01/21/05 The Johanns Administration

01/21/05 The Johanns Administration

It was hours after President Bush was sworn in for a second term of office that the U.S. Senate was set to confirm the nomination of the President's new Secretary of Agriculture. Not that there expected to be any controversy involving now former Nebraska Governor Mike Johanns' confirmation. But now that there is a new head of U.S.D.A. the questions surround how Johanns will handle some of the more significant challenges the agency has faced in quite some time. The whole b.s.e. scenario and how it affects the U.S. relationship with previous and future markets will be number one priority for Johanns. It's not just that current events dictate that view & it is that Johanns has said that publicly, like during his recent confirmation hearing before the U.S. Senate. JOHANNS: Let me be emphatic as I possibly can. There is going to be no let up, no slow down in our efforts to reopen Japan to our beef products. If there is one paramount reason why I'm so very anxious to get confirmed, it's to get to work on that issue as a top priority. Now that is understandable, considering Johanns was the leader of the nation's top beef processing state. So it is with equal passion and understanding that Johanns plans to get involved with the debate over reopening the U.S. border to Canadian beef products. In fact, Johanns said publicly he will aggressively participate in Congressional hearings on the matter next month, bringing his thoughts on various components of the issue to the table. JOHANNS: One is animal safety and food safety. We need to make sure that those issues have been touched. That we've paid attention to them, that we're doing the right things in those areas in terms of those rules and in terms of Canada. So I'll make sure that I'm ready to go when you're ready for the hearing. Notice a trend of Johanns stating he will be a hands-on U.S.D.A. Secretary? That is expected to be most noticeable in the realm of trade missions and issues. That is due in part to his many international trade missions taken as Nebraska Governor. And unlike previous Ag Secretaries, Johanns expects to be actively involved on such missions, as well as on the front lines of negotiations such as the World Trade Organization's on-going ag trade reform process. But Johanns adds he does not plan to ignore other key issues, such as increased funding for animal disease study and inspection, improved conservation efforts, and expanding renewable fuel use in this nation and that industry's importance to the ag, and the U.S., economy.
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