June 20, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 104 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





 COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 
                                  2020

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. ROGER W. MARSHALL

                               of kansas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 19, 2019

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 3055) making 
     appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, 
     Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending 
     September 30, 2020, and for other purposes:

  Mr. MARSHALL. Madam Chair, I rise today because American farmers, 
grain handlers and exporters, as well as their customers around the 
world, depend on accurate, timely and cost-effective delivery of 
mandated impartial third-party Official inspection and weighing 
services administered by the Federal Grain Inspection Service (FGIS) 
and its designated and delegated agencies. It is essential that the 
U.S. Official grain inspection and weighing system be recognized widely 
around the world for its impartial, consistent, reliable and timely 
measurement and certification of quality attributes and weights. The 
availability of accurate FGIS inspection results is also important to 
enable buyers and sellers to determine grain value and to facilitate 
market price discovery. Further, Official export inspections provide 
transparency and market information to the entire value chain that 
contribute to an efficient marketplace, while supporting food security 
and sustainable supplies.
  I share the concerns of many of my colleagues about language included 
in the committee report by the Majority for H.R. 3055 that puts 
Congress in the middle of an ongoing labor dispute, even going so far 
as to urge that USDA not require its grain inspectors to cross a picket 
line. This language is extremely troubling, and Congress should not be 
including it in any final committee report for the Agriculture 
Appropriations bill. Thankfully, the Minority was able to include its 
concerns about the situation which I would like to include in the 
Record:
  ``In addition to overall funding concerns, Republican Members of the 
Committee were disappointed by several policy provisions. Some of the 
provisions encourage violation of federal law or Congressional intent, 
at a minimum. For example, the Majority included language under the 
heading of the Office of the Secretary relating to Grain Export 
Inspection. The language ``strongly discourages USDA from requiring its 
grain inspectors to cross a picket line''. Such language is 
irresponsible when the Grain Inspections Act clearly obligates 
inspectors to conduct inspections unless the Secretary were to waive 
the requirement for safety reasons. Using USDA inspectors in a labor 
dispute and interfering with the export sales of U.S. product during an 
already turbulent international trade environment is completely 
unnecessary.''
  Our producers, grain handlers, and the agricultural value chain as a 
whole has worked tirelessly to grow market share around the world and 
Congress should refrain from instructing USDA not to perform important 
services that are statutorily obligated under the Grain Standards Act.

                          ____________________