    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book I)]
    [February 6, 2008]
    [Pages 150-152]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks at a Swearing-In Ceremony for Edward T. Schafer as Secretary of Agriculture
    February 6, 2008

        Thanks for the warm welcome. Before we begin the ceremony today, we
    turn our thoughts to those suffering from yesterday's tornadoes.
        This was a bad storm that affected a lot of people in a variety of
    States. Our administration is reaching out to State officials. I just
    called the Governors of the affected States. I
    wanted them to know that this Government will help them. But more
    importantly, I wanted them to be able to tell the people in their States
    that the American people hold them up and--hold those who suffer up in
    prayer. Loss of life, a lot of loss of property--prayers can help, and
    so can the Government. And so today, before we begin this important
    ceremony, I do want the people in those States to know the American
    people are standing with them.
        It's good to be back here at the Department of Agriculture. I am--I
    first want to say how much I appreciate the hard and good work the
    people in this Department do on behalf of the American people.
        I'm also pleased to witness the swearing-in of an outstanding public
    servant, the new leader for this Department, Secretary Ed Schafer. I
    welcome Ed's wife Nancy and all their
    family members. [Laughter] They got
    four children and eight grandchildren, which means he's got valuable
    experience when it comes to the food supply. [Laughter] I know Ed's
    family is proud of him, as am I, and I congratulate him on taking his
    place as America's 29th Secretary of Agriculture.
        I appreciate the members of my Cabinet who have joined us. Thanks
    for coming. I very much appreciate the Members of the Senate and the
    House who are here, and I know the Secretary does as well: Senator
    Harkin, Senator Chambliss. These men happen to be the ranking member of the--
    chairman and ranking member of the agricultural committee in the Senate.
    I appreciate Collin Peterson, chairman of
    the House Agriculture Committee, and I want to thank the other Members
    here as well. I appreciate very much the fact that John

    [[Page 151]]

    Block, former Secretary of Agriculture,
    has taken time to join us. Secretary, thanks for coming.
        The roots of this Department stretch back to the Presidency of
    Abraham Lincoln. In 1862, President Lincoln established the first
    Federal agency devoted to agriculture, and he called it ``the people's
    department.'' Nearly a century-and-a-half later, the USDA can still be
    called ``the people's department.'' With your nutrition programs and
    your support for farmers and ranchers, you help ensure that our people
    are healthy and well fed. With your food safety measures, you give peace
    of mind to families across America. With your conservation efforts, you
    help preserve our natural resources.
        Secretary Schafer is going to be a strong and effective leader in
    all these areas. I know him well; we're members of the ex-Governors
    club. [Laughter] He's a fellow you can trust. He's a skilled manager who
    knows how to focus and get results. Among his many other distinctions,
    he is the first North Dakotan to run this Department.
        He had an interesting first night on the job; he spent it in the
    House Chamber listening to me give the State of the Union Address.
    [Laughter] I can report that he didn't go to sleep--[laughter]--and
    applauded just at the right times. [Laughter]
        Our priorities for this Department are clear. We will work to make
    our strong agricultural sector even stronger. Ed understands what I
    know: It makes a lot of sense to make sure that we can grow our own
    food. It's in our national security interest that we're self-sufficient
    in food. Farm income, farm equity, and farm exports have reached alltime
    records. The best way to keep the ag economy growing is to open up new
    markets for America's crops and farm products around the world.
        So Ed is going to join with other members of my administration to
    work to pass free trade agreements with Colombia and Panama and South
    Korea. We will support a successful collusion--conclusion of the Doha
    round of trade talks. Ed and I are going to work tirelessly to open up
    foreign markets for U.S. beef.
        We recognize that farmers also have the potential to help our Nation
    solve one of the greatest challenges, and that is our dependence on
    foreign oil. I'd much rather our farmers be growing energy than trying
    to buy it from other parts of the world. So we will continue to work
    on--for renewable fuels and--including a new generation of ethanol and
    biodiesel.
        Finally, Ed understands the importance of a good farm bill. More
    than a year ago, we proposed a fiscally responsible farm bill that
    provides a strong safety net and makes important reforms to farm
    programs. Farm payments would be targeted to farmers who truly need
    them, especially those involved in production agriculture.
        Congress is considering legislation now. It seems like to us it
    lacks reform. It spends too much money and raises taxes. It's critical
    for farmers and consumers to have a good farm bill in place. So Ed is
    going to work with members of both parties on a bill that spends
    people's money wisely, doesn't raise taxes, reforms and tightens subsidy
    payments--a farm bill that will benefit the entire economy. I'm
    confident we can come together to good--get a good farm bill. But if
    Congress sends me legislation that raises taxes or [does] * not make
    needed reforms, I'm going to veto it.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        * White House correction.
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
        In all the work ahead, Ed can count on a strong partner in his
    Deputy, Chuck Conner. He's a talented
    public servant. He's devoted his life to agriculture issues, and he did
    a superb job of running this Department while Ed was being confirmed.
    And, Chuck, I want to thank you.
        We also owe a debt of gratitude to Secretary Mike Johanns. In his 3 years here at this Department, Mike delivered
    impressive results for farmers and ranchers, from helping to expand
    trade to promoting biofuels to providing assistance after natural

    [[Page 152]]

    disasters. I know he's enjoying his time in Nebraska; I hope he'll be
    back soon. [Laughter]
        There's no doubt in my mind that Ed Schafer and the good men and
    women in this Department can build on these achievements. I thank him
    and his family for answering the call to public service once again. I
    know he's going to do a fine job here in ``the people's department.''
    Congratulations, my friend.
        And now I ask Deputy Secretary Conner
    to administer the oath.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:07 a.m. at the Department of
    Agriculture. The transcript released by the Office of the Press
    Secretary also included the remarks of Secretary Schafer.