[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 58 (Wednesday, March 29, 1995)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4802-S4803]
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. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I would like to say a few words about 
Dan Glickman. I have known him since 1974, when we came to the U.S. 
House of Representatives together. I have known him and his wife. We 
have traveled to different events together over the years. We have 
voted together in the House of Representatives. We have served together 
on a number of caucuses. I had observed his work over the years.
  I certainly shall be voting with a great deal of pride for Dan 
Glickman for Secretary of Agriculture.
  I am especially interested in the international aspects of 
agriculture. I believe in the next few years what we do in 
international agricultural trade will be just as important to farm 
prices as some of our domestic programs.
  The business of the Secretary of Agriculture is the business of food 
for 
[[Page S4803]] peace. It is the business of international trade. It is 
the business of selling our products abroad, but also using food in 
foreign policy situations. The Secretary of Agriculture can be a 
driving force for what happens in farm prices and for the entire 
agricultural industry in our country in the next few years.
  The Secretary of Agriculture also is a very important force 
domestically because it is his Department that sets the standards for 
food--what people are supposed to eat. The Food Stamp Program also is 
administered by the Department of Agriculture to provide food 
assistance for the poor. These are just some of a whole array of 
domestic issues handled by the Secretary of Agriculture.
  The Department of Agriculture is a vast, huge agency. I first became 
acquainted with it when I was a young 4H member growing up on a farm 
near Humboldt, SD. There is a great deal of controversy about what the 
Department should do about reorganizing, and making it more efficient. 
I hope Dan Glickman will heed the call of the American people for less 
Government and more action, so to speak, in terms of the bureaucracy. 
It seems every time we cut spending around here we are told it is going 
to cut children's programs or food stamps or it is going to close a 
local office in one of our States. We never hear anything about 
shutting down any of the bureaucracy here in Washington, DC.
  We need to have a more efficient Department of Agriculture. I am 
hoping Dan Glickman will do just that. I am prepared to help him and I 
wish him well.
  Mr. President, I note the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. PRESSLER. Mr. President, I would like to yield back all the time 
on both sides regarding the nomination of Mr. Glickman. And I am 
playing the role of both leader and Democratic leader at the same time, 
I am told.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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