Ag News
Senate confirms EPA administrator, U.S. trade rep & labor secretary
Posted on Mar 31, 2021 at 20:00 PM
The U.S. Senate has confirmed nominees to key posts in the Biden administration, approving Michael S. Regan as U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator, Katherine C. Tai as United States trade representative and Martin J. Walsh as secretary of labor.
On March 11, Regan was sworn in as the 16th administrator of the EPA. On his first day, Administrator Regan committed to working closely with and supporting EPA's dedicated career public servants, enhancing the role of science, addressing climate change, and prioritizing environmental justice.
A North Carolina native, Administrator Regan returns to EPA after starting his career at the agency, rising to the role of national program manager responsible for designing strategic solutions with industry and corporate stakeholders to reduce air pollution, improve energy efficiency and address climate change.
On March 18, Tai was sworn in as the 19th United States Trade Representative. Tai previously served at USTR from 2007-2014, most recently as Chief Counsel for China Trade Enforcement.
On March 22, the American Farm Bureau Federation and a consortium of national agricultural stakeholder organizations sent a letter to Tai asking the administration to focus attention on what was termed a deteriorating trade relationship. The organizations noted that Mexico has recently issued a ban on the use of glyphosate and genetically modified corn, imposed obstacles to dairy trade and requirements that U.S. organic producers conform to Mexico’s organic standards, among others.
“We urge Secretary [Tom] Vilsack and Ambassador Tai to engage with Mexico and enforce the agreements between our two countries to ensure farmers have a level playing field and continue to lead the world in producing safe, affordable food,” AFBF President Zippy Duvall said.
On March 23, Martin J. Walsh was sworn in as the 29th Secretary of Labor. A lifelong champion of equity and fairness, and a Boston native, Secretary Walsh leads the U.S. Department of Labor with a strong connection to working people, and a commitment to creating an economy that works for all. Walsh has served stints as a Massachusetts state representative and mayor of the City of Boston.
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