Executive Session - Thomas C. Dorr to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development

EXECUTIVE SESSION

THOMAS C. DORR TO BE UNDER SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND MEMBER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE COMMODITY CREDIT CORPORATION

Mr. CRAPO. Madam President, I rise today in support of Tom Dorr and to urge my colleagues to vote for cloture.

As chairman and one-time ranking member of the Agriculture Subcommittee on Forestry, Conservation, and Rural Revitalization, I have had the opportunity to work with Tom Dorr from the time he was nominated in April 2001, and I have had the pleasure of working with him for the past year in his capacity as Under Secretary of Rural Development.

I would like to share with my distinguished colleagues some of the comments that I have received from people in Idaho about Tom Dorr's efforts: "He has a real passion for rural America," "He has vision and courage," "It would be a real loss if he is not confirmed," "there is confidence in his clear vision for how Rural Development can help rural America". "He is providing real leadership, and has the trust of everyone that works here."

Mr. President, Tom Dorr has what we look for in our Under Secretaries, vision and leadership. He is making real changes at USDA that will benefit the rural citizens of my State and the country.

One of my priorities has been to help bring and build jobs in Idaho, particularly in rural Idaho. Tom Dorr shares those priorities and is working to build on USDA Rural Development's capacity as a jobs creation agency.

He recognizes that building the infrastructure to attract and develop long-term growth is vital to the well-being of the communities.

Many of us choose to live in rural America for its values, community, and character. We need to work to ensure that those who wish to live in rural America can. The jobs need to be there and the infrastructure needs to be there. Tom Dorr recognizes that.

In 2001 when Tom was first nominated for this position, and in 2002 when the Senate first began to consider his nomination, I was convinced that he was qualified to lead the agency.

Since the President appointed him during the August recess last year, he has proved that he is qualified to lead the agency.

To those who would argue that the Senate needs more deliberation, I say that the Senate has deliberated long enough.

Tom Dorr was first nominated in April 2001. A hearing was held in March 2002, after three previously scheduled hearings were cancelled. Prior to the committee reporting out his nomination, he answered hundreds of questions from Committee Members. In fact, the committee's ranking member requested more than 1,000 documents or pieces of information.

When the committee considered his nomination this year, it reported him out by a vote of 14 to 7. Did we report him out in one day, no. At the confirmation hearing, the ranking member was given the opportunity to expound on why he opposed the nominee, and he did so until the committee no longer had a quorum.

Madam President, Tom Dorr has been available for questioning and we've had the opportunity for oversight since his nomination in 2001 and his appointment in 2002.

Throughout this process, some have sought not to deliberate on his nomination, but to delay it in the hopes it might whither on the vine.

I ask my colleagues for an up or down vote on his nomination. He deserves it. And, I believe, the country deserves his leadership.