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Lawmakers urge USDA to buy pork, give financial aid

A group of U.S. Senators and Representatives is urging Ag Secretary Perdue to have USDA make pork purchases and give financial aid to the pork industry as COVID-19 cases escalate and more meat processing plants close or shut down. They’re also asking NRCS to provide financial and technical assistance to pork producers through the EQIP program, if needed.

They say it’s critically important to maintain the pork supply chain.

Perdue reportedly is working on a plan to address food supply chain disruptions. The North American Meat Institute (NAMI) says plants are taking measures to reduce the spread of COVID-19 including temperature checks of workers, personal protective equipment and social distancing while maintaining strict sanitation measures. NAMI President Julie Anna Potts was not aware of the extent of testing being done for workers.

Senators who signed letter: Hawley, Blunt, Ernst, Fischer,Grassley, Thune, Klobuchar, Rounds, Sasse, Johnson, Axne.

U.S. Reps:  Dusty Johnson, Cindy Axne, Don Bacon, Emanuel Cleaver, Angie Craig, Tom Emmer, Abby Finkenauer, Jeff Fortenberry, Sam Graves, Jim Hagedorn, Vicky Hartzler, Dave Loebsack, Billy Long, Blaine Luetkemeyer, Collin Peterson, Adrian Smith, Jason Smith, Pete Stauber, Ann Wagner.