[Congressional Record Volume 163, Number 86 (Thursday, May 18, 2017)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E662-E663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE SOUTH CAROLINA PEANUT PARITY ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. JOE WILSON

                           of south carolina

                    in the house of representatives

                         Thursday, May 18, 2017

  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, in the 2002 Farm Bill, the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture established the Peanut Standards Board, 
a board that advises the Secretary of Agriculture and Department on 
peanut quality and handling standards. By law, members of the Peanut 
Standards Board must be from a state in one of the three designated 
regions. South Carolina was not represented, leaving the state's peanut 
farmers without a voice, despite being the nation's fourth largest 
peanut-producing state and producing over eight percent of the nation's 
peanuts.
  Peanuts are appreciated in South Carolina where every August the 
Pelion Peanut Party at Pelion in Lexington County is a highlight of the 
summer. Additionally, the General Assembly has legislated the beloved 
boiled peanut as the official State snack.
  Today, I am grateful to introduce the South Carolina Peanut Parity 
Act, legislation that will grant peanut producers the opportunity to 
represent South Carolina's agricultural community on the Peanut 
Standards Board.
  I appreciate the support of the South Carolina Farm Bureau, led by 
President Harry Ott, for this legislation, and am grateful that the 
entire South Carolina delegation joins me in introducing the South 
Carolina Peanut Parity Act.
  In conclusion, God Bless Our Troops and we will never forget 
September 11th in the Global War on Terrorism.

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