Tom Vilsack
The season of farewells on Capitol Hill
The general election is more than six months away and the new administration won't take office for nine months but the farewells are being heard already on Capitol Hill.
Vilsack: No rollback on child nutrition
In the face of a proposal to curtail a program allowing free school meals for all children in high-poverty areas, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told lawmakers, "It would be unwise to roll back standards, saddle parents and school administrators with more paperwork or weaken assistance to our most vulnerable children."
Vilsack: mandatory disclosure is ‘the only way’ to resolve GMO labeling
With the Senate at an impasse over GMO-food labeling, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack encouraged senators to "figure out a way to reach common ground."
Obama in Cuba — will ag trade benefit?
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is part of the U.S. delegation in Cuba today as part of President Obama's visit to the island, the first by a U.S. president in 88 years. U.S. farm groups have high hopes for supplying a large share of Cuba's $2 billion a year in food and agriculture imports, although sales have trended downward since peaking at $710 million in 2008.
‘On-package’ GMO labels may mislead, says Vilsack
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack is unwavering in his support of digital disclosure as the way to handle GMO food labeling.
Obama trip to Cuba will include Vilsack
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, on a trade mission to Peru and Chile this week, will travel to Havana next Monday and Tuesday as part of President Obama's trip to the island, the first U.S. president to visit in nearly 90 years.
USDA welcomes ‘tough decision’ on GMO labels, says Vilsack
With Congress at an apparent impasse, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said he is willing to sort out a mandatory GMO food-labeling system. "If Congress is unwilling to make these tough decisions ... then delegate the responsibility to the Department of Agriculture," Vilsack said at the National Farmers Union convention.
Continuity is important, says Vilsack
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the last of President Obama's original cabinet members, won't make promises but he might become the first secretary since the Johnson era to serve eight years.
Sustainability excluded from Dietary Guidelines
Sustainability of the food supply is a critically important question but the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is not the appropriate place to discuss it, two Obama cabinet members said, bowing to months of criticism by food and ag groups. The decision by Health Secretary Sylvia Burwell and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack overturned an initiative by the panel of experts they chose to help update the guidelines, which are the government's advice for healthful eating.
At USDA, Obama launches TPP ratification drive
President Obama traveled to the Agriculture Department headquarters on the national Mall to seek support for the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement, one day after the pact was sealed and months before Congress will vote on it. "We are going to be talking not just to members of Congress but the American public and various constituencies, and governors, and mayors who are represented here about why this is good for their communities," Obama said.
Vilsack selects Thieman as chief of staff
Karla Thieman will move from chief of staff for Deputy Agriculture Secretary Krysta Harden to the same post for Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, the USDA announced.
Senate Ag chairman: no new funding for child nutrition
The Senate Agriculture Committee chairman said he does not plan any increase in spending as part of re-authorizing child nutrition programs that range from school lunch to WIC. Kansas Republican Pat Roberts postponed indefinitely a bill-drafting session, originally scheduled for Thursday, while awaiting Congressional Budget Office estimates of the cost of potential elements of the bill.
USDA to double number of higher-blend fuel pumps
Size of farm subsidy sequestration ‘up in the air’
The size of budget sequestration cuts in crop subsidies "is still up in the air," Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack told DTN. The cuts will fall in the range of 6.8 percent to 7.3 percent unless Congress changes the 2011 sequestration law.
Vilsack: Healthy school meals, greater access to food are vital
Despite political polarization, Congress should keep child nutrition programs rolling towards healthier school meals and making the food available to more youngsters, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said in spelling out his goals for reauthorization of the programs.
USDA to award $8 million for nutrition training
The Agriculture Department said it will award $8 million "to help school nutrition professionals better prepare healthy meals for their students."
Time running out for school lunch, ag bills during fall session
At a news conference today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will kick off the drive for renewal of child-nutrition programs that almost certainly will miss the Sept. 30 deadline for reauthorization.
Vilsack to step up nutrition battle next week
The USDA announced today that Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will continue his campaign for reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act, otherwise known as the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, with a speech at the National Press Club on September 8.
Vilsack says Rollins has key asset — Trump’s ear
Brooke Rollins is sure to be confirmed by the Senate as Agriculture secretary in the new Trump administration, and she will start with a valuable asset — an ongoing relationship with the president, said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.