December 21, 2000

President-elect George W. Bush's nomination of Ann Veneman as Secretary of Agriculture has brought positive reactions from outgoing Secretary Dan Glickman and several farm organizations. "I think she'll do a fine job,'" Glickman told reporters. "I think the president-elect has made a very good choice." He said he had worked with Veneman on several issues and added she understands USDA.

The job ahead won't be easy for her, Glickman added, especially facing the writing and legislative process for a new farm law. He said he would meet with Veneman and discuss some of the agricultural problems facing the new administration. He also said he hoped there would be no retreat on the issue of food safety.

"We applaud President-elect Bush's nomination of Ann Veneman for agriculture secretary," said Bob Stallman, president of the American Farm Bureau Federation. "From her experience in her prior government positions, we know her to be an extremely knowledgeable, capable and effective advocate for all of agriculture.

"It's a real benefit that she has previous experience at USDA and service to California and American agriculture. She understands how the agriculture department works and the range of responsibilities that she will have to oversee. In particular, we would cite her experience in the international trade arena. Her nomination signals that President-elect Bush intends to follow through on his campaign pledges to open new markets for agriculture."

Guy Donaldson, president of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau, said from her experience in government, Veneman is known to be "an extremely knowledgeable, capable and effective advocate for all of agriculture. She knows how USDA works and the range of responsibilities she will have to oversee."

In particular, Donaldson said, Farm Bureau is impressed with her experience in the international trade area. "Her nomination signals that President-elect Bush plans to follow through on his campaign pledges to open new markets for American agriculture."

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association was equally enthusiastic. Her "strong background" in agriculture an international trade "will be critical for the beef industry, as exports are our future for growth," NCBA said in a statement..

"NCBA looks forward to working with Veneman and will urge her to implement key issues for U.S. cattle producers such as ensuring that trade laws are fair, continuing to open up new markets for U.S. beef, maintaining a free market system, ensuring that market information is available to producers and continuing to improve the meat inspection system to ensure that U.S. beef remains the gold standard for wholesomeness and safety."

American Soybean Association CEO Stephen L. Censky worked with Veneman at USDA. He said she knows agriculture well. "She has spent her whole career in agriculture, working for farmers and ranchers..." She knows the importance of trade, "and I think she will exercise real leadership in helping U.S. agriculture open up more markets, including the development of science-based rules governing international trade."

"Another area where I think the American Soybean Association will be well served with Ann Veneman as Secretary of Agriculture is in the area of the environment," Censky said. "Ann clearly is a strong proponent of the environment and environmental conservation, and recognizes the strong environmental ethic farmers hold. Ann brings a strong practical and realistic approach to environmental stewardship that will help farmers better protect the environment while still allowing farmers to farm profitably. Ann brings a wealth of experience in dealing with science and nutrition issues, and marketing opportunities."

House Agriculture Committee Chairman Larry Combest (R-TX) said Veneman "knows policy and the way things get done in Washington ... her experience will be very important." The ranking Democrat on the Senate Agriculture Committee Tom Harkin (IA) was a bit more cautious than most. Veneman "appears to bring a solid background" to the post, he said, then cautioned that he was concerned that she and her administration "understand Iowa and Midwest agriculture and the issues important" to those regions.

Veneman joined the law firm of Nossaman, Guthner, Knox and Elliott in its Sacramento, CA, office in 1999 where she specialized in food, agriculture, environment, technology and trade-related issues. "Ann is a unique leader who respects every individual and genuinely believes in including everyone in the process," said Scott DeVries, managing partner of Nossaman. "She is a great asset to the firm and we will miss her personally as well as professionally. However, Nossaman's loss is the country's gain. Ann is incredibly well qualified for this post and will be able to hit the ground running."