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Senate confirms Vilsack as USDA Secretary

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary, where he resumes the same cabinet position he served for the entirety of the Obama administration.

Mike Buzalka, Executive Features Editor

February 23, 2021

1 Min Read
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The U.S. Senate has confirmed Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary, where he resumes the same cabinet position he served for the entirety of the Obama administration.Chip Somodevilla / Staff / Getty Images News

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Tom Vilsack as USDA secretary, which will have him resume the the same cabinet position he served for the eight years of the Barack Obama administration. The vote was 92-7.

The 70-year-old Vilsack had been reported to be President Joe Biden’s choice for the post back in December. The former governor of Iowa has been serving as CEO of the U.S. Dairy Export Council.

"The world and our nation are different today than when I served as agriculture secretary in a previous administration," Vilsack said. "Today, the pandemic, racial justice and equity and climate change must be our priorities."

As USDA secretary from 2009 to 2017, Vilsack oversaw the initial implementation of the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act’s provisions that overhauled national school meal programs. The USDA under Vilsack also expanded K-12 access to fresh produce, overhauled school wellness policies, piloted a school garden program, released an updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans and unveiled a new food pyramid icon.

Biden called him, "The best secretary of agriculture I believe this country has ever had."

The National School Lunch and Breakfast programs are administrated by the USDA. These programs have not been reauthorized since the Healthy, Hunger-Free Act in 2010, even though it was supposed to be reauthorized in both 2015 and 2020. With the pandemic’s move to providing free meals, many child nutrition advocates are using the momentum gained to push for universal free meals for all in K-12 schools.

About the Author

Mike Buzalka

Executive Features Editor, Food Management

Mike Buzalka is executive features editor for Food Management and contributing editor to Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News. On Food Management, Mike has lead responsibility for compiling the annual Top 50 Contract Management Companies as well as the K-12, College, Hospital and Senior Dining Power Players listings. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature from John Carroll University. Before joining Food Management in 1998, he served as for eight years as assistant editor and then editor of Foodservice Distributor magazine. Mike’s personal interests range from local sports such as the Cleveland Indians and Browns to classic and modern literature, history and politics.

Mike Buzalka’s areas of expertise include operations, innovation and technology topics in onsite foodservice industry markets like K-12 Schools, Higher Education, Healthcare and Business & Industry.

Mike Buzalka’s experience:

Executive Features Editor, Food Management magazine (2010-present)

Contributing Editor, Restaurant Hospitality, Supermarket News and Nation’s Restaurant News (2016-present)

Associate Editor, Food Management magazine (1998-2010)

Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1997-1998)

Assistant Editor, Foodservice Distributor magazine (1989-1997)

 

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