Washington Lawmakers react to imported beef announcement

Washington, D.C. – Today Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE) released the following statement calling on the Trump administration to advance policies which support American beef producers and consumers.
"The hardworking families who raise cattle in Nebraska and all across our great country deserve policy which fights as hard as they do to put food on the table. The commonsense initiatives announced by USDA help provide current and future generations with the certainty they need to provide American families with affordable, nutritious protein. Certainly, these policies are welcome. However, our agriculture industry has been hit by historic setbacks in recent years, and policy and statements which unduly influence and undermine the domestic cattle market threaten our domestic food security and are not helpful.
"I am particularly concerned about the announcement regarding Argentine beef, as it appears to contradict President Trump’s efforts to fight tooth and nail to ensure American producers and workers receive fair treatment and prices for their products all around the world."
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) released the following statement urging the Trump administration to prioritize market-based solutions supporting Nebraska beef instead of importing more foreign beef:
“This administration’s efforts to encourage Americans to consume more beef and expand grazing on federal lands are welcome. This helps Nebraska. We should be working on market-based solutions. Moving to import more Argentine beef at this time will set farmers and ranchers back. I urge the administration to reconsider its plans.”