releases: https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390116
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://herrerabeutler.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=390116 | Jaime Herrera Beutler, other Members of Congress Press USDA to Ensure Wheat Exports Can Continue | 2014-08-01 | 2014 | 2014-08 | Republican | House | WA | Jaime Herrera Beutler | H001056 | herrerabeutler.house.gov | legacy | Jaime Herrera Beutler and several other Northwest and Midwest Members of Congress yesterday urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to resolve the stoppage in grain inspections at the Port of Vancouver. share: f t Jaime Herrera Beutler and several other Northwest and Midwest Members of Congress yesterday urged U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack to resolve the stoppage in grain inspections at the Port of Vancouver. The letter was also signed by Representatives Doc Hastings (R-WA), Dave Reichert (R-WA), Greg Walden (R-OR), Mike Simpson (R-ID), Steve Daines (R-MT), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Jackie Walorski (R-IN), and Raúl Labrador (R-ID). The text of their letter is below, and the original July 31 letter can be found by clicking here. Dear Secretary Vilsack: We write to express our concern with the continued stoppages to official grain inspections at the Port of Vancouver in Washington State. As you are aware, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) delegated certain critical responsibilities of the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) to the Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA). However, in recent weeks, it has come to our attention that WSDA has been either unable or unwilling to perform its official grain inspection duties on a consistent or reliable basis. This is unacceptable. Wheat growers play a significant role throughout the Midwestern and Northwestern United States. In the latter region, approximately 80 percent of wheat is exported abroad, with a significant portion going to Asia via export facilities in the Pacific Northwest. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan pay a premium for wheat exports through the Northwest because they know that not only is it a high-quality wheat, but through the years, the region has provided timely and reliable delivery. Our trading partners, as well as farmers, grain handlers and exporters from the Northwest and Midwest, depend upon accurate, timely, and cost-effective delivery of mandated official grain inspection and weighing services administered by FGIS and its designated and delegated agencies. As such, it is imperative that we continue to assure all of our trading partners that the Port of Vancouver will continue to export a reliable supply of high-quality wheat, especially with wheat harvest already underway. Understanding the gravity of this situation, we urge FGIS to immediately take action to meet its statutory obligation to inspect wheat exports. It is incumbent on USDA and FGIS to ensure the inspections are completed and to prevent similar disruptions in the future. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |