WASHINGTON (December 2, 2020) – House Agriculture Committee Chairman Collin Peterson of Minnesota welcomed passage Wednesday of S.4054, the Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 in a statement on the House floor:

“The inspections provided by the Federal Grain Inspection Service define and classify grains as well as assign grades to specify weight and quality requirements, and these inspections provide a gold standard assurance backed by the Federal Government to both grain buyers and sellers,” Peterson said. “American grain farmers participate in a very competitive world, and foreign grain buyers should be confident in the process that we have in place to ensure our exports are adequately inspected.”

In his comments, Peterson emphasized the importance of the men and women that staff the ports around the country through which U.S. exports travel.

“I would also like to note the need for a dedicated and strong workforce at our ports to ensure that American grain can be expertly and efficiently loaded onto ships for export.  I would encourage those companies that have not already reached an agreement with their workforce to continue to seek an agreement,” he said. “I applaud the American owned companies that have already committed to their workers.”