[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 7 (Monday, January 13, 2020)]
[House]
[Page H204]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          GIPSA PROPOSED RULE

  (Ms. KAPTUR asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. KAPTUR. Madam Speaker, today the United States Department of 
Agriculture published its long-awaited proposed rule to fix the Packers 
and Stockyards Act to address institutional bias against small 
livestock and poultry farmers.
  For decades I have fought alongside our livestock and poultry farmers 
to ensure their hard work is respected and standards exacted by their 
processing firms were fair and honest. Unfortunately, small producers 
have been taken advantage of, retaliated against, marginalized legally 
in favor of larger meatpackers, swine contractors, and poultry 
companies, and forced to swallow opaque contracts just to pay their 
bills.
  The proposed rule falls short to address their very serious 
grievances. Once again, this administration is happy setting minimal, 
powder-puff requirements that sidestep hardworking families in favor of 
mega-business integrators.
  Let us continue to work hard to improve the proposed rule to ensure 
that those who feed America get a fair shake and are treated right by 
all of America.

                          ____________________