Meeting with Congressman Rick Crawford (R-AR), top left
Mar 01, 2021
WASHINGTON, DC – More than 80 USA Rice members from all industry segments participated virtually in the annual USA Rice Government Affairs Conference (GAC) last week to advocate for rice industry priorities.
Members video-conferenced with officials from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and took part in 17 meetings with key Members of Congress and their staffs, including leaders of the House and Senate Agriculture Committees.
“While Tom Vilsack, the new ag secretary, had not yet been confirmed, we were able to meet with Mae Wu, the new USDA Deputy under secretary of marketing and regulatory programs; Arthur Neal, deputy administrator of the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS); and Andrea Simao, Plant Protection and Quarantine (PPQ) director,” said Bobby Hanks, CEO of Supreme Rice Mill and chair of USA Rice. “We also got the chance to talk with Kevin Norton, who was serving as acting deputy under secretary for farm production and conservation at USDA.”
Most meetings focused on coronavirus aid, the farm economy, climate, and trade issues. USA Rice members updated officials and legislators on stagnant rice prices and the importance of farm safety net and emergency assistance programs, such as the Coronavirus Food Assistance Program, as well as emphasized the need for rice to be at the table during discussions of climate policy, and that climate solutions must not be one size fits all. Additional focus surrounded the need for an Iraqi rice tender to be issued under the U.S.-Iraq MOU and duty-free access for rice if and when a trade agreement comes to fruition between the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
“We greatly appreciate the folks at USDA and the Members of Congress and staff taking the time to meet with us to ensure the rice industry’s voice is heard in Washington,” said Hanks. “It was encouraging to see so many of our members taking the time to show industry support and spend time with Congress and the new members of Biden Administration.”