Senate confirms Northey
The Senate today confirmed President Donald Trump’s nomination of Iowa Agriculture Secretary Bill Northey to be the Agriculture undersecretary for farm production and conservation.
The confirmation means that Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, quietly lifted his hold on Northey as Trump plans to meet with senators today to discuss a resolution to Cruz’s objections to the Renewable Fuel Standard.
Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said in a statement, “I’m pleased the Senate advanced Mr. Northey’s nomination. I have no doubt he will be a champion for farmers and ranchers at USDA. Our committee worked in a bipartisan fashion to get Mr. Northey down the road to work at USDA.”
The Renewable Fuels Association immediately praised the confirmation and thanked the senators its leaders considered key to the Senate approving the nomination after Cruz’s four-month hold.
Renewable Fuels Association President and CEO Bob Dinneen said, “We are pleased to see Bill Northey finally confirmed by the Senate. This is long overdue. Bill is eminently qualified to help our nation’s farmers, but unfortunately his nomination fell victim to political games. There is no better champion for farmers than Bill Northey. He is the right man for the job and will be an enormous asset to USDA Secretary [Sonny] Perdue.”
Dinneen expressed gratitude to Sens. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Senate Agriculture Committee ranking member Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn, “and other champions in Congress for their persistence to ensure the hold on Bill’s nomination was lifted.”
Growth Energy CEO Emily Skor said, “We are thrilled Mr. Northey is approved; he will be a fantastic addition to the USDA. Having served as the secretary of agriculture for Iowa, Mr. Northey has first-hand knowledge and experience regarding how the integration of biofuels into both domestic and international fuel markets has positively impacted the farming economy in America.”
–The Hagstrom Report
