Xochitl Torres Small, Under Secretary for Rural Development at USDA, was recently nominated by the President to succeed Jewel Bronaugh as Deputy Secretary of USDA. Torres Small has the skills, experience, and personal commitment necessary to assume the demanding and diverse responsibilities of Deputy Secretary of USDA and serve in this role with distinction.

To support her nomination and hoped for speedy confirmation by the Senate, a coalition of nearly 60 trade associations and individual business organizations signed on to the following letter to Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman in support of Torres Small’s nomination.

Please contact Allison Cooke [email protected] if you have any questions.

March 22, 2023 

The Honorable Debbie Stabenow  
Chairwoman  
The Honorable John Boozman 
Ranking Member 
Senate Committee on Agriculture  
328A Russell Senate Office Building  
Washington, D.C. 20510 

Dear Chairwoman Stabenow and Ranking Member Boozman: 

We write to express our strong support for the nomination of Under Secretary of Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small to serve as Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Under Secretary Torres Small has demonstrated a deep commitment to addressing challenges in the agricultural supply chain, fostering economic opportunities and security through rural infrastructure investments, and fighting for the needs of rural Americans. Her dedication to public service and skilled administration of USDA’s Rural Development mission area makes her uniquely qualified for the role of Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. 

Under Secretary Torres Small has tirelessly served agricultural stakeholders and the American people for decades. The granddaughter of farmworkers, she spent several years as a Field Representative for Senator Tom Udall (D-NM), then a United States District Court clerk, and an attorney practicing water and natural resources law. In 2018, Torres Small was elected to the House of Representatives where she served as a Member of the House Agriculture Committee. Continuing her public service as Under Secretary of Rural Development, Torres Small guided the implementation of millions of dollars in loans and grants to strengthen the agricultural supply chain, expand broadband internet service to rural communicates, and expand market opportunities for rural businesses.   

We believe that agricultural stakeholders, rural communities, and the American people will be well served by Under Secretary Torres Small’s service as Deputy Secretary of the USDA. We strongly urge the Committee to quickly advance Under Secretary Torres Small’s nomination so she can continue her important work in this expanded capacity, particularly as the Farm Bill reauthorization process is underway.  

Sincerely, 

cc: Secretary Tom Vilsack, U.S. Department of Agriculture