WASHINGTON DC (April 17, 2020) – Senators Charles "Chuck" Grassley (R-IA) and Joni Ernst (R-IA) joined Sen John Thune (R-SD) and 28 members of Congress on a bipartisan, bicameral letter urging US Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Sonny Perdue to take immediate action to assist pork producers and maintain the pork food supply-chain. The letter follows the closure of the Tyson processing facility in Columbus Junction, Iowa. Sen Grassley spoke with President Trump today about meat-processing plant-closures and the associated long-term effects. His tweet can be found here.
“We hope this component of the supply chain is restored quickly. However, in the event that producers are unable to schedule harvest of their hogs, we request that you consider how to use your existing authorities and available funds to compensate producers for losses. Furthermore, we request that Natural Resource Conservation Service consider how to provide financial and technical assistance through the Environmental Quality Incentives Program for affected producers, if needed,” the members of Congress wrote.
Joining Sens Grassley, Ernst, and Thune in sending the letter were Sens Roy Blunt (R-MO), Deb Fischer (R-NE), Josh Hawley (R-MO), John Hoeven (R-ND), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Mike Rounds, (R-SD), Ben Sasse (R-NE), and Tina Smith (D-MN) and Representatives Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Cindy Axne, (D-IA), Don Bacon (R-NE), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Angie Craig (D-MN), Tom Emmer (R-MN), Abby Finkenauer (D-IA), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Sam Graves (R-MO), Jim Hagedorn (R-MN),Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Dave Loebsack (D-IA), Billy Long (R-MO), Blaine Luetkemeyer (R-MO), Collin Peterson (D-MN), Adrian Smith (R-NE), Jason Smith (R-MO), Pete Stauber (R-MN), and Ann Wagner (R-MO).
Full text of the letter below and can be found HERE.
