MEMBER ALERT:
In the earlier hours of Thursday morning, the Senate passed the $2 trillion COVID-19 relief package on a 96-0 vote. Four Senators refrained from voting ‘out of an abundance of caution’ so as not to endanger the health of their colleagues.
The House will consider the bill on Friday, with Speaker Nancy Pelosi calling for a “voice vote” to allow lawmakers to avoid unnecessary travel to the Capitol. However, this procedure allows any one lawmaker to object, which would force the chamber back into session and delay the final passage of the bill.
The bill features a $9.5 billion set aside for livestock and dairy producers, specialty crop growers, and “local food systems”. USCA will continue its work with lawmakers and agency officials to ensure that this funding is properly issued to cattle producers, and NOT to the “Big Four”.
We also remain in communication with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Justice, Commodity Futures Trading Commission, and the CME Group in regards to anti-competitive buying practices and other market manipulations tactics.
USCA will continue to keep our members up to date on this bill, and all news related to COVID-19 and how it is affecting their operations.