Since being tabbed for secretary of agriculture by President-elect Trump, Brooke Rollins has maintained a low public profile. She’s declined interview requests and released only a few public statements.
It’s a different story on Capitol Hill, where Rollins is making the rounds to win over Congress. According to a Trump transition team official, she has been in touch with no fewer than 20 congressional lawmakers as of Dec. 17.
In January, the new Republican-majority Senate will begin holding confirmation hearings on Trump’s cabinet nominees. Thus far, there has been little public opposition to the Rollins nomination. Still, she is leaving nothing to chance. As of Tuesday, Rollins had met with at least 12 senators, including incoming Ag Committee Chair John Boozman, R - Ark., and presumed incoming Ranking Member Amy Klobuchar, D - Minn.
On Wednesday, she’s planning to meet with incoming Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R- S.D. She also has appointments with Sens. Raphael Warnock, D - Ga., Chuck Grassley, R - Iowa, John Fetterman, D- Pa., Michael Bennet, D - Colo., and Ted Cruz, R - Texas.
According to Trump-Vance transition spokesperson Anna Kelly, Rollins has been “fully immersed in and energized by” the nomination process. Kelly estimates Rollins has already connected with several dozen lawmakers through face-to-face meetings, phone conversations and message exchanges.
“As she gears up for meetings this week with nearly a dozen more Republican and Democrat senators, she remains committed to advancing the president's American First agenda by supporting and defending farmers and ranchers across the country,” Kelly says. “Rollins is encouraged by the strong support and productive conversations she has had with members and looks forward to meeting with any and all who are interested in engaging.”
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