By Jessica Domel
Multimedia Reporter

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture nominee Brooke Rollins of Texas outlined her priorities and answered questions on the farm bill, agricultural trade deficit, tariffs, animal disease outbreaks and nutrition programs at her nomination hearing in front of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Thursday, Jan. 23.

Rollins, who grew up in Glen Rose and graduated from Texas A&M University, told the committee she realizes that if she is confirmed, she is stepping into the role during one of the most economically challenging times in American agricultural history.

“We must ensure that the disaster and economic assistance authorized by Congress is deployed as quickly and as efficiently as possible,” Rollins said. “We must work with the great men and women of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), the stakeholder communities and state leaders to immediately and comprehensively get a handle on the state of animal disease outbreaks. Third, we must immediately begin to modernize, realign, rethink the United States Department of Agriculture, responding to the clear needs and the desires of the American people as set forth so well by the president of the United States over this last historic week.”

Rollins said she understands that serving all American agriculture and all the American people means ensuring rural communities are equipped and supported to prosper now and in the future.

“This includes exploring improvements to our rural development programs, demanding strong and steady domestic and export markets for our beautiful agriculture bounty, eliminating burdensome and costly regulations that hamper innovation, ensuring our nutrition programs are effective and efficient, and putting in the work to make sure we have a healthy and prepared next generation of farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, innovators, and indeed, all Americans,” she said. “This is what we need for the next century of American greatness.”

Beyond those priorities, Rollins said she is dedicated and committed to providing the Senate Ag Committee with the timely technical assistance needed to ensure a new farm bill moves forward.

“It is exceedingly important to me that we deliver for American farmers and ranchers, and I have already begun to lose some sleep over how to make that happen in a way that is productive in supporting your work,” Rollins told the ag committee.

Rollins’ nomination to be the 33rd Secretary of Agriculture was supported by the American Farm Bureau Federation, Texas Farm Bureau and dozens of other agricultural organizations.

The groups wrote a letter to Senate Ag Committee Chairman John Boozman (R-AR) and Committee Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) outlining their support.

“We look forward to Ms. Rollins’ strong leadership at the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” they wrote.

Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Ted Cruz (R-TX) spoke in support of Rollins at the committee hearing Thursday.

Cornyn said Rollins was raised on a farm and understands the difficulties Texas farmers face.

“I’ve worked with Brooke in a number of roles and seen her as she’s helped advance bipartisan legislation both in Austin and here in the nation’s capital, and I know she will bring that experience and that temperament to her job at USDA,” Cornyn said.

Rollins grew up baling hay and raising livestock in Glen Rose. She spent summers working on her family’s farm in Minnesota.

She was an active member of 4-H and FFA. Her former agriculture teacher and FFA leadership group, along with her family and other supporters, joined her at the nomination hearing.

“Raising livestock for 4-H and FFA instilled in her a profound appreciation for the challenges and rewards of life and agriculture,” Cruz said. “Farmers and ranchers in America right now are facing extraordinary challenges—challenges that are putting their livelihood at risk, putting their family at risk, putting the ability to provide food, fiber and clothing for the American people at risk.”

Cruz said the nation’s farmers are looking to the Senate Ag Committee and Rollins for leadership as they navigate these challenges.

“In South Texas, we face historic droughts, and yet our neighbor Mexico is in brazen violation of the 1944 Water Treaty that obligates it to provide water each year to the people of South Texas,” Cruz said. “I have no doubt that soon-to-be Secretary Rollins will be a ferocious advocate for those South Texas farmers just as she is a ferocious advocate for farmers and ranchers in every one of your states and all across the country.”

Part of that advocacy, as Rollins mentioned, will include overseeing the distribution of economic and disaster assistance for farmers approved by Congress just before the Christmas break.

“The first 100 days, if I’m so fortunate to be confirmed, will be a fast and furious effort to ensure that we move that economic aid out,” Rollins said.

Citing a growing agricultural trade deficit, Rollins also laid out the president’s trade agenda.

“We have almost a $45 billion trade deficit for our ag products. A key priority will be expanding access to these markets across the country,” she said. “We’ve already been sort-of vision boarding—not to get ahead of the process, I want to make sure I’m able to hit the ground running—how it is we begin to immediately effectuate bringing down that $45 billion trade deficit.”

Rollins also pointed to Trump’s use of tariffs in his first administration, and threats of tariffs in this term, and how that could impact agriculture.

“He (Trump) believes it is a very important tool in his toolkit to bring America back to the forefront of the world and to ensure that we have a thriving economy,” Rollins said. “Just as he did, and we did, in the first administration, he also understands the potential devastating impact to our farmers and ranchers. I’ve spoken with (former) Secretary (of Agriculture) (Sonny) Perdue a few times on how that was managed so I fully understand, and we are prepared to execute something similar, if confirmed.”

She said if confirmed as the Secretary of Agriculture, she will work with the White House to ensure they can close holes in the policy for farmers and ranchers moving forward.

Part of her job as ag secretary would be, according to Rollins, working with the Senate Ag Committee to ensure the White House and other agencies have all the data they need, while at the same time working across the world to bring in new trade partners to expand access for agricultural products.

“I believe as the president mentioned in his inaugural address that we are embarking on a Golden Age,” Rollins said. “I also believe this is going to be a very, very big part of that.”

At the helm of USDA, Rollins would also be responsible for overseeing nutrition programs funded through the farm bill.

Rollins made a commitment to Chairman Boozman to ensure USDA is doing everything it can so the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is effective and efficient.

“If I’m confirmed, I’ll have a major role in…ensuring these programs are serving those who need them and doing it effectively, but also ensuring that the taxpayers are being well-served—that the dollar that we take from my electrician in Fort Worth, who has his own small business, and send it to a family in need is being used in the best and most effective way,” Rollins said.

The U.S. and the world rely on U.S. farmers and ranchers for a safe, affordable food supply, Rollins said. That’s also why she’ll work, as the head of USDA, to control animal disease outbreaks like New World screwworm and avian influenza.

“I know the current team and the future team will be working hand-in-hand to do everything we can on animal disease,” Rollins told Ranking Member Klobuchar.

Rollins was asked by Sen. Richard Durbin (D-IL) to address President Trump’s plans for the deportation of illegal migrants from the United States and how that could impact agricultural labor.

“My commitment is to help President Trump deploy his agenda in an effective way while at the same time defending, if confirmed as the Secretary of Agriculture, our farmers and ranchers across this country,” Rollins said. “My job, if confirmed, is to work with the Secretary of Labor on the H-2A program and to also work with all of you to reform and perhaps modernize the H-2A program.”

Rollins said the first round of deportations Trump has planned are aimed at undocumented people who have committed crimes.

“We will follow the data and listen to our farmers and ranchers as this is moving,” Rollins said. “My commitment is to work with all of you to do everything we can to make sure none of these farms or dairy producers are put out of business.”

Rollins’ nomination hearing lasted more than five hours Thursday with members from both sides of the aisle asking the nominee her position on different topics.

The next step in the process is for the committee to vote for Rollins’ nomination to move forward for a full Senate vote.

The video from the nomination hearing is available here.