Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs

The Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs is a high-ranking position within the United States Department of Agriculture that supervises policy development and day-to-day operations of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, the Agricultural Marketing Service, and the Grain Inspection, Packers, and Stockyards Administration. The three agencies were appropriated over $800 million by Congress in fiscal year 2004. [cite web | title="Lambert, Dr. Charles (Chuck)" | url=http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=bios_lambert.xml | accessdate= September 21 | accessyear= 2007 ]

The Agricultural Marketing Service administers programs that attempt to facilitate the fair marketing of U.S. agricultural products. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service attempts to safeguard America's resources from exotic invasive pests and diseases and monitor and manage agricultural pests and diseases existing in the United States. It also resolves and manages trade issues related to animal or plant health, and ensures the humane care and treatment of animals. The Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration attempts to facilitate the marketing of livestock, poultry, meat, cereals, oilseeds, and related agricultural products, and promote fair and competitive trading practices. [cite web | title="MRP Agencies" | url=http://www.usda.gov/mrp/ | accessdate= September 21 | accessyear= 2007 ]

The incumbent Under Secretary is Bruce I. Knight, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on August 6, 2006. [cite web | title="Knight, Bruce I." | url=http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?contentidonly=true&contentid=bios_knight.xml | accessdate= September 21 | accessyear= 2007 ] Former Under Secretaries include Bill Hawks, who served from April 2001 [cite web | title="President Bush Announces Eleven People to Serve in His Administration" | url=http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2001/04/20010403-2.html | accessdate= September 21 | accessyear= 2007 ] until June 2005, [cite news|title=Agriculture Under Secretary Bill Hawks has resigned from USDA, effective when a replacement is named|date=June 20, 2005|publisher="Food and Drink Weekly"|url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EUY/is_22_11/ai_n14714019] Islam "Isa" A. Siddiqui, whose recess appointment was announced by President Bill Clinton on December 29, 2000, [cite web | title="President Clinton Names Isi A. Siddiqui As Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs at the United States Department of Agriculture" | url=http://clinton4.nara.gov/library/hot_releases/December_29_2000_12.html | accessdate= September 21 | accessyear= 2007 ] and Michael V. Dunn, who served from November 1998 until April 2000. [cite web | title="FCA News Release 00-08" | url=http://www.fca.gov/newsr.nsf/20ab441dff5d45b185256859004e2005/ede0db2be97d08df852568b9007f0832?OpenDocument | accessdate= September 21 | accessyear= 2007 ]

The position was created by the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 1999, which was signed on October 21, 1998 by President Clinton. Prior to this act, there had been an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, which was abolished. The Under Secretary is appointed by the President with the confirmation of the Senate. [cite web | title="Search Results - THOMAS (Library of Congress)" | url=http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/cpquery/?&dbname=cp105&sid=cp1056gwOQ&refer=&r_n=hr825.105&item=&sel=TOC_137440& | accessdate= September 21 | accessyear= 2007 ]

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