The U.S. Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry is set to host a confirmation hearing on Thursday morning at 10:00 a.m. Eastern time to consider the nomination of former Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue to be Secretary of Agriculture. If confirmed, Perdue will play an important role on issues affecting the U.S. dairy industry, including the implementation of new rules governing how foods made with bioengineered ingredients are labeled; proposed improvements to child nutrition programs and efforts to expand export opportunities for U.S. dairy products.

In January, IDFA expressed support for Perdue’s nomination in a statement released on the day of his nomination. “As a fellow veterinarian, I’m confident that Secretary Perdue will bring the necessary knowledge and insight to keep American agriculture, food production and nutrition programs strong and vibrant,” said Michael Dykes, D.V.M., IDFA president and CEO.

In February, IDFA also joined more than 600 other food and agriculture organizations across the country in expressing support for Perdue’s nomination in a letter to Senators Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). The group highlighted Perdue’s extensive experience in agriculture and said he was “eminently qualified to lead” the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Visit the United States Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry website to watch the hearing live.

For more information, contact Dave Carlin, IDFA senior vice president of legislative affairs and economic policy, at dcarlin@idfa.org.