U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids acted as host to U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt in Kansas’ 3rd District to highlight lowering costs for processing, packaging and consumer purchasing of locally sourced meats.
Rep. Davids serves on the U.S. House Agriculture Committee which oversees USDA and its Meat and Poultry Supply Chain initiative.
“I was proud to bring Under Secretary Moffitt to the Kansas 3rd to hear ideas and concerns from our agriculture community who are feeling the recent inflationary pressures first-hand,” Rep. Davids said. “Lowering costs, including the prices of meat and poultry, continues to be a main priority of mine, and I’ll keep working to make sure solutions are not only felt immediately, but last long-term. I want to thank the Under Secretary for visiting and look forward to working with her again soon as part of the House Ag Committee.”
“Thank you, Representative Davids, for the opportunity to join you in Kansas’ Third District,” USDA Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs Jenny Lester Moffitt said. “It was wonderful to meet with area stakeholders not only to share information on how USDA is investing in meat and poultry processing capacity, but also to hear feedback on how we can continue to focus our efforts and provide the support and technical assistance needed to address barriers and continue strengthening our food system.”
Rep. Davids and Moffitt toured National Beef’s processing plant in Kansas City, Kansas, and acted as host for a roundtable discussion with agricultural leaders, farmers and producers on strengthening supply chains and expanding meat and poultry processing capacity. Rep. Davids then took Under Secretary Moffitt to lunch at Q39 in Overland Park where they discussed how recent supply chain delays have affected the cost of meat, both for businesses and consumers.
“I appreciate Representative Davids bringing USDA Under Secretary Moffitt to Kansas so we can share some insight about the dynamic agricultural and food sectors of the state’s economy, with a focus on the challenges of the food supply chain and how our specialty crop growers can help feed local residents’ high quality, fresh foods,” Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Mike Beam said.
“Farm Bureau appreciates Undersecretary Moffitt visiting Kansas to better understand the negative consequences of government intervention in cattle marketing,” Kansas Farm Bureau President Rich Felts said. “We look forward to working with Representative Davids and her position on the House Agriculture Committee to continue to address supply chain disruptions, inflationary activity, and burdensome regulations that hinder the economic vitality of farms and ranches across the state of Kansas.”
Along with Rep. Davids and Moffitt, roundtable participants included:
• Mike Beam, Kansas Secretary of Agriculture
• Rich Felts, Kansas Farm Bureau
• Casey Gallimore, National American Meat Institute
• Jeremy Gosch, president and chief operating officer, Hy-Vee
• Georgia Van Gundy, executive vice president, chief administrative officer, chief customer officer, Hy-Vee
• Brad Hamilton, Seaboard Foods LLC
• Jackie Killenstein, Dairy Farmers of America
• Nick Levendofsky, Kansas Farmers Union
• Taylor Nikkel, Kansas Livestock Association
• Jara Settles, Livestock Marketing Association
• Donn Teske, Kansas Farmers Union
• Aaron Wiese, vice chairman, president Hy-Vee Supply Chain and Subsidiaries
Rep. Davids, who recently served as a key negotiator on the major economic package aimed at strengthening supply chains and reducing inflation, has repeatedly urged the President and Congressional leadership to move forward on long-term energy and inflation solutions.
This week, she voted to pass The CHIPS and Science Act, a bipartisan investment in semiconductor ships that will create 100,000 jobs nationwide and improve America’s competitiveness against countries like China. Last month, Davids also voted to pass two bipartisan bills aimed at lowering the cost of groceries, fuel and shipping.
- Story from Rep. Davids’ office