On a voice vote on Wednesday, senators approved the nomination of Alexis Taylor, Oregon state agriculture director for the past six years, as Agriculture undersecretary for trade. Taylor, who was a senior USDA official during the Obama era, has said her priorities would be opening foreign markets to U.S. farm exports and the diligent enforcement of trade agreements.
There are “huge opportunities” in Asia, Taylor said during a confirmation hearing in September. In addition to her tenure at the USDA, which included 10 months when she was in charge of its Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services division, the Iowa native worked on Capitol Hill and served one year in Iraq as a member of the U.S. Army Reserve.
Farm groups and allies in Congress applauded the Senate vote. “I look forward to seeing her accomplishments on behalf of our food and agriculture industry,” said House Agriculture Committee chair David Scott. The U.S. Meat Export Federation said it had worked with Taylor in the past and that “she brings an exceptionally strong background and track record into this key position.”
With the vote on Taylor, the Senate has confirmed six of President Biden’s nominees for Agriculture undersecretary. Awaiting votes are nominees Stacy Dean as undersecretary for nutrition and Jose Esteban as undersecretary for food safety. Also awaiting a vote is the nomination of Doug McKalip as chief agricultural negotiator at the U.S. trade representative’s office.