Loeffler: Supporting American Agriculture is a National Priority
Introduces Legislation to Prioritize American Crops and Products, Level Playing Field for Farmers and Ranchers
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, introduced two bills today as part of the “Grown in the USA” pillar of her USA Restoring & Igniting the Strength of our Economy (USA RISE) Plan.
The American Agriculture First Act will require the Federal Government to prioritize the purchase of American-grown agriculture commodities from American-owned farms during a national emergency or in response to unfair trade policy from foreign governments. The bill text can be found here.
The Enforcing Accountability and Transparency in International Trade Act will require the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to create a strategy to ensure that developed economies, such as China, cannot benefit from special and deferential treatment, including more flexibility in implementing tariff reductions, increased access to foreign markets and measures that protect the country’s trade interests, in current or future WTO agreements. The bill text can be found here.
“American farmers face countless hurdles, including unfair trade practices, low commodity prices and changing regulations. These challenges have only been intensified during the coronavirus pandemic,” Loeffler said. “Supporting the American agriculture industry should be a national priority. The two bills I have introduced today will require the federal government to prioritize products grown and made in the United States and ensure China is not bending international trade rules at the expense of American farmers and ranchers. I grew up as the fourth generation on my family’s farm, and I am committed to doing all I can to help our hardworking farmers.”
Background:
On June 16, Loeffler introduced the American Farms, Food Banks and Families Act, as part of the “Grown in the USA” pillar, to create a supply chain administrator to serve as a liaison between food banks, grocers and nonprofit food distributors in order to expand domestic market access for American farmers and prevent food scarcity.
Loeffler introduced five bills as part of the “Hiring in the USA” pillar to improve the Paycheck Protection Program, expand training for workers, cap unemployment benefits, reduce regulations and protect small businesses and health care providers from civil suits: The Paycheck Protection Program Timeframe, Modification, and Extension (PPP TIME) Act, the American Workforce Development Act, the Helping Americans Return to Work Act, the Lessening Regulatory Costs and Establishing a Federal Regulatory Budget Act and the Protecting Reopening Businesses Recovering from COVID-19 Act.
As part of the “Made in the USA” pillar, Loeffler also recently introduced the Bring Entrepreneurial Advancements to Consumers Here In North America (BEAT CHINA) Act to incentivize pharmaceutical and medical device and supply manufacturers to relocate to the United States.
Last month, she introduced four pieces of legislation as part of the “Families in the USA” pillar: the Working Families Childcare Access (WFCA) Act, the Limiting Infant Fatality and Empowering Nonprofit Organization Workforces (LIFE NOW) Act, the Affordable Health Care Options Act and a resolution on child care.
Loeffler, who was named to the President’s Opening Up America Again Congressional Group, spent nearly three decades in the private sector helping build small and large businesses and create thousands of jobs. She most recently was the CEO of a financial technology firm.