[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 69 (Monday, April 24, 2017)]
[Senate]
[Page S2482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                      Confirmation of Sonny Perdue

  Mr. PERDUE. Mr. President, I rise tonight to speak briefly about our 
new Secretary of Agriculture, my first cousin Sonny Perdue. I grew up 
with this man. I probably know too much about him, but we won't go 
there tonight. He grew up on a farm. He became a doctor of veterinary 
medicine and served in the Air Force. He had an ag business for the 
past 40 years. He and I have been in business together. I have seen his 
integrity, and I have seen his responsibility all my life.
  He is the first Republican Governor in over 135 years in our State in 
Georgia--just 15 years ago now, I guess. He served two terms. He 
created the Commission for a New Georgia, and he started an economic 
development focus in our State that has carried on for the last 15 
years and has yielded the fact that our State today, by independent 
reports, is the best State in the country in which to do business.
  Tonight, he has been confirmed as our next Secretary of Agriculture. 
I could not be more proud for him, for our family, and, most 
importantly, for our country. I want to be the first in this august 
body to call my cousin Sonny Perdue by his new title: Mr. Secretary.
  I believe he is an outstanding candidate. I want to commend the 
President of the United States for his nomination. I think this is 
further evidence that this President, Donald J. Trump, is building an 
outstanding Cabinet with which to change the direction of our country, 
to get this economy going, to put America back to work again, to 
reengage internationally, and develop a fair and level playing field 
for the rest of the world economically.
  As Secretary of Agriculture, my cousin has a big job, and he has a 
big responsibility. I look forward to working with him as a member of 
the Senate Agriculture Committee to make our agricultural and farming 
and ranching industries vigorous and strong now and for future 
generations.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Arkansas.
  Mr. BOOZMAN. Mr. President, I am grateful for this opportunity also 
to offer a few remarks on the confirmation of Governor Sonny Perdue as 
Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. President Trump could 
not have nominated a more qualified individual to lead the USDA.
  Today's vote is not only a huge win for agriculture and rural 
America, but it is a win for the American economy. This vote also 
represents the first time since the 1990s that a southerner has become 
Secretary of USDA. For many Arkansans, agriculture is not just a rich 
part of our State's heritage; it is our livelihood.
  Over the last few years, this livelihood has been threatened due to 
tough economic times in the farm economy. As I travel across the State 
of Arkansas, I see and hear about those challenges firsthand. In 2013, 
the farm economy accounted for a record high of $120 billion. Three 
years later, the farm economy now has accounted for a record low of $67 
billion. This is a really hard time for the farm economy, and folks are 
really hurting in rural America.
  Now more than ever, our farmers and ranchers need a champion. I 
believe Sonny Perdue is that champion. One of the ways we can help our 
farm economy is by opening new markets for American products. I was 
pleased that during his confirmation hearing, Governor Perdue expresses 
his support for working hard to open new markets to American 
agricultural products.
  As a two-term Governor from Georgia with a background in agriculture 
and as a veterinarian, he understands the importance of the agriculture 
industry to our economy and the challenges our farmers and ranchers 
face in rural communities. I can think of no better person to lead the 
USDA during this challenging time. Governor Perdue's resume is 
impressive, and he is highly respected in the agriculture community.
  Simply put, he has what it takes to get the job done. I congratulate 
Governor Perdue on his confirmation as Secretary of USDA. I thank my 
colleagues in the Senate for their support, and I look forward to 
working closely with him and his staff to address the needs of rural 
America.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Mississippi.