Representative Angie Craig Delivers Remarks at Agriculture Committee Markup of COVID Relief Package

WASHINGTON, DC — This week, at a House Agriculture Committee Markup, U.S. Representative Angie Craig spoke in favor of a budget reconciliation proposal that will be included in the upcoming COVID relief package. In her remarks, Craig urged her colleagues to support the measure, emphasizing the positive impact for rural communities across the country – including financial support for family farmers and small meat processing facilities, resources to secure the national food supply chain and additional funds to stand up COVID-19 vaccination sites in underserved communities.

"Many throughout this country have risen to the challenges our food system has faced over the last few months," said Representative Craig. "Farmers, producers, farmworkers, processors and families alike have made endless sacrifices to ensure that our food supply remains safe and available to all. It is my honor to support this legislation."

Among other provisions, the package advanced by the House Agriculture Committee includes:

• $3.6 billion to the Department of Agriculture to purchase and distribute food and agricultural commodities, provide relief to small and midsized farms and to maintain and improve food and agricultural supply chain resilience.
• $500 million in emergency rural health care grants for health and nutritional-related infrastructure and distribution critical to addressing the COVID-19 pandemic.
• $1 billion of assistance and support for socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers
• A 15% increase in Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) through September 30, 2021.
• $25 million to promote technological improvements for SNAP online purchasing, modernize the electronic benefit transfer system, and support SNAP mobile payment technologies.
• $37 million for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program to ensure low-income seniors can continue to access nutritious foods.

Full text of Craig's remarks is copied below.

Mr. Chairman, I am proud to support the agriculture and nutrition provisions we are here to discuss [this legislation]...

Specifically, I am proud to see my bill with Rep. Dusty Johnson, the Small Time Packer Overtime and Holiday Fee Relief Act included in these provisions. This package sets aside $100 million to ensure that small meat processing plants can continue to operate at maximum capacity during the pandemic without incurring additional FSIS fees. Small plants have been a saving grace to many livestock producers in Minnesota. Making investments in small processing will allow us to increase competition in the livestock processing industry and ultimately deliver the best price for our farmers and the best quality products for consumers.

Additionally, last year I led a bipartisan group of my colleagues in asking House Leadership to include funding for animal health through a one-health framework. I am pleased to see $300 million set aside for COVID surveillance in animals. As we know, zoonotic and reverse zoonotic diseases, such as COVID-19 require a comprehensive approach across animal, human, and environmental health. Emerging cases of COVID-19 in animals underscores the importance of understanding animal health's role in our national response.

With the nearly $4 billion in this legislation that provides to address the growing vulnerabilities in our food supply chain, I am hopeful that we will finally deliver relief for America's farmers. By delivering food to needy families through restaurants and other entities, we are providing much needed relief through organizations and businesses who are ready to answer the call to serve. I am hopeful that these funds will also be used to improve the safety of workers in our nation's meat packing facilities so that the plants can remain operational – getting food from the farm to the dinner table.

Finally, this bill finally gives rural communities the funds they need to tackle this virus head on through emergency grants for rural healthcare. With these funds, our rural communities will be able to stand up vaccination sites to ensure those in Greater Minnesota have access to the vaccine.

Many throughout this country have risen to the challenges our food system has faced over the last few months. Farmers, producers, farmworkers, processors and families alike have made endless sacrifices to ensure that our food supply remains safe and available to all. It is my honor to support this legislation.