Statement on the Confirmation of Brooke Rollins as Secretary of Agriculture
Washington, D.C. — Today, the Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) and Competitive Markets Action (CMA) issued the following congratulatory statement on the official appointment of Brooke Rollins, who the U.S. Senate confirmed as the new Secretary of Agriculture. While the organizations were disappointed by Rollins’ comments during the confirmation hearing regarding Proposition 12—a measure that the Chinese-owned Smithfield and the so-called National Pork Producers Council continue to attack—the groups remain hopeful that, as she gains a deeper understanding of the issue, her strong track record on states' rights will guide her to uphold state laws as they stand.
“We look forward to working closely with Secretary Rollins to reform the USDA’s scandal-ridden Commodity Checkoff Programs, which continue to put countless American family farmers out of business with their own money,” said Taylor Haynes, President of the Organization for Competitive Markets, and Marty Irby, President of Competitive Markets Action. “We call on Secretary Rollins to pursue checkoff reform with Reps. Nancy Mace, Thomas Massie, and Victoria Spartz, as well as Sens. Rand Paul and Mike Lee, who continue to champion reform efforts in Congress with the Opportunities for Fairness in Farming (OFF) Act.”
“With the departure of former Secretary Tom Vilsack—whose tenure was marked by a troubling legacy of favoritism toward multinational foreign conglomerates in China and Brazil, conflicts of interest, and a lack of accountability—we call on the Trump Administration to condemn the harmful EATS Act, led by Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-IA) and Sen. Roger Marshall (R-KS), and urge Secretary Rollins to uphold Proposition 12 and other state laws designed to support American family farmers who utilize more humane and regenerative agriculture practices. We congratulate Secretary Rollins on becoming the first female Secretary of Agriculture in two decades and only the second in American history, and we stand ready, willing, and able to work with her and her team to reform the deep-rooted systemic corruption at USDA.”
The Organization for Competitive Markets (OCM) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit based in Lincoln, Nebraska. The foundation of the Organization for Competitive Markets is to fight for competitive markets in agriculture for farmers, ranchers, and rural communities. True competition reduces the need for economic regulation. Our mission, and duty, is to define and advocate the proper role of government in the agricultural economy as a regulator and enforcer of rules necessary for markets that are fair, honest, accessible, and competitive for all citizens.
Competitive Markets Action (CMA) is a 501(c)(4) non-profit based in Washington, D.C., that was formed with the mission of shaping policy to promote more regenerative and sustainable agriculture, and competitive markets in the U.S., and to defend against attacks on states’ rights by the federal government. CMA works to raise awareness of the harm caused by multinational conglomerates to the American family farmer, the consumer, and our U.S. economy as a whole to bring about legislative and regulatory reforms.
