Greg Murphy Voted Against The Lower Food And Fuel Costs Act, Which Would Make Fertilizer More Affordable And Boost Meatpacking Competition

2022: Murphy Voted Against The Lower Food And Fuel Costs Act To Make Fertilizer More Affordable And Boost Meatpacking Competition. In June 2022, Murphy voted against: “Passage of the bill, as amended, that would provide $700 million in supplemental fiscal 2023 appropriations and authorize or require various Agriculture Department activities to reduce food production costs; support biofuel infrastructure upgrades to reduce fuel costs; expand livestock and poultry processing capacities; and address supply chain resilience in the food and agriculture sectors. Within supplemental appropriations, it would provide $500 million for additional payments to producers under the Environmental Quality Incentives Program to implement crop nutrient management practices or precision agriculture practices, which use new technologies to increase crop yields or decrease needed inputs such as land, fertilizer and herbicides. It would also modify existing USDA conservation programs to provide additional support, including loans and loan guarantees, for farmers and ranchers to adopt precision agriculture practices and acquire related technology. Within supplemental appropriations, it would provide $200 million for grants to transportation fueling and distribution facilities, fuel terminal operations and heating oil distribution facilities to install or upgrade fuel infrastructure to ensure the environmentally safe availability of fuel containing ethanol blends at levels greater than 10 percent or biodiesel blends at levels greater than five percent, or to build and retrofit existing systems to blend biodiesel and carry ethanol and biodiesel. It would also authorize the EPA to extend a waiver to allow the sale of gasoline blended with more than 10 percent ethanol. The bill would also authorize $120 million annually through fiscal 2025 for USDA loans, loan guarantees and grants for public and private entities to expand and diversify livestock or poultry processing capabilities and promote local and interstate sales by meeting relevant regulatory standards. It would establish a USDA special investigator’s office to investigate and prosecute violations of competition and trade practices by packers and live poultry dealers and consult with the Homeland Security Department on security issues in the food and agriculture sector. To address supply chain issues, it would authorize $100 million for grants, loans and other assistance to address fertilizer shortages, including by reducing dependence on foreign sources and supporting efficient and sustainable fertilizer use; direct the USDA to establish at least six Supply Chain Regional Resource Centers to provide grants and assistance to small- and medium-sized agricultural producers and businesses to address supply chain challenges; and require the USDA to establish a temporary food system supply chain resilience and crisis response task force.” The bill passed by a vote of 221-204. [H.R. 7606, Vote #277, 6/16/22; CQ, 6/16/22]

The Lower Food And Fuel Costs Act Created A Task Force To Prevent Bottlenecks In Agriculture And Food Supply Chains And Lower Food Costs. “In action June 16, the U.S. House of Representatives passed by a vote of 221-204 H.R. 7606, the Lower Food and Fuel Costs Act, which lead Democrat authors say will help address supply chain risks, lower the cost of food and gas prices, strengthen the food supply chain and ensure robust competition in the meat and poultry sector. […] The package also includes the Strengthening the Agriculture and Food Supply Chain Act which would create a task force dedicated to shoring up the agriculture and food supply chains in order to prevent bottlenecks and lower food costs.” [Farm Progress, 6/16/22]