[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4800-S4801]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  NOMINATION OF DANIEL ROBERT GLICKMAN, OF KANSAS, TO BE SECRETARY OF 
                              AGRICULTURE

  The Senate continued with the consideration of the nomination.
  Mr. DASCHLE. Mr. President, let me join with the others who have 
risen in support of this important nomination. I want to thank the 
majority leader for bringing this matter to the floor at this time. 
This is a very important and timely issue for a lot of reasons.
  Obviously, there are many extraordinary decisions that the Senate and 
Congress must make over the course of the next several months, and we 
need the leadership that Congressman Glickman can provide in this 
regard.
  There are many who would like to begin working with him very 
earnestly, at the earliest possible date, to begin the process of 
developing another 5-year farm bill. We need to get on with that. We 
need to recognize how important it is that this farm bill be passed 
expeditiously.
  Certainly, the sooner we can get this nomination confirmed, the 
better. I am excited about this nomination for a lot of reasons. I 
believe that Dan Glickman is perhaps one of the most qualified people 
to be nominated for this position, at least in recent memory.
  He understands the importance of agriculture, of rural America, of 
all of the challenges that we face as we consider the transition that 
rural America is now experiencing.
  He is extraordinary at creative bipartisan consensus on policy 
issues, as well as on the strategy regarding a number of the 
legislative matters that will come before the Senate. I believe that 
his bipartisan consensus building skills will serve everyone well.
  Dan Glickman has served in the Congress for a long time. As a member 
of the House Agriculture Committee, he has been the leader on countless 
legislative issues relating to farm bills and agriculture. He deserves 
our support. We all recognize the leadership he has provided. He 
deserves the kind of consideration that he is being given this evening.
  Mr. President, I think it is also important to note that Dan Glickman 
is one of the most accessible people I know. He is willing to go the 
extra mile, to talk with people, to be available as questions arise, 
both on and off the hill. He is willing to travel. He is willing to go 
out into the far reaches of this country to address in the most 
meaningful and considered way the broad range of issues that the 
Secretary of Agriculture must consider.
  He is an outstanding legislator who is ready to lead on a whole range 
of issues that I know will be on his desk in the not-too-distant 
future. He has been an advocate of increasing trade with other 
countries. While he had specific reservations about the most recent 
trade agreement, Dan Glickman understands how important trade is, how 
important it is that we reach out to other countries and create new 
markets.
  He recognizes, as well, the value of the new market development that 
we need to improve farm prices. He recognizes that value-added markets 
are really the key to long-term agricultural development. We cannot 
look to the farm bill to create artificial price mechanisms. We have to 
go out and build the markets both internationally and domestically.
   [[Page S4801]] I have had many conversations over the course of the 
last several months with Dan on this point. I am pleased at his 
enthusiastic response to the desire that many share with regard to 
building value-added markets in the future.
  Dan Glickman also understands the importance of the next generation 
of agriculture. He knows that the farm community is getting older, that 
the farm community is getting to the point where, indeed, we must look 
to the next generation for the long-term future and viability of 
agriculture. He knows we have to help young farmers. He knows that the 
only way to do that is to provide a better price.
  Dan Glickman also understands the importance of conservation. 
Conservation has been an issue that he has worked on for many years. He 
realizes the importance of the CRP program and the efforts that we made 
to address soil erosion. He understands the importance of research in 
providing for the efforts to conserve our soil and to do more in the 
realm of providing for long-term environmentally sound responses to the 
agricultural practices of the past.
  So, Dan Glickman is a very futuristic individual. He understands that 
we made an investment that ought to be protected, but he understands, 
as well, the need to refocus that investment as warranted.
  Mr. President, it is with great enthusiasm that I come to the floor 
this evening to support his nomination, to again reiterate my view that 
there are few people that have come to the Senate in support or in 
recognition of the need for agricultural policy that have been as 
qualified as this person is.
  Dan Glickman deserves strong bipartisan support. Given the remarks 
made by the majority leader and others in the Senate Agriculture 
Committee, I am confident that there will be overwhelming support 
demonstrated in our vote for him tomorrow.
  Once he becomes Secretary, I look forward to working with him. I know 
for the next couple of years his plate will be full and his agenda will 
be long, but, I think there also will be a good deal of willingness on 
both sides of the aisle to work with him to ensure that he is 
successful.
  Our country depends upon the talents of a Dan Glickman. Our future in 
agriculture depends upon his leadership. It is critical that we 
cooperate with Dan as he continues to provide that leadership.
  Mr. President, I hope that we can demonstrate with enthusiasm 
tomorrow how strongly we feel about this nomination, how hopeful we are 
about his success and how determined we can be about our willingness to 
cooperate as he begins his task. I yield the floor.
  Mr. EXON addressed the Chair.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Nebraska.
  Mr. EXON. Mr. President, I want to add my voice to the strong support 
that has been evident for a long time with the President's new nominee 
for the Secretary of Agriculture, former Congressman Dan Glickman, from 
my neighboring State of Kansas.
  Mr. President, much has been said about this dedicated, talented 
individual. I have heard statements made by Senator Leahy, the ranking 
Democrat on this side of the Agriculture Committee; by the majority 
leader, Senator Dole, who has, as he has indicated in his remarks on 
the floor a few moments ago, the record as the longest sitting member 
of the Agriculture Committee; and just a few moments ago by the 
minority leader, from my neighboring State to the north, South Dakota, 
the minority leader, Senator Daschle.
  They all summed up very, very well, the regard that the nominee had 
by those who know him the best. I have known him for a long, long time. 
I have worked with him on foreign policy ever since I have been in the 
U.S. Senate.
  He is one who thoroughly understands the farm programs, but more 
importantly, what an important part agriculture is to the overall 
economy of the United States of America.
  I remind all once again that, if it were not for the offsetting 
factor of exports of farm products, the balance of trade deficit that 
the United States has would skyrocket dramatically. Dan Glickman 
understands agriculture. He knows the serious situation that 
agriculture is facing today. I am delighted that the majority leader 
has called for the vote on tomorrow morning.
  I am anxious to begin working with the new Secretary of Agriculture 
because, as the lead Democrat on the Budget Committee, the new 
agricultural leader knows, the Agricultural Committee knows, the 
Appropriations Committee knows, that the actions that will take place 
in the Budget Committee in the near future are going to have a great 
deal to do with how successful the new Secretary of Agriculture will be 
in writing a workable farm program and policy.
  I have not been in a position, nor has he, during this waiting period 
which held up his assuming this new role in even a more timely 
fashion--it was not possible for me to sit down with him and talk 
specifics about what his recommendations will be with regard to the 
recommendations out of the Budget Committee for the total agricultural 
programs.
  Dan Glickman will do a great job. I will listen to his 
recommendations very carefully with regard to the farm program. Given 
the fact we are going to have to make some very, very hard choices on a 
whole series of issues if we are going to get ourselves on the road to 
a balanced budget by the year 2002--which I think obviously is the 
overwhelming goal of Members of the Congress on both sides of the aisle 
and in both Houses--it is, therefore, critically important we get Dan 
Glickman on board as soon as we make the confirmation tomorrow and as 
soon as the President goes through the formality, which I hope will 
follow almost instantaneously. Then Dan Glickman can take over fully 
the important function of Secretary of Agriculture of the United States 
of America and, for that matter, the Secretary of Agriculture for the 
whole free world.
  I urge as near a unanimous vote as possible. I would not be surprised 
if the vote of the Senate was unanimous tomorrow morning. I am looking 
forward to working with my great friend, Dan Glickman, who will be the 
new Secretary of Agriculture.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota.

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