Senate confirms Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary

Between the lines: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) voted against Vilsack's confirmation, becoming the first member of the Senate Democratic caucus to vote against a Biden nominee.

What to expect: During his confirmation hearing, Vilsack emphasized the need for the USDA and agriculture sector to help lead the way in mitigating the effects of climate change.

• "USDA will lead the federal government in building and maintaining new markets in America that diversify rural economies; ... investing in renewable energy; creating a thriving biobased manufacturing sector ... and delivering science-based solutions to help mitigate and reduce climate change," he said during his prepared remarks.

Go deeper: What Vilsack as Biden's agriculture secretary means for energy and climate