Gipsa Proposed Rule

Floor Speech

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Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, today the United States Department of Agriculture published its long-awaited proposed rule to fix the Packers and Stockyards Act to address institutional bias against small livestock and poultry farmers.

For decades I have fought alongside our livestock and poultry farmers to ensure their hard work is respected and standards exacted by their processing firms were fair and honest. Unfortunately, small producers have been taken advantage of, retaliated against, marginalized legally in favor of larger meatpackers, swine contractors, and poultry companies, and forced to swallow opaque contracts just to pay their bills.

The proposed rule falls short to address their very serious grievances. Once again, this administration is happy setting minimal, powder-puff requirements that sidestep hardworking families in favor of mega-business integrators.

Let us continue to work hard to improve the proposed rule to ensure that those who feed America get a fair shake and are treated right by all of America.

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