hope that the
specific emphasis USDA can place upon research and energy now
would really come to the fore. The President, when he has
visited with Senators, has pointed out that cellulosic ethanol
is very, important to him, but then he qualifies this by saying
within a 6-year period of time or some other context. As you
may know, there is a potential plan that could be available in
Idaho this year. It is a question of moving ahead to the
Treasury guarantees and that type of thing, which you cannot
handle in a research position in USDA. But with your expertise,
this certainly can be a strong voice as to what this means.
Now, the President is talking about cellulosic ethanol
because various types of biomass occur in all of the States of
the Union. Some critics of corn-based ethanol point out that
the Midwest is not the entirety of U.S. agriculture, and as
enthusiastic as many of us are about building ethanol plants
using corn or bio-diesel plants that may use soybeans, the fact
is, as the President pointed out in a meeting we had, in
Arizona and New Mexico, and what-have-you, may be out of luck
with regard to any of the above. But nevertheless, in every
State there are biomass sources, and the question will be how
to organize this material, how to transport and how to provide
laboratories that convert it into something that is a renewable
fuel every year in the same way that agriculture provides
abundance in our food supply. Once again, people say, well, in
the by-and-by, this may all work out. But we are in a critical
point in this world, in which it has to happen very, quickly,
and there has to be credibility.
And so, I am excited by your coming to the Department
because you really bring an understanding of agriculture and
the world and the ways we make money in agriculture. Your own
farming experience manifests that. I saw your experience as a
tree farmer, and I identify with that. Your harvest of trees
and your pointing out how $28,000 was yours and so forth, that
is very valid, taking a look at that. But I am really most
hopeful that you can outline for the Committee, as you come
back and forth to visit with us, or even when you don't visit
with us, to send us reports, letters and what-have-you that
offer encouragement as to what is happening in energy research.
Do you have any broad comment about that as you undertake
these responsibilities?
Mr. Buchanan. Yes, sir, I certainly do, and I appreciate
your comments, Senator Lugar, because I am one of those that is
firmly convinced that we need to be looking at every possible
aspect of energy, and certainly, I am convinced--and I think I
am right--that one of our real opportunities for solution is
what we can grow utilizing the energy from the sun. And by
definition, that which we can get from energy from the sun is
agriculture. And there are many, many different opportunities,
and it is not just one part of the U.S. that is blessed, but
the whole country has opportunities.
I took a group of farmers and Development Authority
officials out to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
(NREL) out in Golden, Colorado this past summer to study and
look at the energy research going on at NREL. Then we visited
some facilities in Nebraska and Iowa and spent some time at
Iowa State. Then we visited in southern Minnesota and on over
into South Dakota, and clearly, they have fantastic
opportunities for corn, as we know, but also wind. In much of
the other parts of the country, we don't have much wind. Well,
you don't have much opportunity for biomass in some parts of
the Southwest, but you certainly have a lot of sunshine, and I
think we must consider all of the opportunities we have, and
get on with the business. Clearly, developing energy is one of
the areas that, as I mentioned, in response to Senator
Chambliss's question, I think is a real challenge.
And as I also pointed out, things like growing your own
nitrogen is one of those you don't think of as being energy-
related, but yet, most of our nitrogen comes from petroleum
products, from natural gas. So if you can grow that and combine
it into a production systems without having to make that
purchase, then that is just as good as filling up your car with
ethanol.
So, Senator, I think you're exactly right, and I really
look forward to work in this area because I think it's one of
the great opportunities we have.
Senator Lugar. Let me just ask one more question. It is a
settled aspect of this, but sometimes, as people in my home
State of Indiana take a look at the fact that 14 percent of our
corn now is going into ethanol, and that may be 20 percent by
the end of this year, and that surprises most corn farmers that
things have moved along that rapidly. It makes them happy
because the price of corn is a little stronger, given the large
surpluses in the world, and that will probably continue to be
the case.
But let us take the opposite case that people who say,
after all, God meant this corn to be used for feed for either
human beings or for livestock, and not for energy, and we are
going to run out of it. Or they will make an argument that we
are going to run out of farmland if we continue to use that
many acres for biomass or for soybeans, and for soy-diesel and
what-have-you. One of the arguments, of course, and your
lifetime has encompassed, as mine has--I have seen it on our
own farm--the yield in corn go from 40 to 50 bushels to the
acre, to 140, to 150, just in the course of that period of
time. And therefore, Americans doing research have done
remarkable things in tripling our yields, more than that on
some occasion. And working through Dr. Borlog and others in the
Green Revolution around the world.
So can you think of at least an agenda likewise in
research, leaving aside these exciting new vistas in energy,
likewise address the problem of yields, how we are going to in
fact improve corn and soybeans, or wheat, you know, common
objectives, but ones in which some people say, well, we have
almost reached the limits of this. Can you assure us the best
is still to come?
Mr. Buchanan. I am firmly convinced the best is still yet
to come. And of course there's other things, and you know, in
the President's address he mentioned switchgrass, which gets
back to cellulosic ethanol. I think that this has clearly got
to be one of the high priorities. I know that NREL is really
working in this area, but a lot of other laboratories are
working too because we really need the enzymes that really make
cellulosic ethanol a reality.
While we're talking about agricultural opportunities, we
need to be thinking about all of the other products that we
could use, for example things from cities. A lot of people
don't think about cities as having a lot of waste material, but
there's literally thousands and thousands of tons of biomass
that could be converted into useful energy if we had the
technology to do it. So that's another area that I think we're
going to see some research emphasis on in the future.
Senator Lugar. We look for your leadership to keep us
excited.
Mr. Kesselman, just one final question that I have. You
have made an excellent and important statement about racial
discrimination and your own convictions, with which this
committee agrees, and it is important, because over the years
we have had a number of hearings in our committee that have
been disturbing in terms of testimony of those who felt
discrimination had occurred in agricultural programs. It is not
new, but it is not entirely resolved. Your ability to work
constructively, this is very important.
I am just curious, as you survey that job, as you have
taken a look at it, what kind of lawsuits occur in USDA? What
is likely to be your portfolio of activity as you look at it
presently?
Mr. Kesselman. Senator, thank you. USDA is an incredibly
large and diverse organization. The types of conflicts that
arise are as diverse as the mission areas of the Department
itself. The Department has been litigating these program class
actions involving allegations of discrimination in the
administration of credit programs. At the same time, lawyers in
the Office of the General Counsel are also busy enforcing trade
practices laws with respect to agriculture. They are also
representing the Forest Service to ensure compliance with
environmental statutes. They are also helping to make sure that
we have the legal authorities that this country is going to
need in the event that the avian flu comes over here.
It is incumbent upon the next General Counsel to be able to
work with the attorneys in the Office of the General Counsel on
a wide variety of subject areas. I is also important to have a
cooperative working relationship, not just with the various
policy officials who work at the Department of Agriculture, but
also with officials across the Federal Government. I think that
my OMB experience will be a real strength if I am confirmed,
because I have worked with the Chief Counsel of the Food and
Drug Administration and the General Counsel of HHS. I've worked
with the attorneys at the EPA, and at the State Department. I
think that this breadth of experience could be of benefit to
the Department of Agriculture if you see fit to place me in
this important position.
Senator Lugar. That experience will be important, and I
appreciate your outlining that.
Mr. Rutherford, I am just intrigued. Are you going to be
able to set up USDA ethanol gas stations in each State?
[Laughter.]
Mr. Rutherford. Well, I don't know until and unless I'm
confirmed. I'm not sure if we would be able to do that or not,
but I would like to explore it and would be willing to sit down
and talk to you about that.
Senator Lugar. You have had the experience in Maryland.
Mr. Rutherford. Yes.
Senator Lugar. And so I emboldened to ask whether now that
your purview may be national, 50 States, that might be
replicated, and I hope that will be the case, because once
again, the leadership of showing how to do it is tremendously
encouraging and important.
Mr. Rutherford. You are correct that the leadership from
the President to Secretary Johanns have made bio-energy and
bio-based products a priority, and if confirmed, I would look
to assist in meeting that mission.
Senator Lugar. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
The Chairman. [Presiding] Thank you, Senator.
Let me just echo Senator Lugar's comments regarding to
alternative fuels. He and I share a common interest relative to
the development of this issue, and we talked just last week
again about it, and we are going to explore some ideas. He
mentioned something that, Mr. Rutherford, and I know some of
this is light comment, but Senator Lugar and I have a very
strong belief in the fact that we can produce all the
alternative energy in the world, but if we cannot get it in the
hands of the consumers, then it does us no good. We are going
to be moving toward the writing of the farm bill next year, and
there are a number of members of this Committee who have an
interest in alternative fuels, and we are going to continue to
develop that. I want to also see if we can have a mechanism for
the delivery of those alternative fuels, because I firmly
believe that Americans, being what they are, if they pull up to
a service station and gasoline is $2.50 and ethanol is $1.10, I
think we know what they are going to do, and particularly if
that fuel that goes into their cars gives them the same power
as gasoline will, and instead of going 10 miles per gallon of
gasoline, all of a sudden we go 200 miles per gallon on
gasoline, so it is a critically important issue.
Senator Lugar, Dr. Buchanan, is talking a little bit about
research in this area. And we do not grow the abundance of corn
that you do in the Midwest, but we are believers in alternative
fuels, and we were doing something under his leadership at the
University of Georgia, while he was Dean there from a research
standpoint of taking a crop that we can grow a lot of, which is
pine trees, and using it in the manufacture of energy. We are
even now taking what used to be the waste, the tops and the
limbs that the harvesters leave in the forest, and we are
gathering those up now and finding ways of developing those
products into energy. So there is a lot of research that needs
to be done, but there are a lot of great things that we can do,
and I look forward, obviously, to continuing to work with you
in that respect.
Ms. Strachan, I cannot let you leave here, since you have
mentioned Senator Dirksen and Senator Baker, who is a good
friend of both Senator Lugar and mine. The Senate is such a
great place from a historical standpoint. We are graced here
today with portraits of former members of the Senate Ag
Committee, including Senator Lugar up there, including one of
my mentors and dear friend, Senator Herman Talmadge up here,
but the one thing that we do is we keep a record of all the
desks that we utilize on the floor of the Senate as well as in
our personal offices. I get to sit behind a desk in my personal
office every day that once was the desk of Senator Everett
Dirksen, and it is pretty neat stuff. He was not just a great
asset to the Senate, he was a great America.
With that, I will remind all members of the committee that
they must get their questions in to each of you if they have
any additional questions in writing by 5 o'clock today. I would
ask that you please get those answers and responses to those
questions back immediately, as we want to bring these
nominations to the floor, hopefully, this week.
With that, we are going to stand adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:09 a.m., the committee was adjourned.]
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A P P E N D I X
March 14, 2006
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DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD
March 14, 2006
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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
March 14, 2006
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