DORGAN PRAISES SELECTIONS TO HEAD AGRICULTURE AND INTERIOR DEPARTMENTS
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
CONTACT: Justin Kitsch
or Brenden Timpe
PHONE: 202-224-2551
(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Byron Dorgan (D-ND) issued a statement Wednesday reacting to President-Elect Obama’s nomination of former Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture and Senator Ken Salazar to be Secretary of Interior.
The text of the statement is below:
BY SENATOR BYRON DORGAN
DECEMBER 17, 2008
“As a state with an abundance of agriculture, energy and natural resources, few positions in the Cabinet are as important to North Dakota as Secretary of Agriculture and Secretary of Interior. President-Elect Obama has chosen solid nominees for these positions that will help move North Dakota forward.
“Our family farmers and ranchers face significant challenges these days. Tom Vilsack is a former governor of Iowa, so he understands agriculture issues in the northern plains. I’m confident he will be on the side of family farmers when it comes to strengthening the farm safety net, promoting ethanol and advanced biofuels, and other critical agriculture issues. I look forward to working with him.
“As Secretary of Interior, Ken Salazar will oversee energy development issues, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, public grasslands and national parks, and many other issues that are critical to North Dakota. I’ve gotten to know him in the Senate and am confident that he brings and expertise in these issues that will help us work for solutions that are in the best interest of North Dakota and the nation.”
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