[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 5 (Monday, February 11, 2008)]
[Pages 154-155]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
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 Colin 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 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.

[[Page 155]]

    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 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, 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 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 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.