White House Apologizes to Sherrod

Today, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs apologized to former USDA official Shirley Sherrod “on behalf of the administration,” and said USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack would also apologize. Sherrod had been ousted based on an edited video clip that portrayed her as being racist. Gibbs refused to speculate on whether or not Sherrod would get her job back.

A lot of people were involved in this situation and acted without having all the facts, Gibbs said. He offered Sherrod an apology on behalf of the administration.  “A disservice was done,” for which we apologize.

Sherrod has stated that the someone from the White House urged her to resign, but Gibbs said that he knows of no conversations from the White House. “The White House was informed but not consulted,” Gibbs said.

The President was briefed yesterday mid-morning and has been getting updates about it throughout the day. According to Gibbs, this was a decision solely made by the Department of Agriculture. When asked about Secretary Vilsak and whether his job is safe, Gibbs said
that he is doing a terrific job at the USDA.

Gibbs also talked about living in a culture where you want fast responses. The rapid advancement of technology has also created the world that we are living in today, and this ties in with politics, race and media events, he added, calling the situation a “teachable moment.”

Additional reporting by Philip Bunnell

Sherrod Not Sure if She Would Want to Return to USDA

Shirley Sherrod, former USDA director of rural development in Georgia, said that she might not return to her job at the USDA even if asked.  Sherrod was ousted by Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack after a segment of her March speech to an NAACP audience was posted.  The segment appeared to be racist, but upon further review, was about learning from experience.  As the full clip emerged, Vlisack said he would reconsider her employment.

“I’m not a racist,” said Sherrod, “Anyone who knows me knows I’m for fairness”

By Philip Bunnell

Vilsack Touts Recovery Act Before Budget Committee

By Phillip Bunnell - Talk Radio News Service

Secretary of Agriculture Thomas J. Vilsack told the House Budget Committee that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is helping the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) make strides in creating jobs and modernizing American agriculture.

Chair John Spratt, Jr. (D-SC) and Ranking Member Paul Ryan (R-WI) opened with contrasting messages concerning the Recovery Act. Spratt touted it as saving America from a far worse economic downturn and saving millions of jobs. 

Ryan called the act “a failure,” blaming it for increased national debt. 

“Proponents will tell us that we should all be grateful that the pain is not more acute, and that it’s not fair to hold policy makers accountable for the failures of their policies,” he said.

Secretary Vilsack emphasized that the Recovery Act “is doing good,” and was “a must,” saying that the “stimulus is successful.”  Vilsack said that the increased funding for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly the Food Stamp program) produced $9.50 for every $5.00 invested by the USDA, and that the Recovery Act has allowed for expanded agricultural trade with Panama, South Korea, and Columbia.  Vilsack also said rural communities are receiving subsidies, water treatment facilities, and broadband Internet service, all of which help modernize and support the American farmer, are reaping the benefits of the extra funding.

Vilsack credited the Recovery Act for the recent growth in GDP, and countered Republican criticism of the high unemployment rate by stating that the stimulus had created “a sense of opportunity,” and that it had saved “millions of jobs.”

Rural America Needs Quality Health Care Too, Says U.S. Agriculture Official

By Benny Martinez - University of New Mexico/Talk Radio News Service

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) plays a key role in increasing health care for rural America, according to USDA Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan. Merrigan spent Wednesday morning speaking with the National Rural Health Association (NRHA) and its members at the organization’s 21st Annual Rural Health Policy Institute.

The NRHA, a non-profit organization, has been in Washington all week consulting with various House Members regarding initiatives to expand the quality of health care coverage to rural America.

According to Merrigan, the USDA is working hard to increase the availability of quality health care to rural Americans. Over the past ten years, the Department of Agriculture awarded $2.6 billion through loans and grants to over 1,200 health care facilities. According to Merrigan, this money was used to improve facility infrastructure and to build new hospitals and clinics in rural America.

Merrigan also said that the American Reinvestment and Recovery Act granted the USDA $2.5 billion in an effort to expand broadband connection to rural hospitals and communities. Merrigan believes that this expansion will improve the long-term economic health of rural America and increase the efficiency of exchanging information between institutions.

“High speed connections will allow medical specialists to tell a medicine to provide advanced diagnosis for patients,” Merrigan said. “Or, to consult colleagues in other hospitals while sharing medical records.”

Using the theme, “Community Matters,” NRHA President Dennis Berens advocated the collaboration between his organization and Congress to expand quality health care to rural communities, saying “health, like politics, is always local.”

Vilsack Sets Out Top Priorities for USDA

By Kayleigh Harvey - Talk Radio News Service

In a conference call today, Agriculture Secretary, Tom Vilsack set out the key areas the American people can expect the USDA to focus on, under the new Obama administration.

The top priorities he identified included promoting a sustainable, safe, sufficient and nutritious food supply for all Americans and people around the world. He further stated that combating childhood obesity, enhanced healthy nutrition, and supporting research in the health care debate would be a key focus. Vilsack also announced that the USDA will work on achieving Obama's target to eliminate child hunger by 2015.

Vilsack identified that another key area the USDA will be working on under the new administration would be research development in additional bio-fuels. The USDA will support the survival of the bio-fuel industry whilst promoting policies that will speed up the development of second and third generation feedstocks for these bio-fuels and in turn increase the potential to secure America's energy security and independence. He will lead the USDA in it's efforts to adopt management practices that promote and provide clean air, clean water and wildlife habitat. The USDA aim to support the profitability of farmers and ranchers, developing markets that reward them for carbon sequestration and eliminating greenhouse gases.

Vilsack concluded by stating that: "We have some serious challenges and many opportunities to pursue here at the USDA. I am looking forward to working with the dedicated employees of the USDA and all the departments to fulfill President Obama's desire of effecting change, promoting a stronger, more vibrant and more economically viable royal America".