Washington D.C– In response to today’s Senate vote confirming Brooke Rollins to serve as Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) released the following statement from Healthy Communities Program Director, Madeleine Foote:

“Across the nation, farmers and ranchers are already facing the devastating impacts of climate change as droughts, floods, heat waves, and storms jeopardize their livelihoods. Yet during her confirmation process, Brooke Rollins repeatedly denied the climate crisis and refused to acknowledge the science behind climate change, demonstrating that she is unqualified and unfit to lead the USDA. Farmers deserve someone at the helm of USDA that acknowledges the realities of the climate crisis and will work to help them be part of the climate solution. The Trump administration is already hurting farmers by cutting programs they rely on to feed our communities, and the Senate’s decision to confirm Rollins to lead USDA is just another strike against them. We urge Mrs. Rollins to prioritize the needs of our farmers in her new role to ensure they can continue to feed our families and serve as stewards of the land, now and for generations to come.”

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