Rep. Kaptur Marks Historic Progress on USDA Protections for Meat and Poultry Farmers
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Today Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur (D-OH) congratulated the members of the House Appropriations Committee for an historic vote to advance an agriculture funding bill that, if adopted into law, would allow the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement basic protections for America’s meat and poultry farmers.
“For decades, America’s contract poultry farmers have suffered widespread abuse at the hands of the poultry industry,” said Congresswoman Kaptur. “This is a system that buries farmers in debt and then intimidates them with threats and financial punishment if they speak out or resist unfair contract terms. Today, for the first time in many years, there is a light at the end of the tunnel for these long-suffering farmers. Please allow me to thank the leaders and members of the Appropriations Committee for joining us in taking a major step toward real enforceable protections for our meat and poultry growers.”
Congresswoman Chellie Pingree(D-ME), a farmer by trade and leader on this issue, and a member of the House Appropriations Agriculture subcommittee, said: “It’s crazy that we had to fight so long to guarantee poultry farmers their rights to speak freely, but I’m glad they are finally going to get those protections. There are few things more American than farming and free speech, and it’s high time that we made sure these farmers are able to fully enjoy these fundamental rights. Representative Kaptur was tireless in this fight. She and many others have earned this important win for America’s contract farmers."
Today’s vote comes a day after the Washington Post published an opinion co-written by Rep. Kaptur and musician and Farm Aid president Willie Nelson calling for protections for contract poultry growers. Such protections were proposed by the USDA and were originally authorized as part of the 2008 Farm Bill. In 2010 the USDA announced a proposed rule to address abuses and correct certain market imbalances in the U.S. poultry industry, but almost all of the protections were blocked before they could be implemented. This is the first time the House Appropriations committee has approved a funding bill that would allow the USDA protections for contract growers to be implemented.
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For more information about Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur's work as a champion for America's meat and poultry farmers, click here