The House on Wednesday cleared a five-year extension of the law that authorizes inspections of grain and oilseeds, facilitating a major amount of U.S. agriculture exports.
The bill, which now goes to President Donald Trump for his signature, includes some minor changes to the existing law, including requiring state inspection agencies to notify users at least 72 hours in advance of suspending services.
Another provision is intended to ensure user fees paid to USDA’s Federal Grain Inspection Service are used solely for inspection and weighing services.
The bill was approved by the Senate Agriculture Committee in June but didn’t pass the full Senate until November.
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The inspection law “lays the foundation for grain and oilseed marketing benefiting the entire agricultural value chain,” said Rep. Mike Conaway, the ranking Republican on the House Agriculture Committee. “Passage of this legislation delivers regulatory stability and certainty for farmers, handlers, and processors.”
Randy Gordon, president and CEO of the National Grain and Feed Association, said the law "benefits U.S. and global consumers by enhancing the utility and efficiency of the grain marketing system.”
The House passed the bill by voice vote.
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