EDF Praises Choice of Vilsack as Secretary of Agriculture

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Sharyn Stein, 202-572-3396, sstein@edf.org
 
Washington, D.C. – December 17, 2008 – Former Iowa governor Tom Vilsack is a solid choice for America’s next Secretary of Agriculture, according to Environmental Defense Fund.
 
“Governor Vilsack recognizes that farmers, ranchers and forest landowners have an important role to play in combating climate change,” said Robert Bonnie, Vice President of Land, Water and Wildlife for Environmental Defense Fund. “He is a strong supporter of a cap and trade program for greenhouse gases, carbon offsets, and other measures to help stop global warming. We think he’ll be a great addition to the Obama Administration’s environmental team.”
 
Environmental Defense Fund also praised Vilsack for his devotion to environmentally beneficial farm policy programs.
 
“Governor Vilsack has a long history of supporting voluntary conservation programs focused on working agricultural lands, and he has advocated for sensible farm policy reforms.” said Sara Hopper, Agricultural Policy Director for Environmental Defense Fund. “He understands the importance of cooperating with private landowners to ensure that we address our most pressing environmental challenges.”
 
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Environmental Defense Fund, a leading national nonprofit organization, represents more than 500,000 members. Since 1967, Environmental Defense Fund has linked science, economics, law and innovative private-sector partnerships to create breakthrough solutions to the most serious environmental problems. For more information, visit www.edf.org.

With more than 3 million members, Environmental Defense Fund creates transformational solutions to the most serious environmental problems. To do so, EDF links science, economics, law, and innovative private-sector partnerships to turn solutions into action. edf.org