HYDE-SMITH SUPPORTS ROLLINS TO LEAD USDA, SEEKS COOPERATION ON INSPECTION REGIMENS & VETERINARIAN RECRUITMENT

HYDE-SMITH SUPPORTS ROLLINS TO LEAD USDA, SEEKS COOPERATION ON INSPECTION REGIMENS & VETERINARIAN RECRUITMENT

Senate Ag Committee Conducts Confirmation Hearing for Secretary of Agriculture Nominee Brooke Rollins

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) today received commitments from Brooke Rollins, President Trump's nominee to be the next Secretary of Agriculture, to work with her to improve the federal agricultural inspection regimens that are key to the survivability of the U.S. farm-raised catfish and other industries.

Hyde-Smith, who has been enthusiastic about Rollins' nomination to lead the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), serves on the Senate Agriculture Committee that conducted a confirmation hearing for Rollins on Thursday.

"I think Brooke Rollins is going to be a great Secretary of Agriculture. Brooke has a wealth of experience in the agricultural policy and understands the important role USDA plays in rural states like Mississippi," Hyde-Smith said following the hearing. "I look forward to the Senate confirming her nomination so that she can get to work to make sure USDA and all its agencies are working for rural areas and the wellbeing of our nation."

Hyde-Smith focused her inquiries on improving the agricultural inspection responsibilities of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) and Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS), agencies whose responsibilities affect Mississippi's farm-raised catfish industry and the containment of animal disease outbreaks like the H5N1 bird flu.

"Foreign catfish imports, primarily from Vietnam and China, have really hurt the industry," Hyde-Smith said. "FSIS inspections are far more rigorous than Food and Drug Administration inspections, but the inspections have not been at the top of the agency's priority list in the last administration. That makes a big difference because there could be dangerous carcinogens and other elements that are harmful to human consumption getting through."

Rollins agreed with Hyde-Smith that FSIS should tighten its imported catfish inspection responsibilities. (Related: Vietnamese Catfish Ruling)

"I really look forward to all aspects of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, but have heard from several of you that the inspection part of it could be significantly improved and my commitment is to do everything I can to do just that," Rollins said.

Hyde-Smith, who formed the Senate Veterinary Medicine Caucus with Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) in 2023, also asked Rollins to work with her to address USDA veterinarian recruitment and retention. A persistent shortage of veterinarians affects the ability of APHIS, FSIS, and other agencies to protect animal and public health, ensure food security, and respond to outbreaks.

"USDA has struggled for years with inadequate veterinarian staffing within APHIS and FSIS - a problem made worse by a compensation system that the former secretary described as uncompetitive at a hearing," Hyde-Smith said. "I tried to work with the previous administration to begin correcting these serious recruitment and retention problems, but those efforts were pretty much ignored."

Rollins agreed to work toward what Hyde-Smith defined as "timely and meaningful solutions - solutions that would, of course, be in line with the President's agenda."

A favorable vote on Rollins by the Senate Agriculture Committee would propel her nomination to the full Senate for confirmation.

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