After months of delay, the Senate voted to verify Alexis Taylor as Undersecretary of Agriculture for Commerce and International Agricultural Affairs. She’s going to now assist craft the company’s commerce coverage and work to advertise market entry and alternatives for American agricultural pursuits.
As information of her affirmation started to unfold, representatives from numerous segments of agriculture issued statements applauding the transfer.
“Getting Alexis’s affirmation via the Senate has been one in every of our prime priorities, as she is somebody with a deep understanding of agricultural points and is extensively revered by policymakers on each side of the aisle,” leaders from the Nationwide Corn Growers Affiliation stated. “Approval of this nomination comes at a pivotal time for us as we work to handle a pending decree that might block biotech corn imports into Mexico.”
Taylor has served because the director of the Oregon Division of Agriculture since Dec. 2016. In that position she led a workforce of 500 staff who have been liable for 38 state-level applications.
Previous to that, she spent 12 years in Washington, D.C. main USDA’s International Agricultural Providers. Throughout that point, she labored to convey U.S. agriculture merchandise into new markets and enhance their aggressive place throughout the worldwide market.
Taylor has additionally labored on workers for congressmen in Montana and Iowa.
The U.S. Meat Export Federation stated her background and monitor file will make her an incredible asset to USDA and a champion for U.S. agriculture. These sentiments have been echoed by Nationwide Cattleman’s Beef Affiliation Vice President Ethan Lane.
“We now have labored carefully with Ms. Taylor in her earlier roles at USDA and on Capitol Hill, and she or he is a confirmed advocate for farmers and ranchers,” he stated. “We stay up for partnering with Ms. Taylor to open new markets to American beef and assist U.S. cattle producers see much more profit from commerce.”
The Undersecretary of Agriculture for Commerce and International Agricultural affairs place was created within the 2014 Farm Invoice. President Donald Trump appointed Indiana Agriculture Division Director Ted McKinney to be the primary undersecretary in 2017. He held the position till Jan. 2021. It has been vacant since.
McKinney, who now leads the Nationwide Affiliation of State Departments of Agriculture, thanked Senators for confirming his successor. He expressed confidence that her efforts can have a significant impression on shoppers and households.
“Alexis will proceed to guide U.S. agriculture to additional heights in her new position as she advocates for alternatives to increase the attain of American grown merchandise internationally,” McKinney stated. “Alexis brings expertise, character and a deep understanding of how rules throughout the globe matter for people in native communicates.”
Taylor grew up on a farm close to Holy Cross, Iowa that has been in her household for 160 years. She enlisted within the U.S. Military Reserves whereas nonetheless in highschool. Throughout her junior yr of school, she served one tour of responsibility with the 389th Fight Engineer Battalion in Iraq. After returning to the states, she graduated from Iowa State College.
President Biden nominated her for the undersecretary position in Could. On the time, Agriculture Secretary Tim Vilsack known as her a “collaborative chief with a monitor file of working in direction of large-scale options in partnership with the communities she serves.”
Whereas there was overwhelming assist for Taylor’s appointment, the Senate affirmation course of has turn out to be a lot slower lately. In November, a bunch of meals and agriculture organizations despatched a letter to Senate leaders calling for her affirmation in addition to the affirmation of Doug McKalip to function Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the Workplace of the U.S. Commerce Consultant. They now have half of what they wished.
“It’s regrettable that filling this vital place has been delayed for therefore lengthy,” Nationwide Milk Producers Federation President and CEO Jim Mulhern stated. “Given the important thing position of the chief negotiator in advancing U.S. agriculture’s commerce agenda, we urge the Senate to verify Mr. McKalip with out additional delay.”
