Tom Vilsack Quotes

A collection of quotes by Tom Vilsack.

Tom Vilsack is an American politician and attorney who served as the United States Secretary of Agriculture from 2009 to 2017. Born on December 13, 1950, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Vilsack grew up in a small town in Iowa, where he later embarked on his political career.

Vilsack obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree from Hamilton College in 1972 and his Juris Doctor from Albany Law School in 1975. He then practiced law for several years before entering politics. In 1987, Vilsack was elected mayor of Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and subsequently served two terms.

His political journey continued as Vilsack was elected as the governor of Iowa, serving from 1999 to 2007. During his time as governor, he focused on promoting renewable energy, expanding healthcare access, and enhancing education. Vilsack was known for his pragmatic and bipartisan approach, highlighting agricultural issues and rural development.

In 2007, Vilsack launched a campaign for the Democratic nomination in the 2008 presidential election but withdrew before the primaries. However, he continued to be an influential figure within the Democratic Party. When President Barack Obama took office, he appointed Vilsack as the Secretary of Agriculture. As Secretary, Vilsack prioritized initiatives related to rural economic development, nutrition programs, conservation, and renewable energy.

After leaving the Cabinet in 2017, Vilsack joined a law and lobbying firm, where he advocated for various agricultural and food-related clients. He remained an active voice in public policy discussions regarding agriculture, climate change, and rural issues. In December 2020, President-elect Joe Biden nominated Vilsack to return as Secretary of Agriculture in his administration.

In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a mil

In the past 40 years, the United States lost more than a million farmers and ranchers. Many of our farmers are aging. Today, only nine percent of family farm income comes from farming, and more and more of our farmers are looking elsewhere for their primary source of income.

The food pyramid is very complicated. It doesn't give you as

The food pyramid is very complicated. It doesn't give you as much info in a quick glance as the plate does.

The lack of access to proper nutrition is not only fueling o

The lack of access to proper nutrition is not only fueling obesity, it is leading to food insecurity and hunger among our children.

I don't know if there is a Democrat who necessarily doesn't

I don't know if there is a Democrat who necessarily doesn't believe health care is a right instead of privilege. There is a significant between us and the Republican Party on that issue.

We know that there are significant health benefits from cons

We know that there are significant health benefits from consuming more fruits and vegetables, and that's an opportunity for us to sort of move away from some of the meals that we've been preparing in the past.

Somewhere between 50 to 60 percent of the food you eat has b

Somewhere between 50 to 60 percent of the food you eat has been touched by immigrant hands, and it is fair to say some of them are not here as they should be here. But if you didn't have these folks, you would be spending a lot more - three, four or five times more - for food, or we would have to import food and have all the food security risks.

If you think of what food is, it's the energy we use to do o

If you think of what food is, it's the energy we use to do our daily work. I want people to know about the USDA. This is a very important department. It's not fully appreciated as such.

Food is a fairly significant aspect of my life. I have strug

Food is a fairly significant aspect of my life. I have struggled mightily with food. With my weight. And I'm conscious of it. So I have a sensitivity to people who struggle with their weight.

Food during my early years was a very difficult issue for me

Food during my early years was a very difficult issue for me. I grew up in an addictive family. My mother had serious problems with alcohol and prescription drugs. I was an overweight kid. I can remember back in those days there weren't the strategies that there are today to deal with those issues.

When you've paid your debt to society, you need to be reconn

When you've paid your debt to society, you need to be reconnected and re-engaged in society.

There are ways we can go do a better job of educating young

There are ways we can go do a better job of educating young moms and dads about the vital role they have as the child's first teacher. I think there are ways in which we can partner with local school districts and states to do a better job to provide nutrition options at school.

Technology has allowed us to have more drought-resistant cro

Technology has allowed us to have more drought-resistant crops. The spotty nature of drought, the spotty nature of rains can sometimes result in better yields than anticipated.

Proper school nutrition must be complemented by activities o

Proper school nutrition must be complemented by activities outside of the cafeteria. The decisions parents make to keep their kids healthy are critical in fighting this battle on the home front.

The rise of childhood obesity has placed the health of an en

The rise of childhood obesity has placed the health of an entire generation at risk.

Let us build a 21st-century rural economy of cutting-edge co

Let us build a 21st-century rural economy of cutting-edge companies and technologies that lead us to energy and food security. Such an investment will revitalize rural America, re-establish our moral leadership on climate security and eliminate our addiction to foreign oil.

It is critical to develop a biofuel industry powered by feed

It is critical to develop a biofuel industry powered by feedstocks produced in every corner of the country, in addition to the Midwest. That is why USDA has established five regional research centers working on science necessary to ensure profitable biofuels can be produced from a diverse range of feedstocks.

In his first year in office, President Obama pulled us back

In his first year in office, President Obama pulled us back from the brink of the greatest economic crisis since the Great Depression and worked to lay a new foundation for economic growth. The president identified three key strategies to build that lasting prosperity: innovation, investment, and education.

You know, rural Americans are a special people. Their labor

You know, rural Americans are a special people. Their labor puts food on our table and fuel in our gas tanks. Their service in our military sets a powerful example of leadership, honor and sacrifice. Their spirit of community inspires us all.

I don't know of a Democrat - whether they're a conservative,

I don't know of a Democrat - whether they're a conservative, a centrist or a liberal Democrat - that doesn't think that it's important to have quality jobs that pay decent wages so that families can support themselves, so that they can have the dignity of being able to afford health care, put money aside for pension, buy a home.

Local and regional food systems are about opportunity.

Local and regional food systems are about opportunity.