Senator Carper Welcomes Lifelong Farmer & Two-Time Delaware Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse to Testify at EPW Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.), top Democrat on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) Committee, welcomed Michael Scuse, a lifelong farmer and two-time Delaware Secretary of Agriculture, to testify at an EPW Committee hearing on the impact of federal environmental policies on farming and ranching communities in Delaware and across the country.

“It is a pleasure to welcome Secretary Scuse, who has invaluable experience as a farmer himself and as a policy maker, to testify at our hearing today,” said Senator Carper. “As a downwind state that is seeing the damaging effects of sea level rise and climate change on a daily basis, Delaware has benefitted from protections that keep our air and our water clean and our crops healthy. We are grateful to have Secretary Scuse’s unique perspective as part of our discussion today and his insights as to how we can work together to provide our hardworking farmers with the clarity they need while protecting our environment.”

“There’s no doubt that a better job can be done in many of the areas discussed today. But I think what we need to do when we start looking at regulation is working together with all of those that are ultimately impacted and listening and finding solution,” said Secretary Scuse. “In that way we can eliminate, in my opinion, some of the problems that we have had over past administrations with the implementation of regulations.”

Senator Carper’s complete opening remarks are available here.

Secretary Scuse’s testimony is available here, and his complete biography is available below:

Secretary Michael T. Scuse

Michael T. Scuse was nominated as Delaware Secretary of Agriculture by Gov. John Carney and confirmed by the Delaware State Senate on Jan. 25, 2017.

A lifelong farmer and native Delawarean, Secretary Scuse previously served with the U.S. Department of Agriculture as Acting U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Acting Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. As Under Secretary, he oversaw USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Risk Management Agency, and Foreign Agricultural Services. He led initiatives to improve the competitiveness of American products in the global marketplace, create new markets to increase rural economic opportunity, and deliver farm assistance that help keep America’s farmers and ranchers in business. He also served as president of the Commodity Credit Corporation, working to stabilize and support farm income and prices while helping maintain balance and adequate supplies of agricultural products.

Secretary Scuse previously served as Delaware secretary of agriculture from 2001-2008, and also served as chief of staff to former Gov. Ruth Ann Minner. During his term as secretary, he served as vice-president of the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture and president of the Northeast Association of State Departments of Agriculture. He previously served as chairman of the Kent County Regional Planning Commission and chairman of USDA’s Delaware Farm Service Committee.

He has received the Medal of Achievement from the Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc., in 2006, and the Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service to Delaware Agriculture in 2012.

Secretary Scuse and his wife, Patrice, live in Smyrna on a corn, soybean and wheat farm that has been in their family for generations.

###