Leahy Questions
Nominee For Secretary Of Agriculture

Former Iowa Governor Thomas Vilsack
Answers Questions On Organics And Broadband 

At the confirmation hearing Wednesday for President-elect Obama’s choice for Secretary of Agriculture – former Iowa Governor Tom Vilsack -- Senator Patrick Leahy today homed in on two of Vermont’s economic priorities that will be on the desk of the next USDA Secretary:  organic farming, and federal help to expand broadband access to rural communities.  Leahy is a senior member of the Senate Agriculture Committee and is leading efforts to include rural broadband expansion in the upcoming economic stimulus package.  Leahy also is the father of the organic standards and labeling program that has helped vault organic products into the fastest growing sector of American agriculture.

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