[Senate Hearing 117-88]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                        S. Hrg. 117-88

                  NOMINATION OF DR. JEWEL H. BRONAUGH,
                       OF VIRGINIA, TO BE DEPUTY
                        SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

=======================================================================

                                HEARING

                               BEFORE THE

                       COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,
                        NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY

                          UNITED STATES SENATE

                    ONE HUNDRED SEVENTEENTH CONGRESS

                             FIRST SESSION

                               __________

                             APRIL 22, 2021

                               __________

                       Printed for the use of the
           Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
           
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]           


                  Available on http://www.govinfo.gov/
                  
                                __________

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE                    
45-945 PDF                 WASHINGTON : 2022                     
          
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           COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY


                 DEBBIE STABENOW, Michigan, Chairwoman
PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont            JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas
SHERROD BROWN, Ohio                  MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky
AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota             JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota
MICHAEL F. BENNET, Colorado          JONI ERNST, Iowa
KIRSTEN E. GILLIBRAND, New York      CINDY HYDE-SMITH, Mississippi
TINA SMITH, Minnesota                ROGER MARSHALL, Kansas
RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois          TOMMY TUBERVILLE, Alabama
CORY BOOKER, New Jersey              CHARLES GRASSLEY, Iowa
BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico            JOHN THUNE, South Dakota
RAPHAEL WARNOCK, Georgia             DEB FISCHER, Nebraska
                                     MIKE BRAUN, Indiana

               Joseph A. Shultz, Majority Staff Director
               Mary Beth Schultz, Majority Chief Counsel
                    Jessica L. Williams, Chief Clerk
            Martha Scott Poindexter, Minority Staff Director
                 Fred J. Clark, Minority Chief Counsel
                            
                            
                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              

                        Thursday, April 22, 2021

                                                                   Page

Hearing:

Nomination of Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh, of Virginia, to be Deputy 
  Secretary of Agriculture.......................................     1

                              ----------                              

                    STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY SENATORS

Stabenow, Hon. Debbie, U.S. Senator from the State of Michigan...     1
Boozman, Hon. John, U.S. Senator from the State of Arkansas......     3

                               WITNESSES

Warner, Hon. Mark R., U.S. Senator from the State of Virginia....     5
Bronaugh, Jewel H., Med, Edd, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary 
  of Agriculture.................................................     6
                              ----------                              

                                APPENDIX

Prepared Statements:
    Bronaugh, Jewel H............................................    34

Document(s) Submitted for the Record:
Stabenow, Hon. Debbie:
    Maryland and Virginia Milk Producers Cooperative Association, 
      letter of support..........................................    38
    Food and Farming Organizations, letter of support............    39
Bronaugh, Jewel H.:
    Committee questionnaire, Office of Government Ethics 
      Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure 
      Report and 5-day letter filed by Dr. Jewel H. Bronaugh.....    41

Question and Answer:
Bronaugh, Jewel H.:
    Written response to questions from Hon. Debbie Stabenow......    84
    Written response to questions from Hon. John Boozman.........    90
    Written response to questions from Hon. Patrick Leahy........   100
    Written response to questions from Hon. Amy Klobuchar........   101
    Written response to questions from Hon. Richard Durbin.......   102
    Written response to questions from Hon. Ben Ray Lujan........   108
    Written response to questions from Hon. John Hoeven..........   109
    Written response to questions from Hon. Roger Marshall, M.D..   110
    Written response to questions from Hon. John Boozman.........   113

 
    NOMINATION OF DR. JEWEL H. BRONAUGH, OF VIRGINIA, TO BE DEPUTY 
                        SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

                              ----------                              


                        THURSDAY, APRIL 22, 2021

                                       U.S. Senate,
         Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry,
                                                    Washington, DC.
    The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:05 a.m., via 
Webex and in room 301, Russell Senate Office Building, Hon. 
Debbie Stabenow, Chairwoman of the Committee, presiding.
    Present or submitting a statement: Senators Stabenow, 
Brown, Bennet, Gillibrand, Lujan, Warnock, Boozman, Hoeven, 
Ernst, Hyde-Smith, Marshall, Tuberville, Grassley, Thune, 
Fischer, and Braun.

STATEMENT OF HON. DEBBIE STABENOW, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE 
    OF MICHIGAN, CHAIRWOMAN, U.S. COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, 
                    NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY

    Chairwoman Stabenow. I call this hearing of the U.S. Senate 
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry to order. I 
thank colleagues for your patience as several of us were trying 
to be two places at once. I am looking forward to ``Beam Me Up, 
Scotty'' so we can do this without running between office 
buildings. Thanks very much.
    Everyone on this Committee knows the breadth of the U.S. 
Department of Agriculture and how it affects every American, 
whether they are a farmer or a rancher, facing----
    Senator Warner. Could I get some ice water, or ice with my 
favorite bottle?
    Chairwoman Stabenow. I think someone is tuning in here on 
us. It sounds like Senator Warner, but we will welcome him to 
the Committee.
    Senator Warner. Are you ready for me, Madam Chair, or 
later?
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Oh, I am sorry. It is Senator Warner. 
I will be ready for you in a few moments.
    Senator Warner. Yes, ma'am.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. I am sorry.
    Senator Warner. Yes, ma'am.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Just in a few moments. Thank you. 
Thank you. Senator Warner will be introducing our nominee.
    Everyone on the Committee knows the breadth, as I said, of 
the U.S. Department of Agriculture and how affects every 
American, whether it is a farmer, a rancher facing severe 
drought, a family struggling to make ends meet, or a small town 
looking to provide high-speed internet to its residents.
    I am pleased that today we are here to consider a nominee 
for a position that covers the scope of these issues, and more, 
at the USDA. Dr. Jewel Bronaugh, welcome and congratulations on 
your nomination to serve as Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. 
You have a very impressive and wide-ranging agricultural 
background. You have worked on some of our most important 
issues to American farmers, families, and rural communities.
    As Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture 
and Consumer Services, you led one of the most diverse 
agricultural States in the country--slightly behind Michigan--
growing everything from apples to peanuts to turkeys. You also 
have a track record as a strong leader in helping Virginia 
farmers, families, and rural communities weather the pandemic.
    You are also no strange to USDA. For two years, you were 
the Virginia State Executive Director for the USDA Farm Service 
Agency, overseeing Virginia's local Farm Service Agency 
offices, which, as we know, serve on the front lines helping 
our farmers and ranchers.
    You know first-hand the important role USDA plays in 
helping farmers and ranchers tap into resources that will help 
them grow and sustain their farms. Whether it is a dairy farmer 
signing up for the Dairy Margin Coverage Program, a soybean 
producer applying for ARC, or a beginning farmer learning how 
to start their operation, you have valuable experience working 
directly with farmers on the ground.
    You also know how conservation can help farmers be 
productive and profitable, while also protecting land and water 
and addressing the climate crisis. I trust that you will bring 
that perspective your role.
    You also have extensive experience in agricultural 
research, which is fundamental to the success of American 
agriculture. As Dean of the College of Agriculture at Virginia 
State University, you oversaw important research and innovation 
that helps our farmers grow the food that feeds the world.
    When we met last week, you and I also discussed how we can 
support all corners of American agriculture, big and small, 
urban and rural. We need to make sure there is opportunity for 
all farmers, no matter what you grow or how you grow it.
    Dr. Bronaugh has the support of a wide range of 
organizations representing food and farming, including the 
American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, 
National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, United Fresh Produce 
Association, National Milk Producers Federation, and a variety 
of State and local groups, including several from my home State 
of Michigan. I ask that such letters be included in the record. 
Without objection, so ordered.

    [The letters can be found on pages 38-40 in the appendix.]

    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you again for being here. I look 
forward to hearing more about your plans and your vision today. 
I now recognize our Ranking Member, Senator Boozman, and then I 
will recognize Senator Warner for the formal introduction.

 STATEMENT OF HON. SENATOR JOHN BOOZMAN, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE 
                       STATE OF ARKANSAS

    Senator Boozman. Thank you, Madam Chair. We are very 
pleased to welcome Dr. Jewel Bronaugh to the Committee this 
morning as we consider her nomination to be Deputy Secretary of 
Agriculture. Secretary Vilsack was confirmed a few weeks ago, 
and we appreciate his eagerness to get a full team in place so 
the Department can continue to work on behalf of the Nation's 
farmers, ranchers, and other rural stakeholders. I look forward 
to hearing from Secretary Vilsack in the next few days on the 
status of the work he has been doing since getting reacquainted 
with his old job.
    The Deputy Secretary of Agriculture is the second highest-
ranking official at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the 
Senate. More importantly, she becomes the Acting Secretary if 
the Secretary is unable to perform the duties of the office. 
The position coordinates day-to-day operations within the 
Department and efforts across agencies. The Deputy Secretary is 
tasked with implementing the departmental mission. The Deputy 
Secretary receives input from outside the agency and stays up 
to date on issues and trends in the agriculture arena.
    Dr. Bronaugh certainly has shown she has the experience to 
handle these significant responsibilities at the Department. 
Throughout Dr. Bronaugh's career, she has shown to be a true 
leader in agriculture by serving her country and the State of 
Virginia in government and educational roles. Her experience 
includes her service as the Virginia State Executive Director 
for the USDA Farm Service Agency, where she was appointed by 
Governor Terry McAuliffe and the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture 
Tom Vilsack in July 2015.
    In her role with FSA, she provided oversight for critical 
production, stabilization, price support, compliance, farm loan 
conservation, environmental and emergency assistance programs 
in Virginia. She was responsible for the supervision of 41 
field offices and the State FSA office, comprising 186 
employees. Dr. Bronaugh was the first African American female 
in the Nation to serve in this capacity, and she is the first 
woman of color to be nominated for the USDA Deputy Secretary.
    She has championed causes in her career such as developing 
and delivering programs addressing issues of bullying among 
youth while she was Associate Administrator of Cooperative 
Extension and a 4-H Youth Development Specialist, and in the 
spring of 2019, she launched the Farmer Stress Task Force, 
organized in partnership with agriculture and health-related 
agencies and organizations to raise awareness and coordinate 
resources to address farmer stress and mental health challenges 
in Virginia.
    She has won praise and support from many in the agriculture 
community, including the American Farm Bureau, the National 
Farmers Union, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, 
National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, 
National Cotton Council, North American Meat Institute, USA 
Rice, and I am sure many others.
    As everyone knows in this room, agriculture is more prone 
to regional concerns as opposed to partisan battles. I am 
pleased to see that in Dr. Bronaugh's current job she serves as 
the Treasurer of the Southern Association of State Departments 
of Agriculture, part of the National Association of State 
Departments of Agriculture, which displays her appreciation and 
understanding of Southern agriculture.
    As I have stated before, I am a strong believer that past 
performance is indicative of future performance, so I believe 
Dr. Bronaugh is bound for success at the Department. If 
confirmed, I am confident that Dr. Bronaugh and her staff will 
continue working in a bipartisan fashion with Congress on 
behalf of our farmers, ranchers, and those the Department 
serves.
    USDA and Congress have a very special relationship, one 
that is traditionally very collegial and informative. I hope 
that that relationship will grow stronger in the coming days 
and months under the guidance of Dr. Bronaugh, and that she 
will endeavor to work with Congress in a transparent, 
bipartisan manner as we all serve the agriculture constituency.
    Despite seeing light at the end of the tunnel, there are 
many challenges to getting rural America back to a full 
recovery, and open, transparent lines of communication between 
USDA and Congress are an important part of doing the work to 
reach that goal. I continue to monitor the status of COVID 
relief, as I know the Chairwoman is also, and it is imperative 
that the CFAP assistance gets to those most in need. I was 
troubled when the Biden administration announced a 60-day 
review of some of this assistance while advocating for an 
additional $1.9 trillion, then passing it on a partisan basis 
without the benefit of input from all in Congress.
    However, I am pleased to see that some relief has begun to 
flow to those who are in need. Accordingly, I encourage you, 
Dr. Bronaugh, to work to deliver assistance as expeditiously as 
possible to those who continue to struggle with this pandemic.
    I also remain concerned about a number of issues in ag 
today, including how the administration works with our 
producers on issues involving the environment and climate. In 
recent years, production agriculture has taken many strides to 
be more efficient and environmentally friendly. We need USDA 
and other Federal agencies to acknowledge that work and see 
agriculture as part of the solution, not part of the problem.
    It is important that USDA and this Committee keep farmers 
and producers at the forefront of any discussion on climate 
change. Heavy-handed, one-size-fits-all regulations simply do 
not work. Climate policy that is advanced by this 
administration or by others in Congress must be addressed in a 
bipartisan fashion with a focus to truly benefit all farmers 
across the country, without mandating specific farming 
practices. Responding to the demands for immediate, urgent 
legislative action on issues that affect our farmers, ranchers, 
and producers is important, and it is our job.
    As Congress considers additional climate policies, I urge 
my colleagues that we should address such legislation in a 
diligent, collaborative, and bipartisan manner, because while 
bipartisan consensus takes time, it yields greater buy-in, and 
hopefully better results.
    Dr. Bronaugh, I look forward to hearing from you today and 
working with you, if confirmed, and I now yield back to our 
Chairwoman.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much, Senator Boozman, 
and I would now yield to my good friend and colleague from 
Virginia, Senator Warner.

 STATEMENT OF THE HON. MARK R. WARNER, A U.S. SENATOR FROM THE 
                       STATE OF VIRGINIA

    Senator Warner. Well, good morning, everyone, and thank 
you, Madam Chair Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman and 
distinguished members of the Committee. It is obviously my 
distinct pleasure and honor to introduce formally a fellow 
Virginian, an outstanding public servant, to serve as President 
Biden's Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, Dr. Jewel Bronaugh.
    Since both Senator Stabenow and Senator Boozman went 
through a number of the parts of your background I will only 
hit them briefly. Dr. Bronaugh, I do not think we ought to 
bring up the fact that the Chairwoman just said that Michigan 
was much better than Virginia on a series of agricultural 
things. Until we get through the Committee we shouldn't correct 
her of that impression.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. That is true, Senator Warner. I simply 
said we had more diversity of crops, but you are absolutely 
right.
    Senator Warner. Well, Madam Chair, you know, Dr. Bronaugh 
and I would never, never try to contest that, at least until 
she is confirmed.
    [Laughter.]
    Senator Warner. It has already been mentioned, and again I 
will just try to hit this very quickly, because I really do 
appreciate both you and the Senator from Arkansas. You know a 
lot about the nominee's background. She served as the 16th 
Commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Consumer 
Services. She has held that position since 2018. She was the 
first African American woman. Senator Boozman brought out the 
fact that during COVID she had a very interesting, I think, 
program called the Farmer Stress Task Force, to recognize the 
challenges that farmers had to endure through the COVID 
challenge, and that, again, I think, shows her creativity and 
her willingness to lean in.
    As has been mentioned already, she understands very well 
the mission at USDA. As Commissioner of VDACS she established 
the Virginia Food Access Investment Grant Program that looked 
at this problem of food deserts, again something I know the 
Chairwoman has shown great leadership on, and I think you will 
find in Dr. Bronaugh somebody who can also bring creativity to 
that position.
    You both mentioned, as well, that she served as Dean at the 
College of Agriculture at a great university in Virginia, 
Virginia State University in Petersburg, again, recognizing 
some of the issues around food deserts and food insecurity. She 
has obviously worked in some of these previous roles with 
Secretary Vilsack. In 2015, she was nominated by then Virginia 
Governor Terry McAuliffe and Secretary Vilsack as Virginia 
State Executive Director of USDA Farm Service Agency, again 
familiar with the very strong Federal agricultural programs 
that I know she will help oversee.
    This is really a very, very talented public servant. Both 
you and the Ranking Member I think have expressed that. I think 
the other members of the Committee, as they get a chance to 
know Dr. Bronaugh, will realize both her heart for public 
service, her willingness to be committed, willingness to shake 
things up and try new things as well.
    I recommend her 100 percent, without reservation, and would 
appreciate the Committee's prompt review of her qualifications. 
With that, Madam Chair, I will yield back and, again, Dr. 
Bronaugh, once we get you confirmed we can have the debate 
about diversity of farm products between Michigan and Virginia. 
That will be saved for another time.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you, Senator Warner, and you 
should quit while you are ahead.
    Senator Warner. I know. Don't worry. I am smart enough to 
yield back my 55 seconds, so thank you so much.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Well, thank you very, very much for 
that high praise for our nominee.
    Now, Dr. Bronaugh, I have two questions for you to address. 
I realize we are doing this remotely, but I would ask that you 
raise your right hand. I see our nominee. Good morning.
    Ms. Bronaugh. Good morning.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Please raise your right hand. Do you 
swear or affirm that the testimony you are about to provide is 
the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help 
you God?
    Ms. Bronaugh. I do.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you. Second, do you agree that, 
if confirmed, you will appear before any duly constituted 
Committee of Congress if asked to appear?
    Ms. Bronaugh. I will.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much. Dr. Bronaugh, 
welcome again. I look forward to learning more about your 
vision and priorities for the Department of Agriculture, and, 
of course, your testimony will be made a part of the record in 
its entirety. You may proceed as you desire.

STATEMENT OF JEWEL H. BRONAUGH, M.Ed, Ed.D., OF VIRGINIA, TO BE 
                DEPUTY SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE

    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you. I appreciate being here today. 
Thank you, Chairwoman Stabenow, Ranking Member Boozman, and 
members of this Committee. I also thank Secretary Vilsack for 
all of his support, and many thanks to Senator Warner for 
joining today for the warm introduction.
    First and foremost, thank you for this opportunity. I am 
here today with the loving support of my husband, Cleavon, who 
happens to be a retired U.S. Army veteran, our beautiful 
children, my parents--two teachers who raised me to become an 
educator--and so many role models, including Virginia State 
Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry Bettina Ring, and the 
farmers, ranchers, and landowners I work for each day.
    Happy Earth Day to everybody, as we recognize 51 years of 
effort to protect our environment and restore our earth, and we 
are wearing the color green today to reflect today and what it 
means.
    I am honored to have been nominated by President Biden to 
serve as the Deputy Secretary of Agriculture at USDA. I know 
that, if confirmed, I will be the first black woman and woman 
of color to serve as Deputy Secretary. As such, I fully 
understand the historic nature of this confirmation, along with 
the responsibilities of my service in this role. I will join 
thousands of dedicated civil servants at USDA who work in every 
State and 100 countries around the world. I know from 
experience how their work touches the lives of all Americans 
each day in so many positive ways. I value their work and I 
identify with their selfless commitment.
    My parents taught me humility and they encouraged me to 
treat others with dignity. I went into education because of my 
parents, but I focused on agriculture because I wanted to 
inspire young people to build better communities through food 
and nutrition. I am also very proud of my career in Cooperative 
Extension, where I was first inspired by young people in 4-H, 
getting to know the families and communities across Virginia 
who produced our food, feed, fiber, and fuel. This led to the 
honor of serving as Dean of the College of Agriculture at 
Virginia State University, where many of my students were 
first-generation college students from rural communities. I am 
very proud of those men and women who have become outstanding 
leaders in their fields.
    In 2015, Secretary Vilsack appointed me to serve as State 
Executive Director for the Farm Service Agency, where I led the 
implementation of farm bill programs and I personally visited 
each of the 41 field offices within my first year of service to 
learn more about how FSA programs affected farmers, ranchers, 
and forestland owners.
    Soon thereafter, I received the appointment as the 16th 
Commissioner of the Virginia Department of Agriculture and 
Consumer Services. I was proud to work with other State 
Commissioners, Directors and Secretaries to prioritize PPE for 
farmers and farm workers, advocate for State and Federal 
resources to support dairy farmers and poultry producers, 
expand opportunities for small and midsized farmers and 
ranchers to obtain infrastructure and processing capabilities, 
and develop strategies to meet environmental and water quality 
goals for the Chesapeake Bay.
    Throughout all these experiences and opportunities, it has 
been personal interactions with farmers, ranchers, and land 
owners that I have found deeply rewarding. I have learned of 
their struggles. I have been in their homes and listened to 
aging mothers express the fear of losing the family farm 
because the children wanted to pursue careers outside of 
farming. I spent time with black farmers so inundated with 
stress resulting from years of farm debt that they gave up 
hope. I have spoken with Hispanic workers who, while working 
someone else's land, fully realized their dream of owning their 
own farm. I personally experienced the tears of 
multigenerational dairy farmers given no other choice but to 
sell their dairy herd and the farm that had been in the family 
for four generations.
    What I took away from each experience is the importance not 
only of listening, but hearing what people are saying beneath 
the emotion.
    What motivates me and inspires me is that with all the 
challenges our farmers and ranchers and landowners face today, 
I have never met one who is not eternally optimistic. 
Throughout the pandemic I spoke with one agricultural producer 
after another who somehow found ways to realign their operation 
to meet the demands of an altered food supply chain. They only 
required help to provide a voice to assist them in obtaining 
resources that they needed for financial survival. If America's 
farmers and ranchers can find a way to stay positive and 
committed to their work, then I am obligated to use my voice, 
and, if confirmed, to do what I can to provide help and 
assistance in building our rural economy back stronger.
    Each time I speak with Secretary Vilsack, we discuss 
equity. I share the Secretary's commitment to take bold action, 
to work with this Committee to address discrimination in all 
its forms across USDA. In 1862, Abraham Lincoln established 
USDA. In 1864, he called it ``The People's Department.'' I 
believe it should be just that: the department for all people.
    I am here today to commit that, if confirmed, I will be a 
champion for all farmers, producers, families, and rural 
communities who rely on USDA. I will remain committed to 
helping lead a Department that serves all Americans equally. I 
am grateful for your time and I welcome any questions you may 
have, and thank you.

    [The prepared statement of Ms. Bronaugh can be found on 
page 34 in the appendix.]

    Chairwoman Stabenow. Well, thank you so much, Dr. Bronaugh. 
Thank you so much for those comments, and we will now begin a 
round of five-minute questions from each member. As I begin, on 
a personal level I just wanted to say I was so pleased that I 
saw you were involved in 4-H. I spent my life growing up in 4-
H, and I think it is such a wonderful leadership tool for young 
people, and I appreciate the fact that you understand that, so 
that was great to see.
    Dr. Bronaugh, your current position as Commissioner of 
Agriculture of Virginia, and your previous service leading the 
USDA's Farm Service Agency in the State has given you 
tremendous insight, as you talked about, into the needs of 
farmers and ranchers, and I think this experience will serve 
you well if you are confirmed as Deputy Secretary.
    As you know, American agriculture is incredibly diverse. 
Could you talk more about the lessons you have learned about 
how USDA can reach all farmers, big and small, conventional and 
organic, regardless of who they are and what they grow?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Yes. Thank you, Senator Stabenow, and I first 
want to start by saying I am excited to see this Committee pass 
the Growing Climate Solutions Act with such bipartisan 
leadership. I look forward to engaging with you, Senator Braun, 
Senator Boozman, and other members of the Committee to ensure 
that we have a timely and important effort to impact climate 
change.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you.
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you for your question. When I think 
about all that USDA does, you know, we have programs for all of 
the major priorities that we face in this country today. I 
think about the major priorities of the pandemic and addressing 
issues around health, climate change, racial equity, and 
building our rural economy back stronger, and USDA certainly 
has programs that affect all of those major priorities and can 
be used to address those priorities.
    Senator Stabenow, you asked about my background and my 
experience in how we can utilize USDA programs, and I can go 
back to my first experiences in research and Extension where it 
was critical that we relied on science-based information and 
funding through NIFA, through ERS and ARS.
    You mentioned 4-H and youth development. Youth development 
in the 4-H organization is one of the strongest in the world 
because it relies on research-based information and the focus 
on youth development as a body of knowledge, a science for 
really working to improve our young people and their 
leadership. Of course, the technical assistance aspect of 
programs that USDA provides has been critically important.
    At Virginia State University, an 1890 land grant 
institution, we utilize many resources from USDA to address 
small and midsized and minority farmers, things that they 
needed--cold storage infrastructure, micro loans, grant 
opportunities like the Specialty Crop Block Grant, and the 2501 
Program that we have relied on significantly. We also utilized 
resources in nutrition, in terms of trying to expand greater 
usage of SNAP and WIC. Then, of course, how we can access 
small-scale infrastructure through farm storage facility loans 
and others.
    At FSA, I understood the critical safety net that USDA 
provided, the need for a strong crop insurance program, 
directing guaranteed loans, disaster assistance. Very 
important. Then I learned about the connections in the local 
office, where you had co-located NRCS programs that focused on 
conservation the ability to work in that local office through 
those important partnerships and those conservation efforts.
    At the Virginia Department of Agriculture, USDA impacts us, 
and we work with them in many ways--in international trade, 
food safety, for example, food distribution, animal and plant 
health, and, of course, broadband expansion.
    It does not matter the size or the type of operation that 
you are. There is a program at USDA that can work to address 
our most critical needs that we face in agriculture today.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Great. Well, thank you very much. Just 
in closing my comments, one other question. You mentioned high-
speed internet access, and when we look at our small towns and 
rural communities, we have a host of challenges. Certainly 
COVID showed us how the lack of high-speed internet access is 
so critical in so many areas. Aging infrastructure, you know, 
maintaining families, sustainable jobs, what more can USDA do 
to address these issues and create economic opportunities in 
rural America?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Well, we have a great opportunity, Senator 
Stabenow. You know, in thinking about opportunity for things 
like clean energy jobs in rural America, there is a great 
opportunity in terms of supporting renewable fuels, bio-based, 
product development, for example. Opportunities to manage our 
forests and grasslands, and you mentioned our broadband 
infrastructure. There are great opportunities through utilizing 
USDA programs such as ReConnect, in reaching that last mile of 
broadband infrastructure. That helps with telehealth, with 
small businesses development, distance learning.
    Also, helping to renew the electrical grid in our rural 
communities is very important, and, of course, USDA has many 
opportunities around that. Improving housing, restoring our 
schools, being able to help with hospitals who can provide 
vaccinations, and then safe drinking water is so important to 
our Tribal communities and our rural communities.
    We have a lot of opportunity through rural development 
programs to make an impact to address climate, to address 
infrastructure, and other important resources for our rural 
communities. If I have the opportunity to be confirmed, I look 
forward to working with all aspects of USDA to continue to 
strengthen our rural communities and make them as strong as 
they can be.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you so much. I am going to turn 
now to Senator Boozman.
    Senator Boozman. Thank you, Madam Chair, and again, we 
appreciate, Dr. Bronaugh, your willingness to serve. My girls 
also were very active in 4-H. I have three daughters and they 
were all State record-book winners, and it was a tremendous 
benefit, not only to them but to our entire family. We 
appreciate your advocacy there and your hard work.
    Also, I was with Wes Ward, our State Ag Secretary, last 
weekend, and he said to be sure and get on the stick and do all 
I could to help you get confirmed. He is one of your major 
cheerleaders. It is nice to hear from people that actually know 
you well and appreciate the service that you have done.
    Let me ask you about a couple of things that I think are 
important that I want to put in your mind. Section 1005 of the 
American Rescue Plan included ``such sums as necessary'' for 
the cost of loan modifications and payments to socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers who had outstanding Farm 
Service Agency farm loan debt as of January 1, 2021.
    One of the problems that has occurred is that we have heard 
from a number of ag lenders that partner with USDA to make Farm 
Service Agency guaranteed farm loans to socially disadvantaged 
farmers who could be negatively impacted by the program if USDA 
is not careful. These are lenders that, again, are so helpful 
to these individuals.
    If USDA is not careful in how it administers this--Section 
1005 provides for the cost of USDA's lost future interest on 
FSA direct loans--it would be both unfair and unfortunate if 
USDA failed to provide the same relief to FSA's private sector 
lending partners. Also, not only would it be unfair, but I 
think we have the potential of some of those lenders leaving 
the market and making it more difficult for individuals to get 
loans.
    I would ask you to commit to providing the same relief to 
FSA's guaranteed farm lenders and, at the very least, make this 
a priority to find out how we can, again, treat everybody in a 
fair manner.
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator Boozman, and I appreciated 
conservations that I had with you recently, understanding that 
agriculture is 25 percent of the economy in your State. Please 
tell Wes Ward that I said hello. It was good chatting with you.
    Senator Boozman, you talk about a critical issue in terms 
of farm loans, direct and guaranteed loans, and you also talk 
about those loans being available to all farmers. I think as we 
work through some of the challenges, working with our socially 
disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, it will be important to 
ensure that we have those resources in the direct and 
guaranteed loan program. If I have the opportunity to be 
confirmed, I will work with USDA to ensure that through FSA we 
have the loans full and available to all of our Nation's 
farmers and ranchers.
    Senator Boozman. Thank you very much. Dr. Bronaugh, in 
order to ensure legal compliance with FOIA, the Federal Records 
Act, other Federal laws, best practices, and to be as 
transparent as possible, will you commit to ensuring that those 
employed at USDA, whether they are political appointees or 
those that serve in the career service, use official government 
email accounts, not personal email, when discussing or working 
on USDA-related business? Will you further commit to keeping 
Congress informed of USDA's compliance with such laws and 
principles?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Yes. Senator Boozman, if confirmed, I will 
make sure that all USDA employees comply with all rules and 
expectations of the Federal Government. We always want to make 
sure that we are doing business in the most appropriate way.
    Senator Boozman. Also regarding that, if confirmed, will 
you commit, without reservation, to notify Congress in advance 
of any public announcement of any major changes regarding 
policy decisions, programmatic or otherwise, whether made by 
you or the Department during your tenure? Further, if 
confirmed, will you commit to ensuring the Department provides 
timely responses to stakeholders seeking assistance or 
information on programs and practices impacting the agriculture 
community?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Boozman, yes. If confirmed, I will 
commit to timely responses to our important stakeholders, as 
well as to consistent and open communication with Members of 
Congress.
    Senator Boozman. Good. Also, very importantly, letting 
Congress know, letting the Committee know, in advance, with 
programmatic changes. Those things certainly are expected and 
very, very helpful. With that I yield back.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much, Senator Boozman. 
I believe we have Senator Gillibrand is next.
    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Madam Chairwoman. Thank you, 
Dr. Bronaugh, for being here today, and congratulations on your 
historic nomination.
    First I would like to talk about dairy. In the 2018 Farm 
Bill, there was language that changed the price calculation for 
Class I milk. This change was implemented in 2019, and what it 
did was change the pricing calculation for Class I milk, which 
previously was calculated to use the ``higher of Class III or 
Class IV price, plus applicable Class I differential, to an 
averaging method of those two classes plus $0.74.'' This 
current Class I milk pricing cannot be changed until May 2021, 
after which it can be modified, either through legislation or 
an amendment to the Federal Milk Marketing Orders.
    I have heard from our dairy farmers across New York and the 
country who have stated this change has caused dairy farmers 
collectively to suffer a net loss of hundreds of millions of 
dollars during the almost two years this rule has been in 
place. Now that we are almost at the full two-year mark for 
this rule to be changed, USDA has an opportunity to resolve 
this issue by giving farmers a chance to revert back to the old 
method of calculating Class I milk by basing it off of the 
higher of Class III or Class IV price. This one change would 
put money back in dairy farmers' pockets immediately.
    Do you think this is a change we should make?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Gillibrand, it is great to meet you. 
Dairy is the third-largest commodity in the commonwealth of 
Virginia, and I do understand the importance of ensuring that 
they get stabilized prices for their milk, and we need to 
support the dairy industry.
    If confirmed, in terms of the milk pricing rule, I look to 
learn more about the process, and, if confirmed, I will 
followup with your office for further discussion to see what 
the USDA can do in order to move forward with the milk pricing 
rule.
    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you. I think it is really 
important that you listen to farmers on this issue. Not all the 
organizations that purport to speak for them actually do. I 
would be grateful if you could commit to holding Federal Milk 
Marketing Order hearings and give a chance for amendments to be 
offered.
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Gillibrand, I understand the 
importance of that farmer engagement. It is very important. If 
confirmed, we will be sure to engage in conservations with 
important dairy stakeholders and others prior to making 
decisions.
    Senator Gillibrand. Okay. Earlier this week, the USDA 
announced that they were extending free school meals for all 
students through 2021-2022 school year by continuing the 
existing waivers that had been granted due to the pandemic. 
This is welcome news and gives both schools and parents peace 
of mind that children will have free school meals for at least 
one more year.
    However, we do need to go further and make universal free 
school meals a reality even when a pandemic is not present. Dr. 
Bronaugh, can you speak to what the impact of universal school 
meals has had on children's health, nutrition, and education 
during this pandemic, and will you be a supporter within USDA 
of a universal school meals program, even after the pandemic is 
over?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Gillibrand, you spoke about the 
importance of the school waivers, which I think provide an 
opportunity for food during the pandemic, and nutritious food 
that we can provide in a safe and healthy way. It provides 
flexibilities for our schools to be able to try to meet those 
needs.
    In terms of universal free meals, that is something that I 
think would be incredibly important to, one, look at research 
and data, but to rely on conversations with Congress in order 
to determine how to best move forward. If confirmed, I look 
forward to engaging with your office and other members of this 
Committee to determine how we can continue to offer school 
meals and other nutritional support and flexibilities to our 
school system to do so.
    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you. The economic viability of 
more than 1,300 organic farms in New York depends on making 
sure that all organic operations operate under the same rules 
and that all certifiers are interpreting the standards 
consistently. There are several long-overdue rulemakings that 
are critical to the organic farm sector, including organic 
livestock and poultry practices, the Strengthening Organic 
Enforcement Rule.
    Today, I want to ask you about one specific rulemaking that 
is long overdue, which is the Origin of Livestock regulation, 
which would close loopholes in the organic standards related to 
transitioning of conventional dairy cows into organic dairy 
operations. Those operations that used the loophole to 
continuously transition conventional animals into organic 
production are gaining an economic advantage over the other 
organic dairy farms that are meeting the standard.
    Will you commit to instructing the National Organic Program 
to finalize an enforcement rule on Origin of Livestock as 
quickly as possible so that New York organic dairy operations 
are not so economically disadvantaged?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Gillibrand, I understand the 
importance of the Origin of Livestock rule. If confirmed, I 
will work with USDA to become fully informed on how we will 
need to move forward with this rule, and as such, after 
guidance we will work with your office and any other members of 
this Committee ensuring that we move forward in the appropriate 
way.
    Senator Gillibrand. Thank you, Ms. Bronaugh. I appreciate 
your testimony, and congratulations.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much. Now Senator 
Ernst.
    Senator Ernst. Thank you, Madam Chair, and thank you as 
well, Dr. Bronaugh. It is wonderful to have you in front of the 
Committee today, and I am very excited about the extensive 
experience that you are bringing into this position.
    I do appreciate your dedication to improving farmer mental 
health, and that is an area that I have focused on here in the 
U.S. Senate and worked with Senator Tammy Baldwin. We really 
appreciate the Farmer Stress and Mental Health Task Force in 
Virginia. I think that is a wonderful step forward to ensuring 
the mental health of our farmers and ranchers. Thank you very 
much for that.
    Now one concern that I do have is the use of Executive 
orders by the Biden administration to address climate change 
and to institute policy. I am certain that everyone in this 
room really does care about our environment, and, in fact, I 
would argue that our farmers are our Nation's first 
conservationists. I say that all the time.
    That being said, we have seen countless proposals from the 
30x30 land rule to transitioning the Federal fleet to electric 
vehicles, and just last week we saw USTR announce the need to 
fight climate change with trade policies.
    Clean water, soil, and air are a top priority for our 
farmers, but what I worry is that the Biden administration's 
singular focus on climate policy could actually create an 
environment where our farmers and producers are not seen as 
part of the solution but instead they are being targeted as the 
problem. The path forward really does have to be a bipartisan 
one.
    Will you commit to advocating for our farmers, our 
producers, and rural communities as the administration 
continues to roll out their executive edicts on climate?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you very much, Senator Ernst, and there 
has been a lot of discussion around climate change. As you 
mentioned, it is a bipartisan effort to move forward. As such, 
it will be critical that we keep our farmers first, in any 
discussions and decisions that are made in terms of climate 
change, that anything that we do regarding decisions around 
climate change are voluntary and incentive based.
    If I have the opportunity to be confirmed, I will ensure 
that we keep our farmers, ranchers, and landowners first in 
discussions and plans to address climate change and additional 
efforts in this regard.
    Senator Ernst. Thank you very much. Many of those issues, 
and as I just stated, of course working with USTR and some of 
the announcements there, what I would like to know from you, of 
course, is how you would work with other agencies like the 
USTR, the EPA, a number of those agencies that have shared 
Federal jurisdictions, to defend our farmers and producers with 
the issues that are very important to them? How will you work 
with those other Federal agencies?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator Ernst, for that question. 
You know, it is important that we always work with Federal 
agencies--I call them our sister agencies--to inform them about 
how the decisions that they make affect our clientele. Things 
that are related to agriculture, forestry, are things that I 
believe our Nation's farmers and ranchers and landowners would 
expect USDA to make critical decisions about.
    If I have the opportunity to be confirmed, I will commit to 
working with Secretary Vilsack to ensure that we stay in 
contact with those agencies, we talk about the impacts of their 
decisions on our clientele, and ensure that we fight for our 
agricultural producers and their rights and needs going 
forward.
    Senator Ernst. Thank you. I really do appreciate that. I 
think it is important, because decisions made in those other 
Federal agencies obviously impact our farmers and ranchers 
which heavily. Congratulations on your nomination, and I 
appreciate your testimony today. Thank you. Thank you, Madam 
Chair.
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much. Senator Ernst, as 
you were speaking I was thinking that that is why I am so glad 
we passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act as a voluntary 
program through the USDA. Very important. Thank you for your 
questions.
    I am not sure if we have Senator Warnock with us. If he is, 
he would be next up.
    [No response.]
    Chairwoman Stabenow. If not, we will go to Senator Hyde-
Smith.
    Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you, Madam Chairman. I certainly 
appreciate the opportunity to be here today. As a former 
Commissioner of Agriculture, I know that we did not serve 
together, but I sure hear good things about you. In our visit 
before, as I told you, I am very proud of you today.
    One of the things that I am working on in Mississippi right 
now is very important to me. We have had some great discussions 
already in this hearing about dairy, that is very important, 
and climate change. One of the specific things that I am 
working on, that I am going to take this opportunity to discuss 
with you now, and present a question on, is Section 8631 of the 
2018 Farm Bill which authorized a transfer of 150 acres on the 
Homochitto National Forest from the U.S. Forest Service to the 
Scenic Rivers Development Alliance, a regional organization 
dedicated to rural economic development and outdoor recreation, 
in southwest Mississippi.
    The provision in the farm bill authorizing this transfer 
would specifically support much-needed rural economic 
development in southwest Mississippi. There is a lot going on 
in that area regarding agriculture, but this is rural economic 
development that we are focusing on right now.
    The Forest Service has worked with the Scenic Rivers and 
the transfer is nearly complete. We are working on a date now 
for the announcement. The development plan for the land 
includes a lodge-style hotel, conference center, and many other 
amenities that will attract visitors to this remote region and 
pretty part of our State. I am confident it will bring 
tremendous economic benefits to this large rural area. It is 
currently an underserved area, very underserved.
    An updated master plan for the Homochitto National Forest 
would complement Scenic Rivers' development plan in a very 
significant way. This is something that we really need from the 
Forest Service.
    If confirmed, with a confidence the transfer will be 
finalized in the coming weeks, will you help ensure the U.S. 
Forest Service continues working closely with the Scenic Rivers 
Development Alliance to ensure maximum benefits from this 
exciting rural economic development project? We are very 
excited about this project because there has not been anything 
in southwest Mississippi in a very long time. This is a great 
opportunity.
    I am just asking you, if you are confirmed, would you 
continue to work and make sure that this comes to fruition, to 
the best of your ability?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Hyde-Smith, it is great to see you. I 
have my genuine Mississippi logo binder right here with me, and 
it is great to talk about all of the great economic development 
work around agriculture that is done in the State of 
Mississippi. If confirmed, I will confer with the Forest 
Service to ensure that they are able to work closely with the 
Scenic Rivers project and to identify any other challenges and 
issues, and I am happy to followup with your office as a 
followup in this regard.
    Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you so very much, because that is 
important. I really look forward to working with you. I think 
we are going to see some very good things.
    My second question. In June 2020, the U.S. International 
Trade Commission announced an initiation of a countervailing 
duty investigation on phosphate fertilizer imports from 
Morocco. I raised this issue during Secretary Vilsack's 
confirmation hearing. The imposed tariffs are currently under 
appeal. Since the initiation of this case, the uncertainty of 
available fertilizer supplies has driven costs up 
significantly, at a time when commodity prices are just 
beginning to rebound.
    Now is not the time to increase costs to farmers by as much 
as 25 to 30 percent. We are hearing a lot from our farmers, as 
you can imagine, on this cost increase.
    If confirmed, will you ensure that USDA remains engaged 
with the Department of Commerce to be a voice for American 
agriculture producers as this process continues?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Hyde-Smith, if I have the opportunity 
to be confirmed, I look forward to working with Secretary 
Vilsack and the International Trade Commission to ensure that 
we are in a competitive position to have a solid and affordable 
supply of phosphate fertilizer, and to also utilize USDA 
programs to continue to educate our Nation's producers around 
the efficient and effective use of fertilizer so as not to lead 
to overfertilization.
    Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you very much for that response. 
We are going to get you another genuine Mississippi notebook to 
make sure that that does not wear out, and if it does, you are 
going to have one to replace it. I so appreciate everything you 
have done for agriculture, and I think you are an outstanding 
nominee and look forward to supporting that.
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much. We will now, I 
believe Senator Brown is with us, so we will turn to Senator 
Brown, and then as we are monitoring who is available and who 
is here in the room at the moment, it would be Senator Brown 
and then Senator Tuberville, who is here in person, and then 
Senator Warnock would be the next three, as the situation is 
currently in front of us.
    Senator Brown.
    Senator Brown. Thank you, Madam Chair, and I see on the 
screen my friend, Senator Warnock, who is also coming back to 
the Banking and Housing Committee. In his first year in the 
Senate he has seen the complexities of even schedule, so thank 
you, Senator Stabenow, for that.
    Dr. Bronaugh, congratulations on your nomination. I was 
pleased to learn, when we spoke a few weeks ag--I very much 
enjoyed our telephone conversation--that you spent a few years 
living in Toledo and teaching at Bowling Green State 
University, one of our great State universities in my State. I 
would be more than happy, after you are confirmed, and I plan 
to support you and I am very confident you will be confirmed, 
to welcome you back to northwest Ohio, perhaps, this time to 
talk about soil health in the Western Lake Erie Basin and algae 
blooms, and the challenges for the shallowest of the Great 
Lakes, the shallowest 30 or 40 feet in the Western Basin.
    As I may have told you, my favorite Lake Erie trivia is 
that Lake Erie, of all the Great Lakes' water, Lake Erie is two 
percent of the water but has 50 percent of the fish of all the 
Great Lakes, and that is why it is so, so important that lake 
be clean.
    You had first-hand experience as an Extension agent, and we 
talked. Do Extension agents have the tools they need to stay 
relevant to farmers in rural communities? If the answer is not 
quite a resounding yes, how do we improve this service to help 
communities and American agriculture tackle 21st century 
problems?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator Brown, and it is great to 
talk to you about my time at Bowling Green State University. I 
appreciate the education and some of the reminders about the 
great town of Bowling Green and that university.
    I come from a background of cooperative extension, which 
has, I think, some of the most powerful networks of really 
providing research-based information to make important change. 
There is that outreach that extends to most counties all across 
the Nation, and it is a powerful network. I think there is 
power in the partnership with the land grant institutions, in 
order to be able to provide the latest in research-based 
information, science-based information that translates into 
effective agricultural practices.
    In Virginia, we are concerned about financial resources to 
support our Extension agents, to make sure that they receive 
the professional development that they need, because they are 
still valued. I think we have great opportunities to really 
further engage them, and as you said, some of the new concerns 
that we have as our world continues to change and our emphasis 
refocus in all areas.
    If confirmed, I very much look forward to working with our 
resources--NIFA, ARS, ERS, and others--to fully engage our 
Extension professionals in fully ensuring that they can meet 
the challenges that face us all today.
    Senator Brown. Thank you. Talk, if you would, as your 
experience as Commissioner of Agriculture, describe your work 
on rural mental health and the best practices to strengthen 
these programs. Ohio has been terribly afflicted with mental 
health issues coming out of opioid addiction, coming out of 
this COVID, coming out of isolation in rural areas, coming out 
of rural poverty, all of that that I know you saw especially in 
southwest Virginia when you were the State Commissioner of 
Agriculture. Talk about what we do with rural mental health.
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Brown, I appreciate the opportunity 
to respond, and I will say from a personal standpoint it really 
started with my engagement with dairy farmers, who, when you 
think about the role that a dairy farmer has in milking 365 
days a year, twice a day, sometimes more, no breaks, 
conversations with dairy farmers personally really informed me 
of some of the challenges. We saw many challenges.
    I also remember the president of our Virginia Farm Bureau, 
who is a very successful farmer by all standards, very 
successful person, and he personally talked about sending his 
son to Virginia Tech with the plans to take over the family 
farm, and he said, ``I don't know if there will be a family 
farm for him to take over.'' He said, ``I am stressed out about 
it, and I wanted to make sure I talked with someone.'' He 
looked me in the eye, and he said, ``I need you to do something 
about it.'' I took that very seriously as I embarked on various 
conversations.
    We did form a Farmer Stress Task Force, and, one, we wanted 
to raise the level of awareness of farmer stress; two, we 
wanted to identify resources that farmers could access if they 
needed help, because we all know our farmers and ranchers are 
very proud individuals, who will work through any 
circumstances, and as I said in my opening remarks, stay 
eternally optimistic.
    We are doing that in addition to training Extension agents 
on how to identify when a farmer or landowner was stressed and 
needed assistance, and also working on helping farmers and 
ranchers with working on their finances and being able to 
determine how they can really make decisions about what they 
are going to do to continue to operate or even to opt out, are 
some of the strategies that we have utilized in Virginia, and 
other States have done so as well.
    If I have the opportunity to be confirmed, I would look 
forward to moving forward with how to continue to address that.
    Senator Brown. Thank you. You have my enthusiastic support. 
I would only add--I know my time has expired, Chair Stabenow--
that I grew up milking. I hear those stories that you share. 
Even though this was 40 years ago, I hear those stories. I grew 
up working, milking Holsteins and Guernseys, mostly Guernseys 
in those days, which shows how old I am. I certainly heard 
those stories of how do we hand this farm over to the next 
generation and the mental health issues that swirl around it.
    Thank you very much. Thanks, Madam Chair.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much. Senator 
Tuberville.
    Senator Tuberville. Thank you, Madam Chair. Thank you, 
Doctor, for that comment on mental health. Our farmers have 
really struggled over the last year with this pandemic. 
Sometimes they are forgotten in those critical areas. I really 
enjoyed your visit last week.
    Dr. Bronaugh, Alabama's farmers and rural communities 
consistently work directly with the Department of Agriculture. 
It is a vital Federal department that citizens in Alabama must 
have a working relationship with and open line of dialog.
    From the fields of our commodity producers to the school 
cafeterias and all the rural development needs, including 
broadband deployment, your job with USDA is across a vast area 
of policy, but it also includes direct access to citizens 
across the country.
    Diversified family farms crisscross all over my home State 
of Alabama and we must ensure they continue for decades to 
come. Most of these small businesses have been in the family 
for generations and we cannot allow any government policies to 
drive them out of business. Farmers already have it tough 
competing against Mother Nature and the world market prices.
    Although you do not have a lot of background in production 
agriculture, how will you implement policy and develop 
strategies that keep our rural communities and family farms 
thriving for the future?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator. That is a great question, 
and I think one of the greatest challenges that we face in our 
family farms is how do we find adequate markets for products? I 
think that is always that question, of how do we identify those 
markets. It will certainly be important to look at all of our 
options, including how we can more fully engage in products 
internationally, in international exports, how we can be 
competitive, either in new market opportunities or more 
competitive in our current trade agreements.
    I think we also want to look at how we can consider 
opportunities in local and regional markets. I think they 
provide great opportunities that will help continue to provide 
economic opportunities for our farmers and ranchers, and even 
more today, the ability to address important climate change 
goals and conservation practices. Those provide considerable 
market benefits for all of our products, for them to be able to 
engage in renewable energy, bio-based markets, ecosystems 
markets. There are significant opportunities around our 
conservation and climate change goals that I think can further 
support our farmers and ranchers, all of our farmers and 
ranchers.
    If I have the opportunity to be confirmed, I will work with 
USDA programs, and Secretary Vilsack, to ensure that we can 
engage our farmers and ranchers in as many market opportunities 
as possible, and to utilize our programs and resources to 
support our farmers.
    Senator Tuberville. Thank you. You know, given your 
backgrounds serving as a State Director with the Farm Service 
Agency, Alabama has suffered in the past with unstaffed and 
deficient offices and county offices around the State. In your 
testimony, you talked about the hands-on approach with visiting 
county offices and State directors. I hope your experience in 
seeing these offices and their needs can assist you as you will 
now have nationwide exposure to FSA offices.
    How will you maintain FSA offices, and specifically, will 
you commit to using all hiring authorities to keep Alabama FSA 
offices fully staffed and trained, because we have terrible 
storms, and have had terrible storms, and we need to be fully 
staffed.
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator, for that question, and I 
recognize again the reason that I visited those offices, 
because I wanted to learn about how the staff and the work in 
those offices impacts the clientele that they serve. Certainly 
our staff in FSA offices need to be recognized for the hard 
work and dedication that they have provided, even during the 
pandemic, in providing critical services to our farmers and 
ranchers. They are in a very important place.
    I understand the staffing needs, and if I have the 
opportunity to be confirmed, I look forward to learning more, 
as I do not have specific details about current staffing 
levels. I did remember Secretary Vilsack, in a recent hearing, 
talking about flexibilities and allowing staff options to 
telework or work face-to-face in the office. We will think 
about creative opportunities to try to address those staffing 
needs, while we continue to work to keep the current workers in 
the office safe. I look forward to, if confirmed, fully looking 
at the staffing needs in the FSA office.
    Senator Tuberville. Thank you, Doctor. Thank you, Madam 
Chair.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much. Next we have 
Senator Lujan, and then next it will be Senator Marshall.
    Senator Lujan. Thank you so much, Madam Chair Stabenow. It 
is an honor to be with you again today, and thank you for this 
important hearing, and the markup today, as well, and 
successful support from all of our colleagues. I also want to 
recognize Ranking Member Boozman for holding this hearing today 
as well. The importance of having the full slate of leadership 
positions confirmed at USDA is essential to addressing the 
pressing issues facing the diverse populations that rely on 
USDA service.
    I am eager to work with the Chairwoman on getting those key 
positions confirmed. I look forward to working with Secretary 
Vilsack and his team to increase opportunities for value-added 
agriculture, acknowledge traditional land and food use and USDA 
programs, address past discriminatory practices and expand 
outreach to those impacted communities.
    I would also be remiss if I did not just recognize the work 
that Secretary Vilsack and his team did to already help some 
farmers that were discriminated against under the previous 
administration, and to be able to make them whole. I just want 
to express my gratitude to the Secretary for that.
    Now historically underserved farmer outreach, Dr. Bronaugh, 
is something very important to me. Now you have a very 
impressive resume. What strikes me the most about your 
background is the breadth of your experience. Importantly, you 
have held positions at the Federal, State, and university 
level. Farmers and ranchers in New Mexico have been impacted by 
these past negative practices at the USDA, and I am grateful 
that this Committee and Congress have identified these 
shortcomings as a top priority to be addressed by this 
administration, and as I opened, have already been recognized 
and corrective action has been taken by Secretary Vilsack and 
his team.
    In addition to the diverse population of farmers and 
ranchers in my State, we also produce a diverse set of 
products, such as the world-famous and best-in-the-world green 
chile. You can find it on everything that we serve and 
everywhere that it goes, and to my colleagues up in Colorado, 
you can be grateful for that chile seed being produced in New 
Mexico, as well, for those chile products that they benefit 
from. Whether you are having green chile or you are having 
Chimayo red, pecans, dairy, cheese, chances are if you are 
eating pizza in the western part of America you are getting 
mozzarella from New Mexico.
    We also pride ourselves on our historic land use and our 
access, traditionally Hispanic communities, programs for Native 
American farmers and producers. As we develop farm assistance 
programs, we must recognize the unique needs of farmers across 
the Nation, and make sure the USDA's policymaking reflects the 
diversity of our Nation's farming communities.
    Will you work with me to address USDA's past discriminatory 
practices and history of ineffective outreach to historically 
underserved populations?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Lujan, it is a pleasure to see you 
today, and I have had the opportunity--you have a great Ag 
Commissioner in New Mexico, and I had an opportunity to visit, 
and the green chiles were a little hot for me but it was very 
good to have that opportunity.
    You know, you bring up a very important point about 
socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers and farmers of 
color. I think the Biden administration has been clear about 
making racial equity a priority. Secretary Vilsack, as you 
stated, has been also fully committed as we recognize that we 
have been impacted by the cumulative effects of years of not 
addressing policies and regulations and guidelines that have 
impacted our farmers of color who bring a great amount of value 
to agricultural production.
    We have been fortunate, with recent funding through the 
American Rescue Plan, to have resources to address the needs of 
socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers. If I have the 
opportunity to be confirmed I look forward in engaging with the 
USDA to expand the work that we are currently doing to ensure 
that we remove barriers, provide technical assistance and 
outreach to engage all of our farmers and ranchers of color.
    Senator Lujan. Dr. Bronaugh, how do you plan on bringing a 
fresh approach to how USDA conducts outreach to these 
populations?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator Lujan. One of the things 
that you mentioned is my varied background, and one of the 
things that I was able to learn on the ground, especially 
working with Extension and doing work at the university was, 
you know, the type of outreach. We have many opportunities to 
engage people in socially disadvantaged communities' trust. I 
have been able to work with community-based organizations and 
faith-based organizations, working with Tribal leaders and 
others in order to ensure that critical resources get to those 
communities to further engage them.
    If I am confirmed, I look forward to engaging with all of 
our stakeholders to determine how we can get information out 
effectively, it reaches the audiences we need to serve, that 
they understand how to use the resources and tools at USDA and 
can be fully engaged in our programs.
    Senator Lujan. Thank you. Madam Chair Stabenow, I do have a 
few other questions. I will submit them into the record so we 
can just get a response there.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Absolutely.
    Senator Lujan. I definitely want to thank Dr. Bronaugh for 
being here today, and I yield back the balance of my time.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you so much.
    Senator Marshall.
    Senator Marshall. Thank you, Madam Chair, and I just wanted 
to start by saying thank you and congratulations on getting the 
Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021 out of Committee, Ranking 
Member Boozman, Senator Braun as well. We probably will not 
make the news tonight, but this may be the most significant 
legislation that comes out of this body this year. This is an 
example of how it is supposed to work up here. I appreciate you 
letting a freshman Senator from Kansas having some input on the 
bill, and truly believe that we can take two plus two, using 
your ideas, our ideas, and make eight out of it. 
Congratulations, and really, thank you from all the ag 
producers in the State of Kansas for letting us give input on 
that bill.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you so much for your support and 
input.
    Senator Marshall. You are welcome. I will turn now, of 
course, to Dr. Bronaugh. It is great to meet you virtually. I 
want to talk about biofuels for just a second. Farmers and 
ranchers are the original conservationists. Nobody is more 
motivated to leave our environment cleaner, healthier, safer, 
for our children, for our grandchildren than farmers and 
ranchers. I think biofuels can have a great impact on that and 
for this entire world.
    I am convinced that the carbon footprint of a renewable 
diesel or biodiesel-driven cars, tractors have a lower carbon 
output from start to finish. When you look through the whole 
cycle of making everything that goes in that car or truck, to 
the tailpipe emission, to the final disposal of that, that they 
will have a lower carbon footprint than electric cars. I am 
just curious about your thoughts on biofuels.
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Marshall, it is great to see you and 
chat with you about all the creative work you all are doing in 
the State of Kansas. You know, we think about, you mentioned 
the Growing Climate Solutions Act and all of our work that we 
will do to address climate change, and, you know, we will be 
challenged to use many tools in our tool belt for doing so. The 
use of biofuels, ethanol, and bioenergy have a critical role to 
play in helping to reduce carbon emissions and helping to 
address critical climate change goals.
    I think it will be very important to educate people on the 
environmental benefits of biofuels and bioenergy, to expand 
uses for bioenergy--you know, there are opportunities with uses 
in sustainable jet fuel, in the fleet of vehicles at USDA and 
our sister agencies--and really promote renewable fuels 
production and infrastructure development so we can expand the 
use of biofuels, and more people can purchase biofuel. That we 
can also think about how we can utilize bioenergy production 
and renewable fuels to create clean energy job throughout rural 
America.
    If I have the opportunity to be confirmed, I will join 
Secretary Vilsack and members of the industry, corn industry 
and others, in fully supporting the use of biofuels and 
bioenergy to reach important climate change goals.
    Senator Marshall. Thank you for that answer, and we do 
appreciate your support.
    I want to talk just for a second about NIFA and ERS, that 
those offices were moved to the greater Kansas City metro area. 
Gosh, it feels like two years ago that I was there welcoming 
them. The whole concept is, No. 1, it would save American 
taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars by having that 
office located in Kansas City as opposed to expensive 
realestate in Washington, DC.--the cost of living is a little 
bit less there--but more importantly, putting those offices 
closer to the people who use those services.
    We just want to know your commitment to keep those offices 
there in Kansas City and see this mission through. It was given 
years of study and it was felt like that was the best solution. 
We are proud to have them there. We are very proud that they 
are in triangle of agriculture, education, excellence. All my 
hats off to the Virginia schools, but we are very proud of the 
opportunities there in Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, Missouri, just 
to say a few States right there.
    How would you feel about supporting keeping those offices 
there?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator Marshall, for that 
question. You know, I have read about the move of NIFA and ERS. 
Certainly Kansas is a great State. I do understand, from 
reading an Office of Personnel Management survey, that the 
change did affect staffing challenges. I have not discussed any 
details about how USDA will move forward with regards to a 
Kansas City location or other locations. You know, I am sure 
that Secretary Vilsack is aware of how we will move forward, 
and, if confirmed, I look forward to engaging with the 
Secretary regarding any other decisions around NIFA and ERS.
    Senator Marshall. Thank you so much, and I yield back.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much, Senator. Senator 
Warnock is next, and then Senator Grassley.
    Senator Warnock. Thank you so much, Madam Chair, and Dr. 
Bronaugh, congratulations on your historic nomination to be 
Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Your 
resume speaks for itself, Commissioner of Ag for the State of 
Virginia, State Director of the Farm Service Agency, Dean at 
Virginia State. You are more than qualified, and you are indeed 
the right pick for the job.
    I also appreciate the time that we had the other day, 
discussing some of my priorities ahead of today's hearing. As 
you know, I am very pleased to have my Emergency Relief for 
Farmers of Color Act included in the American Rescue Plan, 
signed into law by President Biden. This targeted relief, 
including debt relief on outstanding USDA loans, and $1 billion 
in investment will help farmers of color recover from the 
economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, while also beginning 
the long process of addressing years--decades, really--of 
systemic racial discrimination against farmers of color at the 
hands of their own U.S. Department of Agriculture.
    Dr. Bronaugh, if confirmed, you and your office will play a 
critical role in implementing these provisions for farmers of 
color. Do I have your commitment to work with me and others on 
the implementation of these provisions?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Warnock, great to see you, and I 
appreciate the opportunity to speak with you earlier this week. 
You know, I talked about the commitment of addressing racial 
equity. We have lost 90 percent of black farmers over the 
years, and that is a critical loss. Secretary Vilsack has 
spoken publicly that he looks forward to me working with him to 
help address this issue. We have been fortunate to receive 
funding from the American Rescue Plan, as you noted, to be able 
to support our farmers and ranchers of color.
    We are also fortunate that we will have funds to establish 
an equity commission, which I imagine I will be engaged with, 
and a racial justice and equity working group, who is already 
identifying gaps and barriers to programs. I would imagine I 
will be closely involved with that. If I have the opportunity 
to be confirmed, will work with members of this Committee and 
other important stakeholders in ways that I will be closely 
engaged in moving forward to address this important issue.
    Senator Warnock. Well, I am grateful to know that you will 
ensure that the voices of farmers of color are heard at the 
highest levels of our U.S. Department of Agriculture. It is 
something I have also discussed with Secretary Vilsack, and he 
is very much aware of my concerns there, and again, decades of 
discrimination and deep disappointment, which has led to deep 
distrust, and understandably so from farmers of color. All of 
this, of course, exacerbated by the pandemic.
    As we look ahead, Georgia farmers are seeking guidance from 
the USDA on the implementation of these provisions. They need 
guidance on how debt relief will be administered, and a better 
understanding of just how they can provide input in regard to 
the $1 billion in investments aimed at supporting farmers of 
color.
    A concern that I keep hearing from farmers of color who 
are, again, encouraged by the legislation but, honestly, they 
said, ``Senator, we are worried, and we are concerned that we 
are going to get disappointed again.'' They are frustrated, in 
the meantime, that their loan payments have not been paused by 
the USDA as it stands up these programs. They have concerns 
about engaging with their local Farm Service Agency.
    Dr. Bronaugh, if confirmed, what is your plan for ensuring 
that these concerns are being heard and addressed as the USDA 
works behind the scenes to stand up these programs?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Warnock, you bring up some very valid 
points, and, you know, we talked about this in our phone call, 
and we have a lot of opportunities. I think what is very 
important is as we have--and I acknowledge the distrust that 
you stated, because it is important to not talk the talk but to 
walk the walk. We have received funding, again, from the 
American Rescue Plan.
    There is something that I learned from my work in 
Extension. There is something called outputs and there is 
something called impact. I think, going forward, as we work 
through ensuring that these resources are made available, we 
have the output. We have gotten the resources. I think it is 
going to be important for us to establish a way to measure, to 
gather the right data to ensure that we are making impact. 
Because the outputs are good, but if we are not making the 
impact, then we are not reaching the goal.
    Being able to ensure that we gather the right data, that we 
followup with accountability measures, and we are able to 
translate that and see the translation into impacts for farmers 
of color will be critically important. If I have the 
opportunity to be confirmed as Deputy Secretary, I imagine that 
I will be closely engaged in my role with ensuring that we 
follow those accountability measures and make that impact.
    Senator Warnock. Thank you so much, Dr. Bronaugh. Again, 
congratulations on your nomination. I look forward to 
supporting your confirmation on the floor, and also having you 
and Secretary Vilsack come to Georgia to meet with farmers of 
color. Again, thanks.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much, Senator. Now 
Senator Grassley.
    Senator Grassley. Congratulations, Dr. Bronaugh. My first 
question was going to be what Senator Tuberville said to you 
about the FSA offices, so I do not have to ask that. I know 
that you have been in charge of those offices on a very direct 
basis, so I know you know their importance.
    I am going to start with interest to read about your work 
in launching the Farmer Stress Task Force to raise awareness 
and to coordinate resources to address farmer stress and mental 
health issues. Over the recent years, we have seen too high of 
a suicide rate among farmers. Senator Tester and I introduced a 
bipartisan bill to raise the awareness about mental health 
among farmers. The Seeding Rural Resilience Act was passed by 
Congress, signed into law last year. The bill will improve 
mental health care for farming families by implementing suicide 
prevention training programs at USDA, and I would see the FSA 
offices as being very prime in that effort.
    What parts of your Farmer Stress Task Force have worked 
well in the State of Virginia and could be implemented at the 
Federal level?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator Grassley. It is very nice 
to meet you, and I appreciate you giving me an opportunity to 
talk a little bit more about the Farmer Stress efforts. I would 
say, from my experience, being able to educate and empower more 
people to identify stress issues and mental health issues 
amongst our farmers and ranchers--and I would dare say it is 
not just our farmers and ranchers, it is also the family 
members and folks who are closest to these family members--who 
need help.
    As we have been able to move forward, we have utilized 
Extension, but I think we also have a great opportunity to 
educate our CEDs and county offices to be able to identify 
stress, because farmers will open up to people whom they trust, 
and if they can trust people to be there and to provide 
guidance and to identify when there is an issue, we have the 
greatest opportunity to address the issue.
    As I think about how we will move forward, being able to 
utilize people who work in local offices, whether it is NRCS, 
Rural Development, or other offices, to be able to identify key 
issues is going to be powerful in helping us to address the 
issues. Also, I think States have greatly benefited from the 
Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network funding. As I have 
stated at VDACS, that was going to be something that having 
that resource at the State level would be incredibly important 
in conducting training and more outreach.
    If confirmed, I look forward to the efforts that we can 
take at USDA to address this critical issue.
    Senator Grassley. There is an Executive order that 
President Biden signed on January 29th that proposes a 
conservator retire 30 percent of the agricultural land by 2030. 
I suppose it is not fair for me to ask whether you support that 
Executive order, because you did not have anything to do with 
it. Widespread retiring of one-third of the farmland is going 
to affect how we are going to feed nine billion people midterm 
of this century. How do you think that kind of removal of 
farmland from production would impact agriculture, besides the 
fact that it is going to make it more difficult to feed nine 
billion people?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator Grassley. You talk about 
the importance of working to feed nine billion people by 2050. 
I also understand that this, 30x30, is a priority of this 
administration, so we are going to have to work together to 
determine how, one, we can get farmers, ranchers, and forest 
landowners engaged in regenerative agriculture--many have been 
for quite a long time.
    It is important that I highlight that it is not just going 
to be land that is in conservation but our working lands that 
are going to be very critical. Our farmers, ranchers, and 
landowners have a long history of stewardship, and the 
utilization of working land, voluntary, incentive-based, that 
we can collect locally with conservation efforts will be 
critical in moving forward. We will continue to determine how 
we can utilize working lands as an integral part of addressing 
30x30 goals, the challenges.
    If confirmed, I look forward to working with members of 
this Committee, also with our farmers and ranchers, important 
stakeholders and organizations to determine how we can reach 
this goal and utilize our current effort in working lands in 
doing so.
    Senator Grassley. Thank you, Madam Chairman.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much, Senator Grassley. 
Now we have Senator Hoeven. I think he is with us remotely.
    Senator Hoeven. Thank you, Madam Chairman. Dr. Bronaugh, 
great to see you again. Thanks so much for visiting with me the 
other day. I really appreciate it and spending so much time 
talking about important ag issues. Again, very much 
appreciated.
    One of the things I emphasized to you is we worked hard to 
get the Quality Loss Adjustment program, QLA program, and the 
WIC+. I think WIC+ may be something we are going to have to 
continue. I am already hearing from some farmers in that 
regard.
    My first question is, will you work with us to make sure 
that we get the WIC+, and particularly the QLA, out the door as 
soon as we can, in line with the program parameters that we put 
into legislation?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Hoeven, it is great to see you, and I 
am very relieved that the fact that I went to James Madison 
University is not a reason that you do not plan to confirm me--
--
    [Laughter.]
    Senator Hoeven. We have a great rivalry there, between NDSU 
and James Madison. That is going to be fun.
    Ms. Bronaugh. We hopefully can talk about that going 
forward. You mentioned the WIC+ and QLA. I always, you know, 
think of disaster assistance programs, it is not if the next 
disaster will happen, it is when the next disaster will happen. 
If I have the opportunity to be confirmed, I look forward to 
learning more about the status of these important programs, 
and, as such, I am happy to followup with your office in 
determining the most appropriate way to move forward. I know 
they are very important programs. I seek to learn a little bit 
more. Certainly I want to support any efforts for addressing 
disaster assistance that we have available.
    Senator Hoeven. Thank you. That is an absolute priority, 
and I have worked a lot with our Ranking Member as well as the 
Chairwoman on those programs, so I appreciate that.
    Also, I know a program that is going to be very important 
to the Chair is the carbon capture program, and, of course, 
there is legislation that she has led on that. I am certainly 
willing to work on it, as I have told her and I told you. Can 
you assure me that we are going to make sure that whatever we 
do in regard to the carbon capture programs that they are 
farmer friendly?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Hoeven, you bring up a very important 
point. For those of us who have committed years of work in 
agriculture, we understand the importance of any new efforts, 
especially one around the notion of a carbon bank, carbon 
capture efforts, that they absolutely be voluntary and 
incentive-based, and provide market opportunities for our 
farmers and ranchers.
    In effort to move forward it is going to be very important 
that we engage, actively engage, our agricultural producers in 
how we move forward in the most effective way, that brings 
benefit to them, that utilizes the practices that they have 
been doing for years, and that we really move forward with a 
common-sense approach to addressing climate change. Also an 
effort that we have around job creation, in terms of 
agriculture conservation and other important businesses.
    If confirmed, I look forward to fully engaging our farmers, 
ranchers, and landowners in any efforts to address climate 
change and to establish a carbon bank.
    Senator Hoeven. Will you commit to ensure that the CCC 
funding, Commodity Credit Corp, continues to go for the 
priorities in the farm bill, as it always has?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Hoeven, I clearly understand that the 
purpose of the CCC is to support important farm bill programs, 
and, if confirmed, I look forward to working with Secretary 
Vilsack to learn more about the use of the CCC.
    Senator Hoeven. We need to get you to North Dakota, and you 
need to see what we are doing at Grand Farm. I know you know a 
little bit about it, because we talked about it. Also we worked 
to put in place the RISE program and fund it. We put money in 
it the last two cycles, and we will do it again through ag 
appropriations. Will you come out and see it, and will you help 
make sure that we enable them to access the RISE program to 
continue to do amazing things in precision ag?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Yes, I appreciate the opportunity, Senator 
Hoeven, to visit Grand Farm and all the work that you are doing 
in innovation and the use of precision agriculture, which is 
very important, and, if confirmed, I look forward to visiting, 
to learn more about that important work and opportunities to 
support the work that is being done out there.
    Senator Hoeven. Well, that is good because we are also then 
going to give you a tour of NDSU, and I don't know if you 
should wear your James Madison jacket or not. I will leave that 
entirely up to you.
    I do have some other questions for the record, Madam Chair, 
which I will submit, regarding livestock. We are a cow-calf 
State, livestock ranching, extremely important to us. The sugar 
program, in the Red River Valley in the north, that is a $3 
billion industry. Then crop insurance is our No. 1 risk 
management tool. We feel that it has to be strongly supported.
    I will add a few more questions for the record, but being 
respectful of my time here I will wrap. Just, again, thank you, 
Dr. Bronaugh. I really appreciate our opportunities to visit 
and the way that you have approached these important issues.
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator Hoeven, and I would not 
wear my purple and gold when I come to North Dakota.
    Senator Hoeven. Fantastic. Thank you.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Well, thank you, Senator Hoeven, and 
you mentioned a number of things, issues that you and I both 
care deeply about. I just want to say, you have never invited 
me to North Dakota to get a tour, so I am a little hurt right 
now. Maybe I can tag along.
    Senator Hoeven. Madam Chair, you are invited any time. You 
know that. We would love to have you out there.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. All right.
    Senator Hoeven. Thank you.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. I will take you up on it.
    Now, Senator Braun.
    Senator Braun. Thank you, Madam Chair. Dr. Bronaugh, good 
to talk to you here today. I am lucky that I still, each week, 
go back to my farm in Indiana. I am a tree farmer, and to the 
extent I can still be involved in the row crop side of 
agriculture, that I have been a part of for over 30 years, it 
is kind of my therapy for this new job.
    I have got a question. I have heard concern, especially 
since we just got the Growing Climate Solutions Act out of 
Committee, which, of course, aligns farmers, both tree and ag, 
with these private voluntary markets. Some of the reservations 
that we had to work through, at least on my side of the aisle, 
to get to this point, would have been addressing the 
conversation around the Commodity Credit Corporation being 
involved in a carbon bank.
    Things can evolve in a direction on any issue with time, 
but I think here we have just gotten to a place where, if that 
did occur--and I would love to hear your opinion and what you 
might advise to President Biden--I think it would set us back 
significantly.
    I think to get bipartisanship out of the gate on this 
serious issue, the more we can do it through technology, 
innovation, and through the private sector, especially maybe in 
light of the financial condition of the Federal Government 
currently, I would like to hear your comments on that, please.
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator Braun. Great question. Of 
course, we have an opportunity to work very closely with 
private industry in regard to how we move forward.
    In regard to the use of the CCC, again, I understand that 
its critical role is to support our farm bill programs, and 
again, you know, I am not yet at USDA, but if I have the 
opportunity to be confirmed, will assure that speak with 
Secretary Vilsack on how we will move forward with the use of 
the CCC.
    Senator Braun. I do hope that you will, because I think 
that in the year and a half that I have been on our Senate 
Climate Caucus, we have made so much headway getting it to be a 
bipartisan discussion. I think there are certain things that 
would undermine that if it is not given careful consideration.
    One other question. What is your view on the Phase 1 
agreement between U.S. and China? Do you believe that President 
Biden, should you get the post, are you going to advise him to 
enforce the deal? In my conversation with Hoosier farmers, I 
constantly hear that they think that that was a part of getting 
through a tough period with a tough counterpart and negotiator, 
on the part of the Chinese. What is your recommendation there 
in terms of, did you like it, and would you advise to continue 
it?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Braun, great question. Certainly 
China is a huge market for United States agricultural products. 
Secretary Vilsack has been clear about working to engage in 
many of our export opportunities. I think there is a need to 
understand the market of China and ways that we can engage with 
China. We have seen benefits in their purchases of corn, wheat, 
sorghum, cotton, and other proteins.
    If I have the opportunity to be confirmed, I look forward 
to working with Secretary Vilsack, with the White House, the 
State Department, and the U.S. Trade Representative's Office to 
determine how we can move forward with China as a very big 
export market.
    Senator Braun. I think my advice, from being so deeply 
involved in agriculture, is that it was kind of working, and do 
not be beguiled by the Chinese. I think the one thing we have 
learned across any conversation with them is what they do now 
may not represent what their true motives, or what they might 
do down the road. I think they do respect when you take a 
stance with them, that make sure that we are thinking long 
term. They certainly do.
    Thank you for your time.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much, Senator Braun. I 
believe that Senator Thune is with us, remotely, I believe.
    Senator Thune. Madam Chair, let me start by, Dr. Bronaugh, 
congratulations on your nomination. There is obviously a lot of 
talk today about climate, given the President's ongoing climate 
summit. During the first week in office, January 27th, the 
President issued a climate change executive order, which 
included the directive for USDA and other departments to come 
up with recommendation to conserve at least 30 percent of our 
land and waters by 2030, commonly referred to as 30x30.
    While the details on this directive have not been released 
yet, I have already heard from ranchers and landowners in South 
Dakota who are concerned about potential measures this 
administration may pursue to meet 30x30, including Federal land 
acquisitions and burdensome regulations on private landowners. 
Those are concerns that I share. The Federal Government, in my 
view, should not be acquiring more land when it is often not 
able to properly manage the Federal lands it already possesses.
    My question is, what are your views on the 30x30 directive, 
and, if confirmed, what efforts would you take to ensure this 
directive does not ultimately result in efforts to acquire more 
Federal land and to impose onerous regulations on private 
landowners?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Thune, great to see you. You 
mentioned this is an administrative goal, and one thing I want 
to highlight again is the fact that we will have to consider 
different lands, and working lands will be critically important 
and being at the center of this issue. We need to keep working 
lands working.
    We have an opportunity to partner with our farmers, forest 
landowners and others in a way to do that, and recognizing the 
history of stewardship, to honor property rights and to assure 
that we have voluntary, incentive-based opportunities for our 
farmers and our forest landowners to participate. If confirmed, 
I will ensure that we continue to work in local efforts, in a 
collaborative way, to ensure that we keep our working lands 
working and help meet important climate change goals.
    Senator Thune. Okay. I agree with you 100 percent on that. 
I think the question is, should our landowners out there be 
worried about the Federal Government acquiring more land?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Thune, I think that there will be a 
lot more opportunities to make decisions about how we move 
forward in engaging with that, and, if confirmed, I look 
forward to hearing more and learning more regarding how we need 
to move forward.
    Senator Thune. You will be hearing a lot from us, at least 
from the people I represent, when it comes to land acquisition. 
I just think that that is an issue that really should not be a 
part of this conversation, given the vast amount of Federal 
land that the Federal Government already owns and operates and 
manages, and many of the issues we have associated with those.
    Which brings me to my second point, and that is I just want 
to raise the issue of the forest. We just had a big timber 
plant close in South Dakota, in a community where those jobs 
are pretty much the entire community, and families are affected 
by that.
    I have long advocated, I think as you know because I 
mentioned this to you on our phone call, for a robust timber 
sale program in order to mitigate the risk of wildfires and to 
support the local economy.
    Could you tell me what your views are on proactive 
management of our forests, and, if confirmed, will you commit 
to working with me and stakeholders on a path forward for the 
timber sale program that appropriately balances the health of 
the forest and the health of the regional economy?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Thank you, Senator Thune. I appreciate our 
conversation about the Black Hills timber sawmill and the 
impact that it had on job loss in your State. I think it is 
critically important that as we move forward we think about and 
focus on ensuring that we increase the scale and pace of forest 
management. I know there are opportunities to support wood 
products, sustainable bioenergy. If I have the opportunity to 
be confirmed, I will work with the Forest Service, work with 
members of this Committee to determine how we can fully protect 
and manage our forests, but also fully benefit from wood 
products and sustainable bioenergy and biobased materials.
    Senator Thune. My last question has to do with the issue of 
Country of Origin labeling. I have sent a letter to USDA 
requesting the Department address a loophole that has allowed 
beef from cattle that were not born, raised, and harvested in 
the United States to be labeled as Product of the USA. USDA 
initiated the rulemaking process, but a rule has not been 
finalized.
    If confirmed, how would you approach closing this loophole 
and ensuring accurate labeling of meat products?
    Ms. Bronaugh. Senator Thune, that is a great question. 
Country of Origin labeling is something that I am familiar, in 
understanding that there have been some challenges with world 
trade organizations' determination, and I seek to learn more 
about that issue. I look forward to getting briefed, once 
confirmed, about Country of Origin labeling and the most 
appropriate way to move forward, and will be happy to followup 
with your office and other members of this Committee in talking 
about the best way to move forward with that issue.
    Senator Thune. Thank you.
    Chairwoman Stabenow. Thank you very much, Senator Thune.
    We have now reached the end of our confirmation hearing, 
and I want to thank you again, Dr. Bronaugh, for being here. It 
is clear to me you have very strong experience as an advocate 
for farmers and ranchers, and your work on the ground with our 
producers will really be invaluable as the Department works to 
improve service to every part of agriculture.
    I strongly support your nomination and look forward to 
moving it forward as quickly as possible.
    That concludes today's hearing. The record will remain open 
until tomorrow at 5 p.m. for members to submit additional 
questions and statements. Thank you again to our Ranking 
Member. Thank you for your partnership. The hearing is 
adjourned.

    [Whereupon, at 11:56 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.]

      
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                            A P P E N D I X

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                   DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD

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                         QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

                             April 22, 2021

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