Political Quotes

“Mr. President, farming and ranching are the lifeblood of my home State and a way of life for many South Dakotans, and advocating for farmers and ranchers is one of my top priorities here in Congress. As a longtime member of the Senate's Agriculture Committee, I have been able to help shape multiple farm bills and make sure that South Dakota's agriculture producers' voices are heard here in Washington. Lately, I have been hearing a lot of reports from South Dakota's producers and ag exporters about ocean carriers refusing to transport American agricultural products. This is, obviously, a major concern for farmers and ranchers, who are already struggling with the burden of inflation and high input costs and who rely on exports for part of their livelihoods, which is why I recently introduced bipartisan legislation to address violations of free and fair competition in shipping and to create a more level playing field for American producers. Our bill gives the Federal Maritime Commission greater authority to respond to discriminatory ocean carrier practices, and it provides the FMC with the tools to more quickly resolve detention and demurrage disputes. This legislation will bring greater efficiency and transparency to a process that leaves many shippers frustrated and will bring long-term positive changes to the maritime supply chain, which, I hope, will benefit ag exporters, importers, and consumers alike.…”