Sonny Perdue sworn in as U.S. agriculture secretary

WASHINGTON — After Monday’s Senate confirmation vote in which he got strong bipartisan support, former Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue was sworn in Tuesday morning as the 31st U.S. secretary of agriculture.

Perdue was sworn in by U.S. Supreme Court Associate Justice Clarence Thomas, who also is a native of Georgia.

“The only legacy that I seek is the only one that any grandparent or parent seeks – to be good stewards, and to hand off our nation, our home, our fields, our forests, and our farms to the next generation in better shape than we found it,” Perdue said.

“Making sure that Americans who make their livelihoods in the agriculture industry have the ability to thrive will be one of my top priorities. I am committed to serving the customers of USDA, and I will be an unapologetic advocate for American agriculture.”

On Tuesday, U.S. Rep. Sanford Bishop, D-Albany, joined the Georgia lawmakers congratulating the new secretary.

“I welcome Sonny Perdue as the new secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture,” Bishop, who represents the largely agriculture 2nd District of Georgia, said. “Having known and worked with Sonny in his various capacities as a state senator and governor, I know firsthand his professionalism and his passion for rural America.

“The cooperative relationship we have developed over the years will prove a great asset as we work together to ensure our farmers, ranchers, foresters, agribusinesses, and consumers have the resources they need to prosper in today’s competitive and global environment.”

Perdue was nominated for the post in January, but Senate action was held up while he made adjustments in his business holdings to comply with ethics requirements. Following an uneventful hearing with the Senate Agriculture Committee in March, he was confirmed by an 87-11 Senate vote Monday evening as his cousin, U.S. Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., presided over the upper chamber.

As ag chief, Perdue will oversee the nation’s nutrition, farm and forestry programs and will play a major role in shaping the upcoming U.S. farm bill and in U.S. ag trade negotiations. He said he plans to be guided by four principles: maximizing the ability of farmers and agribusiness to produce, create jobs and sell their goods; prioritize customer service in the USDA; ensure a safe and secure U.S. food supply, and stewardship of the land.

“As secretary, I will champion the concerns of farmers, ranchers, foresters and producers, and will work tirelessly to solve the issues facing our farm families,” Perdue said. “I am proud to have been given this opportunity and look forward to rolling up my sleeves and getting to work as we continue to move the USDA and our nation forward.”

Perdue launched his official Twitter handle Tuesday: @SecretarySonny.