FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 13, 2019
CONTACT: [email protected]
Heitkamp Statement on Secretary Perdue Comments on Farmers
Farmers Are Doing Anything But Whining as Farm Debt Increases and Agriculture Exports Drop
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Heidi Heitkamp, Founding Board Member of the One Country Project and former Senator of North Dakota, issued the following statement after Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue mocked farmers for "whining" about Trump's trade war:“If there’s one thing farmers are not, it’s whiners. Secretary Perdue’s comments are not only ill-timed and insensitive, they also reflect President Trump’s attitude towards our nation’s farmers. American farmers are filing for bankruptcy at alarming numbers while U.S. farm debt is expected to reach almost $427 billion this year, the highest level since the 1980s.
“According to the USDA, $6.3 billion in agricultural export losses to China are expected this year alone. President Trump’s solution? Dismissive attitudes throughout his entire administration. Mr. President and Mr. Perdue, it’s time for real leadership, not name calling.”
More Information on Trump's Failed Trade Promises:
###
About One Country ProjectThe One Country Project, led by former Senators Heidi Heitkamp and Joe Donnelly, is working to promote greater opportunities for rural communities and ensure leaders earn their support. One Country is reengaging with rural Americans, serving as a clearinghouse of research and information for rural Americans, and working to ensure leaders regain trust by fighting for these communities. To learn more, visit the website, OneCountryProject.org.