Agriculture Secretary Pick to Push Food for Poor
By Mary Clare Jalonick
The Associated Press
President-elect Barack Obama’s pick for secretary of agriculture says that if he is confirmed he will work to boost the economies of farm communities, promote nutritious foods and help poor families put meals on the table.
The man Obama wants running the Agriculture Department, former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack, is scheduled to appear Wednesday for a Senate confirmation hearing.
In testimony prepared for the hearing, Vilsack says the Agriculture Department faces “historic challenges,” mostly brought on by economic woes.
If confirmed, Vilsack will oversee the nation’s nutrition programs, including food stamps, a large part of the department’s budget. Nutrition programs are facing increased need in recent months as the economy has stumbled.
