Hearings to examine the nominations of Dudley Hoskins, of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and Scott Hutchins, of Indiana, to be Under Secretary for Research, Education, and Economics, both of the Department of Agriculture.

1[Senate Hearing 119-83]2[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]34                                                         S. Hrg. 119-8356                 NOMINATIONS OF DUDLEY HOSKINS TO BE7                  UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR8                  MARKETING AND REGULATORY PROGRAMS9                  AND DR. SCOTT HUTCHINS, TO BE UNDER10                  SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR RESEARCH,11                  EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS1213=======================================================================1415                                HEARING1617                               BEFORE THE1819                       COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE,20                        NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY2122                          UNITED STATES SENATE2324                    ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS2526                             FIRST SESSION2728                               __________2930                              May 21, 20253132                               __________3334                       Printed for the use of the35           Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry3637[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]3839                  Available on http://www.govinfo.gov/4041                                __________4243                   U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE4460-518 PDF                  WASHINGTON : 20254546-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------4748           COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION, AND FORESTRY4950                    JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas, Chairman51MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky            AMY KLOBUCHAR, Minnesota52JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota            MICHAEL F. BENNET, Colorado53JONI ERNST, Iowa                     TINA SMITH, Minnesota54CINDY HYDE-SMITH, Mississippi        RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois55ROGER MARSHALL, Kansas               CORY BOOKER, New Jersey56TOMMY TUBERVILLE, Alabama            BEN RAY LUJAN, New Mexico57JAMES C. JUSTICE, West Virginia      RAPHAEL WARNOCK, Georgia58CHARLES GRASSLEY, Iowa               PETER WELCH, Vermont59JOHN THUNE, South Dakota             JOHN FETTERMAN, Pennsylvania60DEB FISCHER, Nebraska                ADAM SCHIFF, California61JERRY MORAN, Kansas                  ELISSA SLOTKIN, Michigan6263               Fitzhugh Elder IV, Majority Staff Director64                    Jessica L. Williams, Chief Clerk65                Lauren Santabar, Minority Staff Director66                 Chu-Yuan Hwang, Minority Chief Counsel6768                           C O N T E N T S6970                              ----------7172                        Wednesday, May 21, 20257374                                                                   Page7576Hearing:7778Nominations of Dudley Hoskins to be Under Secretary of79  Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs and Dr. Scott80  Hutchins, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Research,81  Education, and Economics.......................................     18283                              ----------8485                    STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY SENATORS8687Boozman, Hon. John, U.S. Senator from the State of Arkansas......     188Klobuchar, Hon. Amy, U.S. Senator from the State of Minnesota....     28990                               WITNESSES9192Hoskins, Dudley, of the District of Columbia, to be Under93  Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs.     594Hutchins, Scott, of Indiana, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture95  for Research, Education, and Economics.........................     696                              ----------9798                                APPENDIX99100Prepared Statements:101    Hoskins, Dudley..............................................    34102    Hutchins, Scott..............................................    36103104Document(s) Submitted for the Record:105Boozman, Hon. John:106    Agriculture Companies in support of Dudley Hoskins, letter of107      support....................................................    40108    Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities in support of109      Scott Hutchins, letter of support..........................    44110    National Association of State Departments of Agriculture in111      support of Dudley Hoskins and Scott Hutchins, letter of112      support....................................................    45113    National Cattlemen's Beef Association in support of Dudley114      Hoskins, letter of support.................................    47115    National Coalition for Food and Agriculture Research in116      support of Scott Hutchins, letter of support...............    50117    National Corn Growers Association in support of Dudley118      Hoskins, letter of support.................................    51119Fetterman, Hon. John:120    Letters submitted by John Fetterman..........................    52121    Letters of appreciation to Brooke Rollins from Local Food122      Purchase Assistance Program, and Local Food for Schools....    69123    Testimony of Scott Hutchins from 2018........................    92124125Hoskins, Dudley:126    Committee questionnaire, Office of Government Ethics127      Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure128      Report and 5-day letter filed by Dudley Hoskins............   100129130Hutchins, Scott:131    Committee questionnaire, Office of Government Ethics132      Executive Branch Personnel Public Financial Disclosure133      Report and 5-day letter filed by Scott Hutchins............   131134135Question and Answer:136Hoskins, Dudley:137    Written response to questions from Hon. Amy Klobuchar........   174138    Written response to questions from Hon. Mitch McConnell......   175139    Written response to questions from Hon. Deb Fischer..........   175140    Written response to questions from Hon. Michael Bennet.......   175141    Written response to questions from Hon. Cory Booker..........   177142    Written response to questions from Hon. Raphael Warnock......   178143    Written response to questions from Hon. John Fetterman.......   181144    Written response to questions from Hon. Adam Schiff..........   182145Hutchins, Scott:146    Written response to questions from Hon. Amy Klobuchar........   184147    Written response to questions from Hon. Mitch McConnell......   185148    Written response to questions from Hon. Michael Bennet.......   185149    Written response to questions from Hon. Cory Booker..........   186150    Written response to questions from Hon. Raphael Warnock......   189151    Written response to questions from Hon. John Fetterman.......   192152    Written response to questions from Hon. Adam Schiff..........   195153    Written response to questions from Hon. Elissa Slotkin.......   196154155NOMINATIONS OF DUDLEY HOSKINS TO BE UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR156 MARKETING AND REGULATORY PROGRAMS AND DR. SCOTT HUTCHINS, TO BE UNDER157    SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS158159                              ----------160161                        WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 2025162163                                        U.S. Senate164          Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry165                                                    Washington, DC.166    The Committee met, pursuant to notice, at 10:32 a.m., in167Room 106, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Hon. John Boozman,168Chairman of the Committee, presiding.169    Present: Senators Boozman [presiding], Hoeven, Hyde-Smith,170Marshall, Justice, Fischer, Moran, Klobuchar, Bennet, Smith,171Lujan, Welch, Fetterman, Schiff, and Slotkin.172173   STATEMENT OF HON. BOOZMAN, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF174 ARKANSAS, CHAIRMAN, U.S. COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NUTRITION,175                          AND FORESTRY176177    Chairman Boozman. Good morning and welcome. It is my178privilege to call this hearing to order.179    Today, we will consider the nominations of Mr. Dudley180Hoskins to be Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory181Programs and Dr. Scott Hutchins to be Under Secretary for182Research, Education, and Economics. We welcome both of you to183the Committee and congratulate you on your nominations and,184very importantly, thank you for your willingness to serve.185    Our farmers and ranchers continue to face challenges186ranging from high input costs, elevated interest rates, an187uncertain trade environment, and an ineffective--very188ineffective--farm safety net. Farmers across the country189continue to struggle and are in desperate need of updated,190responsive risk management tools. Secretary Rollins has led by191example and has been a champion for agriculture, but the192challenges facing the farm country highlight why it is so193important she get her team in place. Today is another step194toward making that happen.195    Starting with Mr. Hoskins, the Marketing and Regulatory196Programs mission area is one of the most diverse and far-197reaching responsibilities of USDA. From beef grading to organic198agriculture, from foreign animal disease response to specialty199crop pests, this mission area touches every farmer, every200rancher, every processor, every marketer, every stakeholder in201the agriculture value chain.202    This mission area houses two key federal agencies, the203Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service and the Agricultural204Marketing Service. They do critical, often unnoticed work and205play a vital role in keeping our Nation's food system206functioning.207    U.S. agriculture is currently facing threats from numerous208pests and diseases. Right now, all eyes are on Mexico and the209threat of New World screwworm. The Secretary's decision to210close the border to live animal imports was not a light211decision. Ensuring Mexico has proper protocols in place and212eventually reopening the border will not be an easy task. This213is why I believe it is so important to get Mr. Hoskins214confirmed as soon as possible.215    Now to Dr. Hutchins, the Under Secretary for Research,216Education, and Economics. He is charged with advancing217scientific knowledge related to agriculture through research,218Extension, and education. This mission area manages four key219agencies, collects and disseminates critical data, and is the220primary link between the Federal Government and our Nation's221premier agriculture institutions, our land-grant universities.222These serve to develop the next generation of our agriculture223workforce, as well as conduct world-class research. This224mission area also works to ensure that the timely research and225outcomes and discoveries developed at our land-grant226institutions and by USDA's chief in-house research agency, the227Agricultural Research Service, actually make it to the farm.228The Cooperative Extension Service, truly a hallmark of U.S.229agriculture, is the bridge between innovation and the producer.230    I am grateful that Mr. Hoskins and Dr. Hutchins are231nominated for such important roles at USDA, and I look forward232to hearing their plans to serve American agriculture.233    I now turn to Ranking Member Klobuchar for her opening234statement.235236  STATEMENT OF HON. KLOBUCHAR, U.S. SENATOR FROM THE STATE OF237                           MINNESOTA238239    Senator Klobuchar. Thank you very much, Chair, and I240welcome Mr. Hoskins and Dr. Hutchins. I would like to also241welcome Mr. Hoskins' parents and his wife, Jessica, back there,242right, as well as Dr. Hutchins' wife, Janet. Thank you all for243being here.244    As you mentioned, Mr. Chairman, the nominees, if confirmed,245will oversee all the functions of the USDA that are very246important to many people around this dais. You both have a247strong record of experience within the Department, and we look248forward to today's discussion.249    I will start with USDA's Marketing and Regulatory Programs250vast reach. The most pressing challenge facing this mission251area is protecting us and our industry and consumers from pest,252diseases, including avian flu and New World screwworm. The253Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service is on the frontlines254of this fight with dedicated employees working day in and day255out to protect domestic producers from threats.256    Mr. Hoskins, as you and I discussed in our good and257thorough meeting, I remain concerned over recent reporting of258the loss of public service veterinarians at the USDA. These259veterinarians are the first line of defense against animal260diseases, and I hope you will address that once you get in261there, if you are confirmed, work to buildup that workforce.262Senator Hyde-Smith and I head up the Veterinarians Caucus,263something people may not have known.264    Additionally----265    Chairman Boozman. No.266    Senator Klobuchar. There you go. USDA's Marketing and267Regulatory Programs provide valuable support to our farmers268through the Ag Marketing Service. From commodity procurement269and specialty crop block grants to federal grain inspections270and the National Organic Program, AMS works to expand market271opportunities at home and abroad.272    AMS has also taken steps to improve price transparency and273stop bad actors through several interagency efforts. In the274face of continued consolidation across the ag industry, efforts275to ensure fair rules of the road are more important than ever.276    We will also consider the nomination of Dr. Hutchinson--277Hutchins to be--we have a town in Minnesota called Hutchinson,278as Senator Smith will attest to--Dr. Hutchins to be Under279Secretary of Research, Education, and Economics, who has280previous experience in the mission area as Deputy Under281Secretary.282    As you and I discussed, Dr. Hutchins, I am a strong283supporter of ag research. It just makes economic sense.284According to USDA's own estimates, every $1 invested in ag285research yields $20 in economic returns. I appreciated when the286Chairman came to Minnesota and met with some of our leaders in287ag research. Of course, I think we also all went, Senator288Smith, Senator Boozman, and myself, to no other place than289North Dakota at the invitation of Senator Hoeven to look at290some of the research going on over there.291    As you and I discussed, I was disappointed to see President292Trump's proposed over $600 million in cuts to the USDA's293National Institute of Food and Ag in the Fiscal Year 2026294budget. I hope to work with my colleagues on this Committee to295ensure these proposed cuts are rejected, that we continue to296keep ag research going strong. We are at a cusp of great297developments with all the research that has been done, as well298as the potential of using AI, if correctly used, to do even299better, and the precision agriculture and the like.300    USDA's research agencies are critically important to301advancing scientific research, supporting our land grant302universities, and educating students to lead in the field and303in the boardroom. Our home State of Minnesota is home to the304University of Minnesota, four 1994 tribal colleges, and the ARS305labs in Morris and St. Paul.306    Agencies within the MRP and REE mission areas are popular307because of the high quality of work conducted by dedicated308public servants. You can have strong leadership, but you have309to have the public servants doing the work. I have discussed310with both of you the importance of keeping these employees on,311recruiting people immediately when positions come open, and I312hope to hear from all of you about your plans in each of your313mission areas. Thank you very much, and thank you for your314willingness to serve.315    Chairman Boozman. Thank you very much.316    It gives me great pleasure this morning to introduce the317President's nominee to serve as the Under Secretary for318Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Mr. Dudley Hoskins. Before I319give him too much praise, as was mentioned, we want to welcome320his family, who have joined us here today. Dudley's wife,321Jessica Morse, Dudley's parents, Woody and Eugenia Hoskins, and322Dudley's brothers, Houston and Borden. We are delighted that323you could join us at today's hearing.324    Dudley is the first member of my committee staff to be325nominated for a position requiring Senate confirmation. I am so326pleased that he has agreed to serve the American people in this327role, and I have full confidence that his considerable328expertise, work ethic, and sense of humor will serve him well329as the Under Secretary.330    During the first Trump Administration, Dudley served as331Senior Advisor to Secretary Perdue and Chief of Staff of the332Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission area. Mr. Hoskins333previously worked for the National Association of State334Departments of Agriculture, the Responsible Industry for a335Sound Environment, and the American Horse Council. He is a336native of Texas, and after completing his undergraduate degree337at Tulane University, earned his law degree from Texas Wesleyan338University.339    Dudley's the right problem for--is the right person, not340the right problem, but the right person----341    [Laughter.]342    Chairman Boozman [continuing]. for this job. It is one of343the most important mission areas at USDA. I have confidence in344his abilities and his judgment to make sound recommendations as345the Secretary that will be in the long-term best interest of346American agriculture.347    Our second nominee is Dr. Scott Hutchins. Dr. Hutchins is348nominated to be Under Secretary for Research, Education, and349Economics. Dr. Hutchins served during the last Trump350Administration as Deputy Under Secretary for this same mission351area. Dr. Hutchins spent over 30 years with Dow AgroSciences352and is an adjunct professor of Entomology at the University of353Nebraska-Lincoln. He earned his Ph.D. in Entomology from Iowa354State, a master's in entomology from Mississippi State, and an355undergraduate degree from Auburn. You have been every place.356This is great.357    Dr. Hutchins' wife, Janet, also is with us today, and358welcome. We are so glad you are here.359    Thank you, Dr. Hutchins, for appearing before the360Committee, and again, we appreciate the fact that you are361willing to serve. I look forward to your testimony.362    With that, let's administer the oath and then begin with363witness testimony. Each witness will have five minutes. Please364stand and raise your right hand.365    Chairman Boozman. Do you swear or affirm that the366statements you are about to provide is the truth, the whole367truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?368    Mr. Hoskins. I do.369    Dr. Hutchins. I do.370    Chairman Boozman. Do you agree that, if confirmed, you will371respond to requests to appear and testify before any duly372constituted Committee of the Senate?373    Mr. Hoskins. I do.374    Dr. Hutchins. I do.375    Chairman Boozman. Thank you.376    Now, Mr. Hoskins, you are recognized for your opening377statement.378379STATEMENT OF DUDLEY HOSKINS, OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, TO BE380  UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR MARKETING AND REGULATORY381                            PROGRAMS382383    Mr. Hoskins. Well, Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member384Klobuchar, and distinguished Members of the Committee, thank385you for the opportunity to appear before you today as President386Trump's nominee to serve as the Under Secretary for the U.S.387Department of Agriculture's Marketing and Regulatory Programs.388I want to thank President Trump for nominating me to serve in389this role, and I want to thank Secretary Rollins for her trust390and confidence in supporting my nomination. I also want to391thank the Members of this Committee, your respective staffs,392and the non-designated clerks, Jessie Williams, Cindy Qualley,393and Elisa Mendez, for the incredible honor and privilege to394serve in support of this Committee's Members and mission over395the past four years.396    Regardless of whether I am fortunate enough to be397confirmed, I will forever treasure the time, experiences, and398relationships I have been blessed with throughout my tenure399serving this Committee.400    Finally, I want to thank my family for your often-tested401but never-wavering love and support. I appreciate you, Mr.402Chairman, recognizing my family and you, Ranking Member403Klobuchar. I also want to do the same. My parents, Woody and404Jenny, who are here in person, my sister Aubrey, who is in405Louisiana with her family today, my brothers Houston and406Borden, and sister-in-law Catherine, who are in attendance, and407my wife Jessica, whose only real poor decision in life was408agreeing to marry me.409    [Laughter.]410    Mr. Hoskins. That aside, I did not grow up in agriculture.411Through happenstance, dumb luck, and great fortune, I fell into412it and ultimately fell in love with it. After graduating law413school, I came to D.C. with my dog, Huckleberry, a law license,414and no malpractice insurance. Like most experiences in my life,415I have been a recipient of goodwill I did not earn and good416luck I did not deserve. The combination of those two dynamics417allowed me to work for the American Horse Council, the418Responsible Industry for a Sound Environment, the National419Association of State Departments of Agriculture, and before420joining the Committee, the opportunity and privilege to serve421at USDA under the first Trump Administration, under then-422Secretary Perdue in multiple capacities, one of which was in423the MRP mission area for then-Under Secretary Greg Ibach.424    Those experiences exposed me to the countless challenges425and inner workings of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection426Service and the Agricultural Marketing Service, which in my427very biased estimation are the two most critical, complex, and428impactful agencies informing the health and viability of U.S.429agriculture.430    The people serving in the APHIS and AMS agencies are on431their clock and at their post 24/7 as stewards and sentries,432protecting our producers from incursions of devastating animal433and plant pests and diseases, traveling across our rural434communities to ensure price transparency through market news435reporting, conducting bird control at airports, ensuring the436highest confidence in our grading standards, reviewing and437regulating certain agricultural biotechnologies, mitigating the438impacts of feral hogs and other invasive species, and ensuring439the integrity of research and promotion boards and countless440marketing orders, just to name a few.441    In short, the career officials and subject matter experts442tasked with this incredibly diverse mission set are the best in443the world at what they do. If confirmed, I commit to following444Secretary Rollins' leadership and working every day to support445the APHIS and AMS missions in helping U.S. farmers, ranchers,446and foresters produce the safest, most affordable, and most447abundant food and fiber in the world.448    To the Members of the Committee, I am grateful for the time449and opportunity to have met with many of you and your450respective staffs before today's hearing. Those conversations451were incredibly instructive in helping me better understand452some of the challenges and opportunities impacting producers in453your states and across the country.454    If confirmed, I will dedicate myself to delivering a455transparent, predictable, and science-based regulatory456structure to protect the health and viability of U.S.457agriculture, mitigate the impact of animal and plant pests and458diseases, and facilitate the timely delivery of critical459marketing programs consistent with the spirit and intent of the460law.461    Finally, I also want to note my gratitude and appreciation462to my co-nominee, Dr. Hutchins. Regardless of what becomes of463my nomination, if he is confirmed, USDA will be fortunate to464have someone of his experience and capabilities leading the REE465mission area.466    I thank the Committee for the opportunity to appear before467you today, and I look forward to answering any questions you468may have for me.469    [The prepared statement of Mr. Hoskins can be found on page47034 in the appendix.]471    Chairman Boozman. Dr. Hutchins.472473STATEMENT OF SCOTT HUTCHINS, OF INDIANA, TO BE UNDER SECRETARY474     OF AGRICULTURE FOR RESEARCH, EDUCATION, AND ECONOMICS475476    Dr. Hutchins. Good morning. Chairman Boozman, Ranking477Member Klobuchar, and Members of the Committee, I am truly478pleased to appear before you today as President Trump's nominee479to the position of Under Secretary for Research, Education, and480Economics for the United States Department of Agriculture. I481would like to sincerely thank President Trump for this482opportunity and Secretary Rollins for her confidence and483support with this nomination as well.484    I am myself a product, as you have read, of the land-grant485system, and therefore, I feel a great sense of pride and honor486to be considered for this position, and if confirmed, will487certainly dedicate myself to fulfill the mission as outlined by488Congress and to achieve the goals of USDA as outlined by489Secretary Rollins.490    As you have already recognized, thank you for that. I would491like to introduce my wife, Janet Hutchins from Alabama. We492celebrate 45 years of marriage next month, and we have three493wonderful adult children and seven awesome grandchildren, all494ages 12 and under. No one could ask for a better lifelong495partner and supportive family, and I also want to thank my496sisters Dawn and Candy in Georgia, along with the extended497family and friends watching virtually for their love and498support through this process.499    Throughout my career, I have dedicated my professional500passion toward developing innovations and novel technologies in501support of agriculture production, working every day to provide502tools that allow farmers to succeed in their businesses. For503example, I was the Global Product Development Manager for504Spinosad, which is a U.S. EPA Green Chemistry Award winner, and505a naturally-derived insect management product that is today one506of the most widely used insect management tools in agriculture507and horticulture, both conventional and organic agriculture508within the United States and indeed globally.509    The history of agricultural productivity in the United510States has been unlike any industry. Production has increased511over 400 percent in the last century while using the same level512of inputs, albeit different inputs, and with all that, less513land. That is clearly the definition of sustainability.514    Often overlooked is the fact that the average life span of515Americans has gone from 49 years of age to over 80 years of age516in that same period. Modern U.S. agriculture, powered by U.S.517farmers and ranchers, is the enabling reason we have a safe,518abundant, and reliable food system.519    My professional journey as a scientist began at Auburn520University as an undergraduate student in the late 1970's,521where I benefited from excellent teachers and mentors in522Agricultural Entomology and became passionate about helping523growers manage devastating pest problems. I elected to pursue524graduate studies at Mississippi State University and Iowa State525University, where I became a student of Integrative Pest526Management. I have been fortunate to have worked closely with527numerous university teams and administrators throughout my528career, along with scientific societies, to create and advance529public-private partnerships.530    After a nearly 32-year career in the private sector, I was531honored to serve as Deputy Under Secretary for Research,532Education, and Economics under the leadership of Secretary533Perdue, where I experienced firsthand the talent and commitment534of our federal agencies in research, education, and economics.535If confirmed, I look forward to continuing to support their536critical mission with Secretary Rollins. The land grant mission537is timeless, and not only research, but also research made538relevant through education and extension.539    I was honored to have met in person the Nobel laureate, Dr.540Norman Borlaug, who inspired all of us to pursue, with earnest,541innovation in agriculture as the very best way to ensure food542security for all. Inasmuch as Congress has designated this role543to also serve as the Chief Agricultural Scientist for the544United States, if confirmed, I will fulfill these545responsibilities to the best of my ability through deliberate,546yet decisive formulation of recommendations to the Secretary,547the President, and the Congress on key scientific issues and548opportunities facing U.S. agriculture. Moreover, if confirmed,549I commit to actively lead the REE team to create strategic550initiatives and national priorities in line with the goals and551objectives of the Secretary and Congress with a renewed focus552on impactful results and discovery goals.553    I have always truly valued teamwork, and I know Mr. Hoskins554well from our previous time at USDA. He is the absolute best,555as you already know, and if we are confirmed together, it will556be an honor to work side by side with him and the Secretary's557full team to collectively support U.S. agriculture.558    Chairman Boozman, Ranking Member Klobuchar, Members of the559Committee, I am truly honored to have been nominated for this560critical USDA role, and if confirmed, I pledge to do all I can561each and every day to improve the lives and livelihoods of562farmers, ranchers, and all Americans through the work of the563research, education, and economics agencies.564    Thank you so much for the privilege of appearing in front565of the Committee today, and I look forward to answering any566questions you may have.567    [The prepared statement of Dr. Hutchins can be found on568page 36 in the appendix.]569    Chairman Boozman. Well, thank you both for your testimony.570We will now begin with one round of questions. Each Member will571have five minutes.572    Before I ask my questions, I would like to add letters of573support from various groups for Mr. Hoskins and Dr. Hutchins574for their nomination into the record. Without objection, so575ordered.576    [The letters can be found on pages 40-51 in the appendix.]577    Chairman Boozman. Mr. Hoskins, the USDA has been challenged578by avian flu for quite some time now, and recent developments579of New World screwworm moving closer to our southern border are580more than troubling. You have had some experience in handling581foreign animal disease threats in your prior roles at USDA with582the State Departments of Agriculture. If confirmed, how will583you address the current threats facing U.S. agriculture, and584how will you ensure USDA stays ready to meet new challenges?585    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman, and586thank you for the time you extended to me in your office before587today's hearing. I know you raised this issue and a multiple of588other priorities for you and producers in Arkansas.589    When it comes to high-path AI or screwworm or whatever's on590deck next, African swine fever, FMD, the disease of the day, in591my estimation, all of those things require an all-hands-on-592deck. There is a federal component and equity that obviously593APHIS and veterinary services plays a huge instrumental role in594driving. There is also the relationships and partners with595states, state animal health officials, and impacted producers596and industry stakeholders.597    If I were confirmed, I would do everything in my power to598support Secretary Rollins implement her five-pronged approach599that she rolled out to address high-path AI, better understand600and assess the risks of screwworm from Mexico, and work to601understand what, if anything, veterinary services and the APHIS602team needed or wanted in support or permission to better603execute their mandate to protect U.S. agriculture.604    Chairman Boozman. Very good. Dr. Hutchins, thank you for605meeting with me a couple weeks ago, which I really enjoyed. I606appreciate the discussion we had about the importance of the607National Agricultural Law Center, and if you are confirmed, I608look forward to working with you to see the Center remains609successful and able to continue serving American agriculture.610    The partnership between USDA and our Nation's agriculture611universities is so important. This distinguishes U.S.612agriculture research from the rest of the world. It is a613partnership between the Federal Government, the states, and614local decision makers.615    We do not have a system where Washington, DC. tells616universities what to research, and states must have skin in the617game. In the end, farmers, ranchers, and consumers ultimately618benefit. You mentioned in your testimony the tremendous strides619that agriculture had made compared to almost anything. If you620are confirmed, what will you do to continue to lead this621partnership with our Nation's agriculture universities, which622you are, as you mentioned, so much a product of?623    Dr. Hutchins. Thank you, Senator. I, too, very much enjoyed624our conversation the other week. As I have indicated, and as625hopefully it is clear from my demeanor, I am a huge passionate626fan of land-grant institutions. The whole model has been a627gamechanger, and it really has enabled the United States to628make the difference.629    What would I be able to do? What I hope to be able to do,630sir, is to develop a set of national priorities and focus on631discovery goals so that we can channel the tremendous talent of632these institutions in partnership, as well, with the federal633agencies toward solving some of the bigger issues and634challenges, some of which would be in partnership, of course,635with Mr. Hoskins' organization, if he is confirmed, in order to636address challenges. I am also very positive on the possibility637of developing new opportunities, new opportunities for markets638for our agricultural products, new opportunities for technology639advancements, and to put those in place first so that the640United States agricultural system is always leading the world641as early adopters of innovation and staying ahead of the curve642for productivity and profitability and relevance.643    Chairman Boozman. Very good. Mr. Hoskins, the Animal and644Plant Health Inspection Service, APHIS, is the gold standard645for certifying both plant and animal health safety. We have646seen many countries put up unscientific trade barriers. APHIS647then is called in to help defend the integrity of our ag648products.649    One focus of this Administration's trade agenda is to crack650down on these types of unfair barriers, which are in many ways651even worse than the tariff barriers. How do you view the role652of APHIS in the broader effect to ensure our producers can653compete on a level playing field?654    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Mr. Chairman. In655my estimation, the APHIS family, both on the PPQ side and the656veterinary services side, when we are talking about sanitary657and phytosanitary non-tariff trade irritants, the APHIS family658plays an essential role in prosecuting the science of those659barriers and hopefully persevering with their colleagues and660counterparts around the world to help them understand where661there is risk and where there is not. If I were confirmed, I662would do everything in my power to give the APHIS subject663matter experts the permission and support they needed to fully664prosecute those non-tariff trade issues on a scientific basis665and support their outcomes.666    Chairman Boozman. Very good. Senator Klobuchar.667    Senator Klobuchar. Very good. Thank you. I will start with668you, Mr. Hoskins. As you and I talked over the last three years669in the U.S. avian flu, spread from wild birds to poultry670operations and most recently to dairy cattle, Mr. Hoskins, as671we enter the third year of this most recent outbreak, what are672your priorities on this virus, and how will you ensure the673response includes all impacted industry groups, including674turkeys and dairy cattle?675    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Ranking Member676Klobuchar, and thank you for the time you extended to me in677your office. I know you raised this issue and a number of678others. The visit with you in your office was much more679pleasant than my staff interview with your Committee staff----680    [Laughter.]681    Mr. Hoskins [continuing]. but I would just say when it682comes to high-path AI specifically and just the diversity of683production systems that disease has impacted, obviously eggs,684broilers, turkeys, which we are number one in, and the dairy685side of the equation, the all-hands approach, five-pronged686approach that Secretary Rollins rolled out, to me is absolutely687the right direction and compass to help get us out of this688quagmire with high-path AI. One component of that could be689vaccine development and deployment.690    What I have committed to you and, if confirmed, what I691would commit to this Committee is that if there were a vaccine692consideration to be utilized, that that would be science-based.693It would be based on the efficacy of that vaccine, and it is694something that the entire stakeholder community would be695consulted on because regardless of one production system that696you may vaccinate for, it could have implications for other697production systems, both on a domestic level and an698international market access level. I would commit to giving the699Secretary all the information and tools she needed to make the700most informed decision possible.701    Senator Klobuchar. Thank you very much.702    Dr. Hutchins, if confirmed, what role do you see for703Research, Education, and Economics in your mission area playing704to go into the response to avian flu?705    Dr. Hutchins. Thank you, Senator, and thank you as well for706the time yesterday. I enjoyed that very much, and I actually707also enjoyed the time with your staff.708    Senator Klobuchar. Well, thank you.709    [Laughter.]710    Senator Klobuchar. That will be duly noted, Mr. Hoskins.711    [Laughter.]712    Senator Klobuchar. Okay.713    Dr. Hutchins. The Research, Education, and Economics714organization just has the phenomenal capability and capacity to715deal with these types of scenarios with the NBAF facility in716Kansas, as well as the veterinary laboratories in Ames and717other places. The science and the capabilities there are718unmatched in the world. The other thing that is unmatched is719the partnership that these agencies have with the agencies of720MRP.721    What can we do to advance it? We can continually look for722the most promising science development. We can utilize the new723tools and technologies in AI to identify ways to not just724mitigate but to prevent these kinds of scenarios. In some ways,725it is also related to the context of invasive species, invasive726organisms. We have the capability to work hand in hand to727develop the best methods to eliminate those.728    Senator Klobuchar. Thanks. Very good. Thank you.729    Ag research in general, you know, I voiced my concerns730about this proposed budget. Can you talk about how you will731advocate for ag research?732    Dr. Hutchins. Certainly. I have always been an advocate for733ag research, but at a higher level I have been an advocate for734the outcomes that ag research leads to, the results, the735solutions, the opportunities. It is certainly the prerogative736of Congress to provide the funding, but what I can commit to737you, Senator, is that whatever funding is provided, we will738make the absolute best use of it to benefit our farmers and739ranchers and consumers. That would be my firm commitment to you740and this Committee.741    Senator Klobuchar. Administration's buyout program for742career employees resulted in the loss of 1,600 people from your743mission area with research, including over 1,200 staff from the744Ag Research Service. That is an 18 percent loss of total745workforce when we are already looking for ag scientists. Simply746put, without staff, I think we know this research, no matter747what AI does, is not going to happen.748    How are you going to make sure that this loss of expertise749will not affect the area, and how will you improve things?750    Dr. Hutchins. Thank you for that question. For sure what we751will need to do is take a look at the resources that are752provided, the status of the situation we have in each of the753agencies, and, as with any organization, look to ensure that we754are focused on the most important outcomes and on the most755important projects and programs that benefit farmers, ranchers,756and the American public, and then target the resources we do757have toward that and ensure that we fill those key positions758that are vacant that will allow us to succeed in that way.759    Senator Klobuchar. Okay. Thanks. Last question, Mr.760Hoskins. The National Animal Health Lab Network office has lost761half its staff, and that is about testing, quality assurance,762and the Vet Services office is currently set to lose 23 percent763of its workforce. Just talk about how you will ensure that764APHIS continues to protect our domestic ag from threats and is765not undermined by the staff or funding cuts.766    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you. Thank you for the question, Ranking767Member Klobuchar. To your point, the National Animal Health768Laboratory Network is a critical asset to the Federal769Government when it comes to early detection and surveillance of770animal diseases. I think there are 62 facilities in around 42771states within the NALHN network.772    I cannot sit here today and speak intelligently to the773staffing assessment, having not been at the Department and774privy to those briefings. What I can point to is the775Secretary's comments publicly that she stated APHIS will have776the adequate workforce needed to address their mission and777their mandate, which priority one is protecting the health and778viability of U.S. agriculture.779    Senator Klobuchar. Thank you.780    Chairman Boozman. Senator Hyde-Smith.781    Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you,782Ranking Member. Congratulations to both of you, and I welcome783your families. I also welcome some Mississippi legislators. We784have four legislators here from our ag committees. We have785Senator Neil Whaley, we have Senator Andy Berry, Representative786Vince Mangold, and Representative Bill Pigott. Welcome, and787thank you for attending this hearing.788    As has been discussed many times, Mr. Hoskins, our789livestock and poultry industries rely heavily on how USDA acts790to protect our Nations from foreign animal diseases. We are791currently experiencing a year-long outbreak of high-path avian792influenza that has cost poultry and livestock producers tens of793millions of dollars in lost flocks, biosecurity expenses, and794disruption to domestic and international markets. You and I795also recently discussed the outbreak of the New World screwworm796in Mexico that has a potential to be very destructive in the797U.S. livestock industry if we do not act now.798    Diseases like African swine fever and foot-and-mouth799disease are always too close for comfort, and we are quickly800learning how important it is to be prepared for these801outbreaks. I have long supported efforts to strengthen programs802to help our producers prepare and respond to animal disease803outbreaks. I applaud Secretary Rollins and the Trump804Administration for how they have handled these challenges805already in the Administration.806    How do you plan to build on this work to ensure USDA is807using its disease response resources to act quickly and808effectively to protect American agriculture from these threats?809If confirmed, how can we support your work in tackling these810challenges as a body?811    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Senator, and for812the time you allotted me in your office before today's hearing.813I know you raised this issue and a multitude of others. I guess814when I think about the infrastructure that exists at APHIS to815address animal diseases, I think first and foremost to the 2018816Farm Bill, where this Committee and Members on this Committee817helped lead the effort to get the three-legged stool codified818into law, which included the NAHLN lab network; the NADPRP,819Disease Prevention Response Program; and the Vaccine and820Veterinary Countermeasures Bank. To me, that is a critical821toolbox to APHIS and working with state partners in addressing822animal disease issues.823    If I were confirmed, I would look to double down and help824implement and expedite Secretary Rollins' five-point plan on825high-path AI. I want to get clear-eyed in the assessment about826what is working well and what is not, and if there are827challenges with the biosecurity pieces, how can we best plug828and play the agency's resources to help producers meet that829mandate.830    With screwworm, that is a devastating, just scary disease,831parasite, and what it does to the host is it is almost 100832percent fatal without detection and intervention. In Texas, I833think the Department eradicated screwworm in the 1960's.834Secretary Rollins clearly took decisive action to prevent a835potential incursion of screwworm. I would do everything I could836to support that work, both with APHIS and the states and the837stakeholder industry, to ensure we had the all-hands-on-deck838approach we need.839    Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you very much. Dr. Hutchins,840Mississippi is a leader in agriculture research and very proud841of the work that we have done across the state, especially in842one of your alma maters, Mississippi State University. As you843know, these research initiatives support American farmers and844ranchers in so many ways, including developing and improving845crop genetics, advancing animal health capabilities, and846creating new tools to fight diseases and pests that adversely847affect production agriculture.848    In my lifetime, I have seen yields increase up to 400849percent at times because of these advancements, which must850continue if we are going to provide a safe, abundant,851affordable food supply. How will you work to strengthen852partnerships with our land-grant universities and pave the way853for new scientific advancements in American agriculture through854the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the855Agricultural Research Service?856    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question. Thank857you for the time. Hail state.858    Pleased to be here and address that. As I have indicated859previously, the land-grant institutions are on the frontlines860of many of these issues. They have the talent. They have the861ability to educate and use extension. At Mississippi State, for862example, not so much the screwworm, but they had a very similar863scenario with the boll weevil. The ARS Boll Weevil Lab,864combined with Mississippi State University, actually developed865a lot of the techniques and so forth to eradicate that and, if866you will, push it back down into South America.867    We will definitely put the land-grant institutions at the868tip of the spear to address these issues and do everything we869can to support.870    Senator Hyde-Smith. Thank you very much.871    Chairman Boozman. Senator Smith.872    Senator Smith. Thank you very much, Chair Boozman and873Ranking Member, and welcome, both of you, to the Committee.874    Dr. Hutchins, thanks so much for our meeting yesterday. I875appreciated the conversation, and I want to just follow-up on876that discussion.877    I believe that both you and I agree that in the face of the878very challenging farm economy and in a world where many879producers are not breaking even, that a focus on research and880innovation is really crucial. As you know, because I know you881visited them, we have two Agriculture Research Service labs in882Minnesota. They are very important to Minnesota producers. They883rely on them. They both are doing very different kinds of work,884as you know, very different kinds of research.885    My question to you is, what commitments can you make to me886and the Committee that those two facilities will remain open887and will not suffer further staff reductions, as we are seeing888in different parts of the USDA?889    Dr. Hutchins. Thank you, Senator Smith, for that question,890and thank you for the time as well.891    What is clear with what is happening is that we will need892to step back and look at each of these facilities. I believe893ARS currently has over 90 facilities. Each of them were894developed with a very, you know, effective mission focus. Some895of those missions have been continued to add a lot of value.896Others perhaps have migrated to other areas of focus such as897the Boll Weevil Lab I just mentioned.898    What I can commit to you, Senator, is that I will899personally do an objective assessment of all these facilities,900understand the value of proposition that they are providing to901not just the Minnesota farmers, but to farmers more broadly,902and to put together proposals and advocate for how we maintain903the capability to provide the solutions, provide the904innovations, and provide leading-edge approaches to all aspects905of agriculture production.906    Senator Smith. I appreciate that. I do not hear quite what907I am looking for, but I would just urge you as you go forward,908realizing the scope of control you have here, that as you are909making those decisions and doing that assessment, that you are910talking directly with farmers and ranchers and producers who911rely on what those research facilities are providing so that912you have a good view of what is to be lost and what is to be913gained if they stay there as a resource for producers.914    Dr. Hutchins. Yes, ma'am, they are there for those915stakeholders, and I really want to hear, understand, and916appreciate the challenges that they are facing and how we can917assist.918    Senator Smith. Thank you very much. I want to ask a follow-919up on another thing that we talked about yesterday. Farmers and920producers are dealing with an increasing number of extreme921weather events, heat, flooding, you name it. We had a922discussion about the importance of making sure that we are923doing everything we can to help producers adapt. I know this is924something that you have spent a lot of time on in your career.925For example, we talked about the impact of, you know, different926bugs and invasive species that can shift and move as the927climate changes. Could you just talk a bit about that and how928you would orient USDA research to ensure that producers have929the opportunity to do the long-term adaptation that is going to930be required?931    Dr. Hutchins. Yes, ma'am. Thank you for the question.932Absolutely. I feel strongly that the science and the technology933that we have in hand and that continues to develop--I am934talking about gene technologies. I am talking about abilities935to make the plant resistant to drought and heat. I am talking936about insects. There are all kinds of technologies that are937evolving and developing in the digital world, as well as in the938genetic world. The University of Minnesota is a leading,939breeding, teaching, and learning institution that I have every940confidence we will be able to address these if we are allowed941and permitted to develop the kind of tools and put them to942practice the way I think we all hope that we can. There are not943any, I think, challenges in front of us that we cannot address944in an effective way if we are able to utilize the science and945technology that we can already see in front of us.946    Senator Smith. Great. Thank you very much.947    Thank you, Mr. Chair.948    Chairman Boozman. Let me give a shout out to Mike949McCormick, President of the Mississippi Farm Bureau. We do950appreciate working with you and all that you represent in951Mississippi, the great job that you all do.952    Roger, you ready?953    Senator Marshall. I am ready.954    Chairman Boozman. I am sorry, Senator Marshall.955    Senator Marshall. All right. Thank you, Mr. Chairman,956Ranking Member. Welcome to both of our nominees and957congratulations. We look forward to supporting your958nominations.959    I think my first question is for Mr. Hoskins. Your role is960Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Talk a little bit about961pesticides and fertilizers and your interaction with EPA and962HHS now as well.963    Again, I will just start by sharing I am so proud of what964we have done in agriculture. We are growing more with less. We965are using a fraction of those pesticides and fertilizers than966we used to. This Committee is doing everything we can to have967decreased amounts of those ever reaching the waters as well.968What will your role be in interacting with the other969departments?970    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Senator, and for971the time you extended to me in your office last week. I know972you raised this issue and a number of other priorities on973behalf of Kansas agriculture producers.974    I would just say when I think about that question, I am975thinking about it through the lens of the APHIS AMS mandate976that Congress has given it. I think regardless of whether it is977a fertilizer, an input, a crop protection tool, a biotechnology978innovation, all of those things are so critical to the979producers to produce the most abundant, most affordable, safest980food supply in the world. As a Federal Government, my hope981would be we would facilitate that innovation and technology and982not frustrate it.983    If I were confirmed, I would commit to you to stand behind984the science and ensure the agency actions, whether it is985registrations or reviews or approval, are consistent with, both986on a technical level, the most sound science we have in front987of us and consistent with the mandate that Congress has given988the agencies to operate under.989    Senator Marshall. Great, thank you.990    Dr. Hutchins, I will go to you next. We want to talk about991NBAF, the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility. Have you had992the chance to go there yet?993    Dr. Hutchins. Thank you, Senator. I did when it was under994construction.995    Senator Marshall. Right. Okay. Well, good. You are very996familiar with what it is and what it means to American997agriculture as well. It is still not open. I think it is a year998or two. It is not because of the construction part of it. The999construction was done, as I understand, pretty much on time, on1000budget. Do you have any idea--I know you are not confirmed yet,1001but do you have any idea why it has not been opened yet, and1002what is your level of commitment to make that happen?1003    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, I do not. I have literally not had1004any access to that obviously or any information since, you1005know, 2021. My commitment to you is that if I am confirmed, I1006will definitely look into that, understand the details, and1007problem solve from that point.1008    Senator Marshall. Well, it is my understanding that they1009are dragging the feet because the Plum Island facility is1010dragging its feet to get shut down. The American taxpayers have1011invested significant money in the NBAF. It is the safest place1012in the world to do this type of research, and that is where it1013needs to be done. Would you agree?1014    Dr. Hutchins. That is the premise behind the whole facility1015when we send the memorandum of agreement, and so that is still1016my working premise, that it is absolutely the best and a world-1017class facility, and that is where that work should be1018conducted.1019    Senator Marshall. Okay. I think in your previous tenure at1020USDA, you were involved in the relocation of ERS and NIFA to1021Kansas City, the greater Kansas City metro area. You know, any1022idea, has that been a success? Is it working well? I mean, to1023us, I think it is really important to get people closest to the1024producers as possible. This is one of, I hope, many, many1025future opportunities for people to get out of the swamp here1026and get them out in the hinterlands, us flyover states, to see1027what is really happening in agriculture.1028    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, I was involved with that at1029Secretary Perdue's direction. We did develop that. Prior to my1030departure, we did actually open the facility there in Kansas1031City. You might also recall that that was kind of right in the1032middle of the COVID scenarios as well. I do not know at present1033what the current status is of the building, the context, and1034the rest of it, but I was personally onsite the day that it1035opened, and I met individually with every single NIFA and ERS1036individual that was there. Every single one of them that was1037there was delighted to be in the Kansas City region. The1038recruitment at the time was very, very successful.1039    I will commit to you to understand what the current status1040is and to make sure that the original promises are fulfilled1041that Secretary Perdue had outlined.1042    Senator Marshall. Well, great. After you are confirmed, if1043possible, your staff might just follow-up with me and let us1044know how that is going and whatever we can do to support future1045endeavors like that as well.1046    Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman.1047    Chairman Boozman. Senator Lujan.1048    Senator Lujan. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate you1049all being here today as well.1050    Mr. Hoskins, I would like to start with a question directed1051to you. As you may know, New Mexico has two ports of entry that1052serve as major entry points for livestock imports, the Columbus1053Port of Entry and the Santa Teresa Port of Entry. Both ports of1054entry were closed to livestock imports in November 2024 and1055again earlier this month to prevent the spread of the New World1056screwworm. While the Santa Teresa Port of Entry reopened for1057livestock imports in February 2025 before being closed again1058earlier this month, the Columbus Port of Entry remained closed1059to livestock during this time.1060    My understanding, based on communication with USDA, is that1061due to the Trump Administration's reduction in force efforts,1062there were not enough animal health technicians in Columbus,1063New Mexico, for that port of entry to reopen in February. My1064question, Mr. Hoskins, is yes or no. If confirmed, will you1065commit to ensuring that there are adequate inspectors stationed1066at the Columbus Port of Entry, specifically in animal health,1067to reopen that port to livestock crossings when it is safe to1068do so?1069    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Senator, and the1070opportunity to visit with your staff before today's hearing. I1071know you are looking for a yes or no answer. I guess I would1072say it, and not to be evasive, not being at the Department and1073not being briefed on staffing decisions and assessments and1074needs, what I could commit to is just that, if confirmed, I1075would ensure APHIS met its congressional mandate to protect1076U.S. agriculture from animal, plants, and diseases, and I would1077support and implement Secretary Rollins' direction, where she1078has stated publicly APHIS will have the adequate staffing and1079resources needed to meet its mandate.1080    Senator Lujan. Do you believe that animal health1081technicians are important in the mission of USDA?1082    Mr. Hoskins. Yes, Senator, I do.1083    Senator Lujan. I appreciate that. I hope that that is1084expressed to the Secretary and to the Administration. I very1085much appreciate the attention from the Secretary in this space,1086but there are not enough inspectors. The more people that are1087going to get fired, the less that are going to be available.1088That is going to hurt efforts all around the South. It should1089not just be Texas that gets attention. If you go down and you1090look at where those animals are crossing, you know, more people1091cross into Texas through those ports of entry. More commerce is1092moving through some of those smaller ports, namely agriculture1093in New Mexico. If we are going to look at this from a United1094States perspective, I certainly hope it gets that kind of1095attention.1096    I am also very concerned that the loss of staff at USDA1097resulting from the Trump Administration efforts have undermined1098the agency's ability to serve people back home. I also get1099calls from people in other parts of the country that I have met1100along the way that are very concerned with some of these1101initial reports. Many USDA staff who have dedicated their1102careers to serving farm country and rural America at USDA have1103very specific knowledge base and specialties that make a1104difference in people's lives.1105    Several media outlets reported that just days after the1106Administration's deferred resignation offer went into effect,1107the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Animal and Plant Health1108Inspection Service sent an email to remaining employees1109offering ``lateral transfer opportunities to fill 73 open1110positions that are especially critical to fill as soon as1111possible.'' Now, Mr. Hoskins, you spent a significant portion1112of your career working at USDA, first as the Chief of Staff in1113Marketing and Regulatory Programs mission, and later a Senior1114Advisor to Secretary Perdue. Do you agree that career staff1115play a critical role in maintaining operations at the agency?1116    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Senator. Yes, in1117my experience working with APHIS and AMS, the career staff and1118the subject matter experts are absolutely indispensable.1119    Senator Lujan. I appreciate you saying that, and that is1120the case. I do not know where a lot of folks back home would be1121without that kind of support, and I certainly hope that as this1122review is going on, that adequate levels of support will exist1123for farmers and ranchers across the country. You are one of the1124best that knows this, and you have done it, you have seen it,1125and so I certainly hope that your voice will be listened to1126when you are in this important position.1127    Now, in recent years, New Mexico has experienced an1128unprecedented number of extreme weather events, including1129wildfires, droughts, severe storms, and flooding. In western1130states like New Mexico, it is just getting more and more1131common. It is critical for our food supply and for the1132livelihood of our farmers and producers that the Federal1133Government invest in adapting production techniques to respond1134to extreme weather.1135    Dr. Hutchins, if confirmed, how would you ensure that USDA1136responds to changing weather patterns that are resulting in1137more extreme weather?1138    Dr. Hutchins. Thank you, Senator, for the question. The1139USDA, particularly for crops that you are familiar with in your1140state, have got tremendous breeding capabilities to be able to1141build in some of these areas of tolerance, whether it is heat1142or drought or what have you. When I was working with USDA1143previously, I sat down with the breeding leaders and asked them1144to incorporate within their goals the things that are most1145important for the particular crops and regions. I would look to1146continue that focus to ensure that our crops and our animals1147are able to be resilient with the various year-to-year weather1148patterns.1149    Senator Lujan. Appreciate it. Just to be clear, this is an1150area that you will prioritize and you will continue to do the1151good work that you have done in the past?1152    Dr. Hutchins. Yes, sir.1153    Senator Lujan. Appreciate that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.1154    Chairman Boozman. Thank you. Senator Hoeven.1155    Senator Hoeven. I would like to thank both of you for being1156here, appreciate it very much. Starting with you, Mr. Hoskins,1157if confirmed, will you fully enforce the Packers and Stockyards1158Act?1159    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you, Senator, and for the time you and1160your staff afforded me in your office before today's hearing.1161Yes, if confirmed, I would work with the AMS Fair Trade1162Practices Program and the career officials implementing the1163Packers and Stockyards Act to ensure it was implemented1164consistent with the law.1165    Senator Hoeven. The industry has always wanted more price1166discovery, more transparency, and more competition. What are1167your thoughts on accomplishing that?1168    Mr. Hoskins. Senator, I would note a couple of different1169things. One, your leadership and other Members on this1170Committee in facilitating the Cattle Contracts Library and1171other resources that AMS has adopted over the recent years to1172bring more transparency into some of the backroom, back1173operations side of that work-stream from producers to feeders1174and packers.1175    I would also just note Congress in the 1921 Packers and1176Stockyards Act stated very clearly the agency shall ensure fair1177competition and prevent anti-competitive practices in1178livestock, beef, and poultry.1179    Since that time, there has been a lot of different1180rulemakings in different administrations, a lot of litigation1181across different circuit courts. What my personal1182interpretation of some of those terms of art, I think, is1183largely immaterial. If confirmed, it would be my role to1184implement the program consistent with the congressional intent1185and the way courts have informed and decided what those terms1186of art mean.1187    I would also just note a close family friend and mentor who1188passed away about a year ago, a cattleman in South Texas who1189was a devout Catholic, he said, ``God may have created the1190Earth in less than a week, but he still hadn't figured out1191cattle markets.''1192    Senator Hoeven. Well, your background and expertise in this1193area shows, and you are right.1194    What do you see in terms of expanding our ability overseas1195in terms of marketing our livestock?1196    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Senator. I think1197APHIS on the veterinary side when you are talking about1198sanitary non-tariff trade irritants plays an absolutely1199essential role in prosecuting market access at a technical1200level. Regardless of me or whoever else would be in that role,1201I think as long as the subject matter experts are the ones1202driving those technical conversations and effectively being1203umpires calling balls and strikes and their political1204leadership stands behind the science, then I think we are all1205set up for success. If we step back from that mandate, I think1206we are all facing a lot of challenges.1207    Senator Hoeven. Right on. We have to be firm and aggressive1208there. We cannot allow fake phytosanitary barriers to prevent1209us from accessing markets.1210    By the same token, we need to protect our market. Everybody1211wants to be in our market. If there are, you know, various1212issues with some of those phytosanitary issues from South1213America or anywhere else where they are trying to put livestock1214in our market, we need to stand firm on both ways, right? You1215would agree with that?1216    Mr. Hoskins. Yes, Senator, I would.1217    Senator Hoeven. Yes. Okay. Mr. Hutchins, I would like to1218get you to North Dakota to see Grand Farm and also our policy1219center at North Dakota State University. Are you willing to1220come do that?1221    Dr. Hutchins. Yes, Senator, very much so. I know the1222Secretary has already been there, and the comments I read that1223she wrote was she was very impressed.1224    Senator Hoeven. Well, it sounds like you are going to be an1225excellent Under Secretary for Research, Education, and1226Economics based on that answer. Thank you very much.1227    Dr. Hutchins. Thank you. Thank you, Senator.1228    Chairman Hoeven. At this point, we will turn to Senator1229Fetterman.1230    Senator Fetterman. Thank you. Good morning, gentlemen.1231    Now I know this is not your purview, and I am not going to1232just go on a rant, but this is the last opportunity that I1233would have to say as a Member of this Committee that I have1234been very troubled that now it is very clear that they are1235going to try to cut SNAP. You know, for me, it has always been1236a passion of mine and one of the reasons why I was so excited1237to be on this Committee. Now that vote is coming, so this is my1238last opportunity to say that in a minority situation, we may1239not have the vote to prevent those kinds of things, but that1240does not mean I could ever support these kinds of cuts.1241    Mr. Hoskins, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative1242Agreement Program, LFPA, was successfully doing all of those1243things to create and promote small local food system viability.1244According to 1,433 farmers in the organizations, including 311245in PA, LFPA generated $747 million in economic activity in1246rural communities. I ask the Chair with unanimous consent that1247their letter be entered into the record.1248    Senator Boozman. Without objection.1249    [The documents can be found on pages 52-99 in the1250appendix.]1251    Senator Fetterman. Okay, thank you.1252    Sir, do you agree that the USDA has the authority to1253promote market access for small farms?1254    Mr. Hoskins. Well, thank you for the question, Senator, and1255I appreciated the time and conversation with your staff in your1256office the other week. Your staff raised this very issue and a1257number of other priorities you are focused on behalf of1258Pennsylvania agriculture.1259    Yes, I do think AMS, through congressional codification and1260different laws this Committee and the Congress has passed,1261including the 2018 Farm Bill, has a number of programs and1262authorities to facilitate local food purchasing and promotion.1263    Senator Fetterman. Yes, I would also like to be clear. I1264voted for Secretary Rollins. I mean, for me, agriculture, I1265mean, red, blue, conservative, liberal, everybody eats, and we1266all count on our agriculture. For me, it is not about politics.1267It is about feeding people and supporting farming, and that is1268our largest industry in my state. Do you agree that it is1269beneficial for states like mine to be able to directly address1270their local food systems?1271    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Senator. My1272awareness on some of the authorities and programs under the1273Agricultural Marketing Service is that this Committee and1274Congress have given that agency purview and mandate to1275facilitate some of those programs and purchases and facilitate1276the resiliency of the local food system. If I am1277understanding--and I am not trying to be evasive but to be1278responsive, if I were confirmed, I would commit----1279    Senator Fetterman. I am not suggesting you are, sir. I am1280not suggesting you are.1281    Mr. Hoskins. Yes, I would commit to ensuring AMS met its1282congressional mandate under those programs.1283    Senator Fetterman. Okay. All right. Yield.1284    Senator Klobuchar. [Presiding] Thank you. Thank you very1285much, Senator Fetterman.1286    Next up, Senator Moran.1287    Senator Moran. Senator Klobuchar, Senator Hoeven, thank you1288very much for leading this Committee in the absence of Senator1289Boozman.1290    Thank you both for being here. I am going to plow similar1291ground to my colleague from Kansas, the plowing earlier in the1292hearing. I want to highlight again this issue of NBAF. I have1293had conversations with Secretary Rollins a couple of times1294about this topic. NBAF is a $1.25 billion American investment1295in the safety of our food supply, and it is still not fully1296operational. The handoff from the Department of Homeland1297Security, as you know, occurred now a significant period of1298time ago. The former Secretary of Agriculture was there to help1299cut the ribbon, and yet we are still not fully operational. I1300am really anxious to get your attention, if you are confirmed,1301to make certain that the Department of Agriculture, that USDA1302takes the necessary steps to get this fully commissioned and1303operational. I would join Senator Hoeven, and I can join him in1304telling you, you are a great nominee if you will commit to1305coming with me, Senator Marshall, and others, to see NBAF and1306to take a leadership role at the Department of Agriculture in1307this regard, Dr. Hutchins.1308    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question.1309Certainly, you have that commitment. When I was in USDA1310previously, it was in a formative stage of that. Construction1311was moving forward. The agreements were in place. I really need1312to learn and understand where we are right now, but certainly,1313that will be my commitment to you.1314    Senator Moran. At least from this interested observer, it1315does not seem like we are moving fast enough to solve whatever1316challenges there are. In the meantime, research that was1317mentioned in your testimony is not taking place in regard to1318FMD until that happens. There are lots of critical challenges1319we face that need NBAF fully operational.1320    Senator Marshall also asked you about the relocation of1321NIFA and ERS. My understanding is that Secretary Vilsack1322confirmed the decision that was made by the Trump1323Administration, the last Trump Administration, the previous1324Trump Administration, and allowed those jobs to be transferred1325and the mission to be transferred to Kansas City. What did not1326take place was actually having employees come to work. In some1327ways, the transfer was a paper transfer in which people1328continued to live and work in Washington, DC. remotely, but it1329appeared to be that the jobs and the opportunities for people1330to locate in the middle of the country and perhaps have young1331farm sons and daughters engaged in agriculture and strengthen1332the tie between production agriculture and research was yet not1333completed. Again, I ask your commitment that--and you said this1334earlier, but I want to reiterate the importance of making sure1335that what was promised, what was believed that was happening1336actually happens. That includes people working from the1337location of the offices in Kansas City.1338    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, you have my commitment. I believe1339there have been Executive Orders with regard to office1340attendance and such as that, and we will ensure that those are1341followed at the direction of the President.1342    Senator Moran. I fully support the idea that people who1343work in government, but those who work ought to be at work. It1344is particularly helpful in agriculture and in research where1345the cooperation and the personal contact is important. We have1346had these conversations with Secretary Rollins and others about1347FSA and NRCS workers in county offices. Those are hugely1348important to the mission of the Department of Agriculture and1349that local contact and capability is significant.1350    Let me ask Dr. Hutchins about data reporting. The cattle1351industry plays a significant role in our state. We have nearly1352six million head of cattle. We have had significant drought1353conditions and their financial stresses are impacting ranchers,1354and they impact them in a way that help determine the size of1355their herd. Many of those constituents of mine rely upon the1356July cattle report, as well as the county estimates for crops1357and livestock to make midyear assessments and determine how to1358proceed for the remainder of the year. I was disappointed when1359these reports were discontinued last year, and I appreciate1360USDA reinstating them this March.1361    Dr. Hutchins, if confirmed, will you commit to continuing1362these reports that NASS provides that give farmers and ranchers1363the information they need to make better financial and1364management decisions?1365    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, yes. The National Ag Statistics1366Service provides the data and the insights that farmers,1367administrators, policymakers need to make good decisions. As a1368scientist, I am a big believer in data and data-driven1369decisions, and so, yes, that type of information will be1370pursued.1371    Senator Moran. I will not ask a question because of the 161372seconds that remain on the clock, but I wanted to highlight1373that Senator Hirono and I----1374    Senator Klobuchar. You can.1375    Senator Moran. Oh, my colleague says I cannot. Senator1376Hirono and I have introduced legislation called the Ag Research1377Act, and what we are attempting to do is to provide funding for1378research institutions to cut down on their maintenance backlogs1379and to invest in infrastructure at research facilities. I have1380seen a number of those research facilities across the country1381and in Kansas, and investment in infrastructure seems to be the1382thing that has been overlooked in the mission of providing the1383research. We have forgotten how to maintain our buildings and1384our research and how to have the latest equipment. I assume for1385both of you that that concept and that legislation would be1386something that would be supported, and I would ask both of you1387if that is the case.1388    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, the good news about our land grant1389system is that it has been established for a long time. The bad1390news is some of those buildings and capital need to be1391refreshed and refurbished and so forth. Certainly, I commit to1392you that whatever funding is provided by Congress, that we will1393make the best use of that to ensure the facilities are1394improved.1395    Senator Moran. Thank you.1396    Mr. Hoskins. Senator, I would not endeavor to try to1397improve on Dr. Hutchins' response, but I would concur with it.1398    Senator Moran. Thank you.1399    Senator Klobuchar. Okay.1400    Senator Moran. Thank you both.1401    Senator Klobuchar. Very good. Thank you. Senator Slotkin.1402    Senator Slotkin. Thank you. Welcome to both of you.1403    Dr. Hutchins, I want to continue on what Senator Moran was1404talking about, which is the importance of research. I am from1405Michigan, and farming is a huge part of our life, and Michigan1406State University, a great land grant university, does a ton of1407agricultural research. I grew up on my family farm in Holly,1408Michigan, so this is an issue that is close to my heart. I am1409also a CIA officer by training, so I think about agriculture1410through a national security lens.1411    What I am concerned about is that, assuming you will be1412confirmed into your job, you will oversee the single potential1413largest cut to agricultural research in American history. The1414President's budget proposes a $600 million cut to research.1415While I will sign on to any bill that promotes research and1416infrastructure because my farmers depend on it, what I am1417concerned about is the President's budget says that there is1418$600 million of agricultural research that is either woke or1419waste. Do you believe that $600 million of our current research1420in things like potato, you know, varietals and legumes and all1421the things that like my farmers are desperate for, do you1422believe that we have $600 million of either woke or wasteful1423research right now?1424    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question.1425Truthfully, in order to answer that question in any meaningful1426way, I would need to understand the specifics of what is being1427proposed and what is not. I have no idea the value of what is1428in that context, but what I can commit to you, Senator, is that1429we will utilize whatever money Congress provides in order to1430ensure that we are having the best return on investment, that1431we are supporting all the farmers----1432    Senator Slotkin. I got it.1433    Dr. Hutchins [continuing]. that we can in your state and1434others.1435    Senator Slotkin. I would just say you do not want to be the1436guy who oversees the biggest agricultural cut in research in1437American history. Tell me in your best estimation the one1438country in the world who is doing significant agricultural1439research now, that is investing heavily in agricultural1440research besides the United States.1441    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, I am sure it would be China.1442    Senator Slotkin. It has got to be China. I am not trying to1443play gotcha. I am just saying that it is a zero-sum situation,1444right? We want to invent the next varietal. We want to figure1445out the next best farming technique. China is stealing our1446technology, our intellectual property, and then investing1447boatloads into their own research. I do not want to be second1448to them. I want to always be the world leader. I would just1449offer that not only do I want that kind of as a national1450security thing, but our farmers want to be able to compete,1451right?1452    We have closed the legume research facility at Michigan1453State University, the potato variety. When I do townhalls with1454farmers who are, I promise you, not people I consider woke or1455wasteful, they are the ones who are saying, can you bring that1456back? Can you help me figure out how to get that? Because1457otherwise, what are we going to be investing in? How are we1458going to stay competitive?1459    I would just ask for you to stand up on behalf of that1460research, which is not woke, which is not wasteful, but is1461going to the farmers who we all, I think, on this Committee1462want to protect and want to see succeed. I just ask you to1463stand up for research when and if you are confirmed for this1464job.1465    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, Secretary Rollins has made it very1466clear her support for small farmers and their needs, and I will1467stand with her in that regard.1468    Senator Slotkin. Well, I hope you will. Let me just turn to1469Mr. Hoskins. You will be overseeing the departments that look1470at avian flu, right, that make sure that we do not have an1471outbreak. Michigan, we had an early outbreak, and we did, I1472think, a pretty darn good job of controlling it, and I think we1473have become a model around the country. Again, I am concerned1474that there has been firings from the Department of Agriculture1475of people who work on avian flu and then rehiring them the next1476week. There has been kind of this sloppy approach.1477    Then in terms of the buyouts that were offered, I1478understand that over half of the veterinarians who coordinate1479the testing and research on avian flu took the buyout. What are1480you going to do to make sure that with all the staffing firings1481and changing and voluntary departures, you are going to still1482be able to have a handle on the next version of avian flu?1483    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for the question, Senator, and for1484the time your staff gave me in your office before today's1485hearing. They raised this issue and a number of others.1486Obviously, with high-path in Michigan, you all have a diversity1487of production practices that are impacted both on the poultry1488and dairy side.1489    I have looked at Secretary Rollins' five-pronged approach1490in addressing and mitigating high-path AI, and if I were1491confirmed, I would do everything I could to implement that1492posthaste.1493    To your question on staffing, as someone who is not at the1494Department currently, I am not privy to the briefings or1495assessments of resource needs or gaps, if any, but what I would1496commit to if confirmed was making that assessment and1497supporting and standing by Secretary Rollins' public comments1498that she will ensure APHIS has an adequate workforce to address1499their core mission, which includes protecting U.S. agriculture1500from animal and plant diseases.1501    Senator Slotkin. Well, I wish you luck in that. I hope you1502do. Thank you. Yield back.1503    Chairman Boozman. Senator Fischer.1504    Senator Fischer. Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you to1505both of our nominees that are here today. I really appreciate1506you putting yourselves forward in order to serve this country.1507    First, Mr. Hoskins, I thank you for taking the time to meet1508with me yesterday. As we discussed, there are clearly1509challenges facing USDA with animal disease, whether it is avian1510flu or New World screwworm. We also discussed the importance of1511having science being the driving force when it comes to1512regulatory actions that impact agriculture across the1513government, and I look forward to you helping to ensure that.1514    Dr. Hutchins, if confirmed for your role, you are going to1515oversee the Agricultural Research Service. I have talked to1516Secretary Rollins about the importance of ensuring that we are1517funding innovative and high-impact research that benefits our1518farmers and ranchers.1519    In Nebraska, we have been working to secure funding for an1520ARS facility that will be co-located at the University of1521Nebraska-Lincoln, and that is going to be focused on precision1522ag research. Last year, we broke ground on that facility with1523many agricultural stakeholders present and excited about the1524potential research to take place there.1525    Dr. Hutchins, should you be confirmed, can I get your1526commitment to continue to work with me on that facility and to1527bring high-impact precision agriculture research to fruition?1528    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question.1529Certainly, the University of Nebraska has a tremendous1530reputation and capability as a land grant institution, and I do1531not have any background or information on the specific1532laboratory and the mission and the purpose with it. What I will1533certainly commit to you is to learn that, and as we evaluate1534all the opportunities to work with you to ensure that it1535provides the best value to U.S. farmers and ranchers.1536    Senator Fischer. Thank you. Secretary Rollins has also1537discussed that she is going to be releasing a reorganization1538plan for USDA that could entail moving agencies outside of the1539D.C. metro. I agree with Senator Rollins that having more USDA1540employees closer to farmers and ranchers that they serve is a1541good thing and could save taxpayer dollars.1542    I have also brought up to Secretary Rollins that Nebraska1543would be a great location for agencies like the ones that you1544two will be in charge of, close proximity to a number of1545leading land grant universities, a strong agricultural industry1546that is supported by the state, and a lower cost of living.1547    Dr. Hutchins, you were involved in the last1548Administration's move of ERS and NIFA to Kansas City. Could you1549talk about some of the benefits from that, and do you think1550that is something that should be under consideration again?1551    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question. In the1552case of ERS and NIFA, the business case for that or the case1553for the taxpayer was pretty clear in terms of cost savings and1554value and the opportunity to recruit and to retain, frankly,1555within that area. As I had mentioned previously today, I do not1556have a good handle right now on the status of that full1557situation, but those core principles that Secretary Perdue1558advocated for at that time are still true today, and so we will1559follow-up on that. Those same principles, I think, would carry1560over to any assessment that would be done for any agency in1561that context.1562    I think, you know, in every evaluation, you want to do the1563right thing for the agency, for the taxpayers, and for the1564farmers. In some cases, it will make a lot of sense. In other1565cases, it may not make as much.1566    Senator Fischer. Thank you. In Nebraska, we are also proud1567of the work that is being done at the USDA's Meat Animal1568Research Center in Clay Center and the strong relationship that1569they have with livestock producers in the state and across the1570country. We are the beef state.1571    Like many of the facilities across the ARS enterprise, they1572are in need of facility improvements. I have heard, though,1573that contracting requirements and other regulatory hurdles can1574increase the cost of these facility improvements, especially at1575a facility like USMARC that is a working farm and ranch. From1576your experience, Doctor, and working with USDA, are there ways1577that the agency can be more efficient with taxpayer dollars1578when it comes to being able to identify these very valuable1579facilities and the work they do and maintaining them and1580improving them?1581    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, the simple answer is yes. In every1582organization I have ever worked in, public and private, there1583is always opportunity to improve efficiency and effectiveness1584and really focus on the goals and the outcomes there. That1585would be my commitment to do with these agencies and any1586enterprise I was involved with.1587    Senator Fischer. Thank you both. I look forward to working1588with you in your new positions. Thank you.1589    Chairman Boozman. Senator Klobuchar.1590    Senator Klobuchar. Yep, I just have one last question, and1591then I will put two questions on the record to save time with1592the votes on local foods of you, Mr. Hoskins, and then also on1593some specific ag research in Minnesota.1594    My last question here is the Ag Marketing Service has a1595mandate to ensure fair and transparent markets across livestock1596and commodities. Under the previous Administration, USDA used1597its authority with a Chief Competition Officer, Cattle1598Contracts Library, and some other interagency efforts.1599    Mr. Hoskins, how will you ensure that you are fulfilling1600this obligation and continuing on this progress of ensuring1601there is competition?1602    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Ranking Member1603Klobuchar. I recognize this was one of the issues you raised1604when I had a chance to meet with you in your office last week.1605What I could say, if I were confirmed, I would commit to1606ensuring AMS, the Fair Trade Practices Program, which includes1607Packers and Stockyards, PACA, the Perishable Ag Commodity Act,1608and the Bioengineered Food Disclosure Rule, all kind of that1609suite of disclosure and transparency authorities Congress has1610passed and mandated the agency implement, I would commit to1611ensuring the agency was complying with the congressional spirit1612and intent of those laws and authorities.1613    Beyond that, as a nominee before the Committee, I1614personally feel like it would be inappropriate for me to1615speculate on potential or future rulemakings the Department may1616consider or may not consider. I could just commit to complying1617with the mandate Congress has given us.1618    Senator Klobuchar. Thank you very much. Thank you, both of1619you.1620    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you.1621    Chairman Boozman. We have got a high-level conference back1622here. We have got a Member that is trying to get over here, so1623we are going to give them a minute. If they come in a minute or1624so, we are in good shape. If not, then we will go ahead and1625adjourn, but let's give them a chance. We are going to not1626adjourn officially for another minute or two, but you can yawn,1627take a break, do whatever you want to do for a second.1628    It is hard with the votes. As many of you know, we have a1629new kind of a--we did not enforce the get-over-and-vote-on-time1630rule. It was very, very lax, so they have really tightened it1631up, and now, if you are not over there within a certain period1632of time, they actually call the vote, and you just miss out.1633Some things we can do and not do, but primarily, we are here to1634vote. You guys got any other questions or comments?1635    Senator Schiff.1636    Senator Schiff. Thank you, Chairman.1637    The success of California's agriculture industry is at1638least partially thanks to the very specialized knowledge and1639work of USDA experts. It is principally the success of the1640hardworking people in the agriculture industry who are some of1641the hardest-working people I have ever met.1642    As two examples of the role that USDA experts play, and1643there are many more, APHIS protects California growers against1644citrus greening disease, and ARS conducts research on the1645efficacy and efficiency of irrigated agriculture in vine and1646tree orchards.1647    Mr. Hoskins and Dr. Hutchins, based on your experience at1648USDA, can you both briefly speak to the importance of APHIS,1649AMS, ARS, NIFA, and ERS staff at the Department in securing the1650safety, innovation, and overall success of California's1651specialty crop industry?1652    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Senator. I guess1653I will go first, just alphabetically, not in substance. I would1654just say, when I think about that question, first from just an1655APHIS programmatic side, the mandate and authorities, this1656Committee, this Congress, this chamber has given the agency to1657help work in support and collaboration with your growers, your1658ag community in California, the California Department of Food1659and Ag, which plays an essential role as a partner in1660identifying, mitigating, and preventing both the plant-pest1661side of the equation and animal disease surveillance and1662response activities. When I look at that portfolio, no matter1663where APHIS is or what issue we are talking about, the state1664partnership is absolutely essential. CDFA has been instrumental1665and indispensable in that equation for as long as I have had1666the privilege to work in this space.1667    To your question on staffing, as someone who is not at the1668Department currently and does not have the benefit of internal1669briefings or assessments of bodies or resources or capacity,1670all I can say is I have heard Secretary Rollins state publicly1671her support and mandate that APHIS will ensure an adequate1672workforce to meet their mandate.1673    Senator Schiff. Thank you. Dr. Hutchins?1674    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question. I have1675had the pleasure of traveling your state extensively. I have1676seen the great agriculture there, from the rice fields near1677Sacramento to the almond plantations to the Salinas Valley to1678the cotton. It is a wondrous place from an agricultural1679standpoint. It is a candy land for sure. Without a doubt, the1680federal agencies and USDA research, as well as the University1681of California and the local agencies have had a tremendous1682impact on the success of agriculture in your state,1683particularly with the areas where developing methods and1684technologies for drought tolerance and so forth. What I can1685speak to is the fact that those types of activities have been1686critically important to California, and they will continue to1687be.1688    Senator Schiff. Mr. Hoskins, can you comment on the work1689that can be done to reduce barriers to participation in the1690commodity procurement programs for small, medium, new or1691beginning farmers and how we can create more opportunities for1692more farmers to provide healthy food?1693    Mr. Hoskins. Yes, thank you for that question, Senator.1694When I think about the Commodity Procurement Program, the1695Section 32 authority at AMS and their mandate to facilitate1696surplus removal and how their assessment is done to execute on1697that mandate, I also think about just some of the complexities1698that the agency is required to comply with under larger than1699just USDA authorities or compliance. It is the Federal1700Procurement Act and the cascade of regulations and steps1701vendors or participants have to go through to access that1702program.1703    I do not pretend to understand that matrix, but what I1704could commit to is if I were confirmed, I would want to work1705with you, your office, your staff, this Committee, the Senate,1706to better understand how or if or when the agency can reduce1707some of those impediments to participation for producers of all1708size.1709    Senator Schiff. Thank you. Thank you, Chairman.1710    Chairman Boozman. Senator Justice.1711    Senator Justice. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.1712    Well, we are all doing a lot of running right now. You know1713that. Dudley Hoskins and Dr. Scott Hutchins, I can tell you1714without any question, we need you in place, and we need you in1715place right now. Your duties are going to be unbelievable, and1716I hope that you really truly know that and will not go through1717the motions, but you will really try to do what Muhammad Ali,1718of all people, said years and years ago. He shook up the world,1719and that is really what we really need to be doing.1720    Now, just think about this. You know, a lot of times I do1721not put these notes together, but our folks, you know, just1722jotted down just a few notes. Think about one of the notes1723says, one U.S. farmer feeds 169 people in this country or in1724the world. It says agriculture, our lifeblood. It says things1725like how critical the research of our land grant universities1726are.1727    With all that being said, you know, Mr. Hoskins, you said1728earlier, you know, that your dad said, you know, wow, the good1729Lord created the Earth or the universe in seven days, the1730Earth, and with all that being said, but still has not figured1731out the cattle market. I can positively guarantee you that in1732the last couple of years, the good Lord figured out the cattle1733market because the cattle market has moved, and it has moved in1734a great way. We need the same thing to happen for all of our1735folks in agriculture.1736    You know, see, my family has been in the agriculture1737business forever, and I truly know exactly what is going on out1738there. You know, you got a lot of people that are scared to1739death right now. We need your marketing arm. We need absolutely1740in every way for you to step up and really make that difference1741to where you are shaking up the whole world.1742    You know, with all that being said, I would say to you from1743the bottom of my heart, it is so important, it is so1744unbelievably important today that we get a farm bill, that we1745absolutely put our great farmers to where they can at least1746rest while they are doing the most unbelievable work. You know,1747so, like I said, I have run from vote to vote or whatever and1748committee to committee in a lot of different directions today.1749    I wanted to speak because I think our Chairman is a1750superstar. That is all there is to it. There is so many, you1751know, whether it be your Ranking Members or other folks on the1752Committee here that do great work. All these people out here1753depend now on you in every way, so do not let us down. Have an1754unbelievable passion for what you are doing.1755    You know, one of the things, I am really--not only am I a1756business guy, I am not a politician. You know, I am really1757proud of the fact of how in tune that I am with our farming1758industry all across this great land. With that said, in1759addition to that, I am a conservationist. I have done so many1760programs for wildlife it is unbelievable. You know, and the1761only question I think that I could possibly ask, you know, of1762all is just one thing. In the State of West Virginia, we are1763trying to reintroduce elk into West Virginia. My question here1764would be just this, is what steps, what additional steps can be1765taken to the survivability of this majestic creature that is1766being absolutely reintroduced into West Virginia today?1767    Mr. Hoskins, maybe that is a question for you, sir.1768    Mr. Hoskins. Yes, thank you for that question, Senator. Dr.1769Hutchins may have other equities here under the ARS umbrella,1770but my recollection working with APHIS in the first Trump1771Administration under Secretary Perdue, there are some protocols1772and processes that Veterinary Services works with stakeholder1773groups and state veterinarians to facilitate the transfer and1774reintroduction of certain species, including elk. All I could1775say, if I were confirmed, I would do my level best to ensure1776APHIS and VS were working closely with the state animal health1777officials and the stakeholders interested in promoting that1778relocation and introduction to facilitate that in a way that1779did not compromise animal health.1780    Senator Justice. Well, thank you both. I know you will do1781great work, and I will stand ready to try to help any way I1782possibly can.1783    Mr. Chairman, thank you.1784    Chairman Boozman. Thank you, Senator Justice. Senator1785Welch.1786    Senator Welch. Thank you very much. Thank you, gentlemen. I1787am very delighted to have you here.1788    I wanted to ask a question to Mr. Hoskins about the1789National Organic Program. In Vermont, we have got 690 USDA1790organic certified farms, and that is about $153 million in1791sales. It is a big deal. Our organic farmers want clear,1792consistent organic regulations. That is the foundation of a1793thriving organic market. My hope is that you will--given the1794recent staff reductions at the National Organic Program, how1795does USDA intend to maintain support both for transitioning and1796existing organic producers so that this organic sector that1797does have a lot of value added can continue to grow?1798    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Senator, and to1799your staff for making themselves available to me to meet in1800your office before today's hearing. They raised this issue and1801a number of other priorities you have on behalf of Vermont1802agricultural producers.1803    In my experience with the AMS National Organic Program, you1804have absolutely the most committed, informed career officials1805working to implement that program consistent with the National1806Organic Food Production Act that this Committee and the Senate1807passed, I think, in 1990.1808    There are challenges at times, in my recollection, with the1809agency working with different certifiers, especially certifiers1810that are overseas certifying product coming into the U.S. I do1811not know that there is an answer to all of those challenges,1812but I would say in the 2018 Farm Bill, this Committee and the1813Congress passed the Organic Safety Act. I have got the acronym1814wrong; I apologize. It basically mandated the Department would1815update and modernize their ability to protect the integrity of1816the organic seal. There were ways to do that, both with1817partnerships with CBP and DHS, and also modernizing technology1818and resources the agency could use to better pierce that veil1819in certifiers overseas to ensure products that were coming in1820were consistent with the same level of attention and practices1821that our producers execute.1822    Senator Welch. Thank you. Mr. Hutchins, welcome.1823    Dr. Hutchins. Thank you.1824    Senator Welch. You know, you have been a champion of1825acknowledging just the hardship that wild weather is imposing1826on a lot of our producers. You know, we had floods in Vermont1827in 2023 and 2024, the same day in July 2023 and 2024. You have1828previously told this Committee that USDA is fully committed to1829supporting research that ensures U.S. producers will be able to1830adapt to a changing climate. That is welcome news because our1831farmers think any information we can get will help us.1832    One of the things I wanted to ask is, how can the Research,1833Education, and Economics mission at USDA help make rural1834communities and farmers more resilient?1835    Dr. Hutchins. Senator, thank you for the question. As I1836alluded to earlier, I believe that we have a great opportunity1837in front of us with regard to the science that leads to the1838technology that will allow us to develop crops and animals to1839be more resilient to heat, to be more resilient to drought,1840whatever the case may be. We need to be able to utilize those1841tools that exist.1842    Senator Welch. You will maintain that? You will do all you1843can to help there?1844    Dr. Hutchins. Farmers have been dealing with weather year1845in and year out since farming, and so that will always1846continue. The good news is we will have the tools. We do have1847the tools now to allow them to succeed.1848    Senator Welch. I am almost out of time so I want to move on1849to one other question.1850    There was a lot of support in Vermont for the Local Food1851for Schools Program and the Local Food Purchasing Assistance1852programs. I was very disappointed that those programs were1853canceled a few months ago. If you are confirmed, can you work1854with us to help restart programs like that? They have been1855shown to strengthen local food supply chains. That is a big1856deal for us.1857    Mr. Hoskins. Thank you for that question, Senator. This is1858another issue your staff raised when I had a chance to meet1859with them. I understand your concern and frustration. I heard a1860number of different offices and staff raise those same1861questions. Not being at the Department and not privy to the1862internal briefings or assessments on what programs or needs are1863being met or should be met, I do not know if I can speak to1864that directly. What I would say is under the Ag Marketing1865Service Agency, this Committee and the Senate have directed1866that agency through different farm bills and other authorities1867to facilitate local agricultural marketing production and1868connecting some of that local food resiliency system.1869    I do not know that it would be carbon copy to what you are1870hearing or looking at under the LFPA, but there are existing1871programs where AMS may be able to meet some of those similar1872needs that Congress has already mandated the agency undertake.1873If committed, I would continue to work with the agencies to1874ensure compliance with the law.1875    Senator Welch. Okay, thank you.1876    I yield back, Mr. Chairman.1877    Chairman Boozman. Thank you and thank you again to Mr.1878Hoskins and Dr. Hutchins for appearing before the Committee and1879again to our Committee Members for their participation, the1880hard work of the staff to make all this happen, as always, on1881both sides.1882    The record will remain open for two business days. With1883that, today's hearing is now adjourned.1884    [Whereupon, at 12:16 p.m., the Committee was adjourned.]18851886=======================================================================18871888                            A P P E N D I X18891890                              May 21, 202518911892=======================================================================1893[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]18941895=======================================================================18961897                   DOCUMENTS SUBMITTED FOR THE RECORD18981899                              May 21, 202519001901=======================================================================19021903[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]19041905=======================================================================19061907                         QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS19081909                              May 21, 202519101911=======================================================================19121913[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]19141915                                 [all]