Rural Development

Rural Development

David Sparks Ph.D.
David Sparks Ph.D.
agri-pulse.com was there when Agriculture Sec. Sonny Perdue took his first trip to the House agriculture committee and fielded questions from members of Congress for more than two hours. The hearing touched on a wide variety of subjects, including Purdue's recently announced reorganization of the USDA. Among other things, the reorganization creates an undersecretary for trade and shifts the under Sec. for rural development to an assistant to the Sec. That move creates a position over rural development that reports directly to Purdue rather than an undersecretary who would report to his deputy. Many Democrats have raised their eyebrows at the plan saying it demotes USDA's rural development interests. Purdue says he is open to their accountability because he sees this as an elevation. "This is something that I jealously wanted to be a part of. When I say elevated, I mean elevated to a portion where that person is going to be sitting close to me with walk-in privileges where you can say this is a great opportunity, what do you think about it, how can we do better. So, I welcome your oversight in the rural development portion. The mission is not going to diminish whatsoever. The distribution network that has been developed out here with great, great people all over the country is not going to be diminished at all. The people in rural development are going to report to this assistant secretary who will have direct access to the secretary and I consider that an elevation." Purdue made reference to the administration's planned infrastructure investment and said this new arrangement would streamline department communications.
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