U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack recently made a statement on the nomination of Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small to serve as the USDA deputy secretary.
According to a Feb. 15 news release, Torres Small will use her expertise and knowledge to further the USDA mission of advancing equity and opportunity in rural America.
“The nomination of Xochitl Torres Small to serve as deputy secretary reflects the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to rural prosperity, advancing equity and making USDA the best place to work," Vilsack said in the release. “As under secretary for Rural Development, Torres Small has been an exemplary member of the USDA subcabinet and a dedicated advocate for rural communities."
Under Secretary Xochitl Torres Small has been nominated to serve as the USDA deputy secretary.
| Xochitl Torres Small Facebook
Vilsack then took to praising the nominee's accomplishments, according to the release.
“During her leadership, Rural Development was the first federal agency to invest Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funds in physical infrastructure for high-speed internet and the first entity to make Inflation Reduction Act funds available to drive down energy costs for farmers and rural small businesses," Vilsack said in the release. "She has worked to foster a dedicated and diverse workforce ready to serve the American people in Rural Development offices across the country.”
Vilsack commented on how Torres Small is the granddaughter of migrant farm workers, and she "represents the heart andsoul of rural communities," the release reported. After years of working as a field worker and field representative in New Mexico, she became the first woman and first person of color to represent New Mexico's 2nd Congressional District.
"I am pleased President Biden has nominated her to be deputy secretary, and I am fully confident in Under Secretary Torres Small’s ability to excel in this essential role at the department. Upon the conclusion of Deputy Secretary Bronaugh’s service with USDA, Kevin Shea, APHIS administrator and a career public servant with more than 40 years at USDA, will serve as acting deputy secretary.”
