Cramer: House Unanimously Passes H.R. 2088, The United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015

Press Release

Congressman Kevin Cramer announced the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed H.R. 2088, the United States Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act of 2015. H.R. 2088 reauthorizes provisions of the United States Grain Standards Act until September 30, 2020, and amends the act to provide a safeguard mechanism for grain inspection services in the event of an interruption of official inspection services.

"Access to export facilities and prompt grain inspections by the USDA are vital to North Dakota farmers. As they work harder to grow the food to feed a hungry world, farmers should not worry their crops will rot and go to waste in US ports because of labor strikes and delayed grain inspections," said Cramer.

Congressman Cramer contacted U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack in November 2013 in response to inconsistent grain inspections caused by labor strikes in the Pacific Northwest. Congressman Cramer urged the Federal Grain Inspection Service to prepare an executable plan for implementation in the event future disruptions occur, ensuring grain inspections at all Pacific Northwest export facilities are performed without interruption.

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