11.17.20

Hoeven: Senate Passes Legislation to Reauthorize U.S. Grains Standards Act

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven, chairman of the Senate Agriculture Appropriations Committee and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, today issued the following statement after the Senate approved legislation to reauthorize the U.S. Grain Standards Act (USGSA) through 2025. The USGSA authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) to establish official marketing standards for certain grains and oilseeds, which facilitates the marketing of U.S. grain and related products by defining quality standards and preventing deceptive practices within the inspection system. The agency also manages a network of federal, state and private laboratories to provide official inspection and weighing services. The legislation now will go to the House, which must reauthorize the USGSA, or it will expire after December 11, 2020. 

“The grain inspection system provides a vital service to our producers,” said Hoeven. “This legislation will help ensure certainty for our grain growers, which is especially important as our farmers work to overcome the wide range of challenges they currently face. Through this and other efforts, we are working to ensure our farmers can continue to provide the highest quality, lowest cost food supply in the world.” 

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