[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 42 (Wednesday, March 9, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H1380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE NAEVE FAMILY BEEF PROCESSING PLANT
(Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS asked and was given permission to address the
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Madam Speaker, I rise today to share the story of
a family in my district that is working to make sure their friends and
neighbors know where and how their beef is raised.
Last Saturday the Naeve family of Camanche, a sixth-generation
farming family, officially opened the new Naeve Family Beef processing
plant. For generations the Naeve family has raised cattle and grown
crops in eastern Iowa, with three generations currently working the
farm in Camanche.
For years, smaller meat packing operations like the Naeve's have
faced an uphill battle against the bigger meat packers in the industry.
Last year, I introduced the Meat Packing Special Investigators Act to
tackle anticompetitive practices in the meat and poultry industries
that threaten the American food supply and U.S. national security.
Right now, the four big meat packers purchase and process 85 percent
of the total U.S. beef production. My legislation would give the
Department of Agriculture the tools it needs to crack down on bad
actors and push for fair competition within the marketplace.
Overconcentration in the meat packing industry is costing Iowa
farmers money left and right while the average American pays more at
the store.
I will continue to fight for family operations like the Naeves and
wish them the best of luck as they begin this new journey and improvise
to create a better marketplace.
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