WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) – a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture – and U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (R-NE-03) – Chair of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade – today led over 50 of their colleagues in urging President Trump to prioritize policies that expand trade market access and provide certainty for American cattle producers. This comes after the President’s recent proclamation to increase the “other countries” quota for lean beef trimmings by 300,000 metric tons for 90 days beginning on September 1, 2026, and indicating that such imports will be sold at 25 percent below market price. U.S. Reps. Tracey Mann (R-KS-01), Derek Schmidt (R-KS-02) and Ron Estes (R-KS-04) also joined the letter.
“American ranchers work diligently to do more with less, weather volatile markets, and provide a safe food supply,” wrote the lawmakers. “Cattle markets are cyclical, and ranchers use the upswings to prepare for the inevitable downturn. Any intervention in the natural system, especially at a time when producers are making marketing decisions, threatens to pick winners and losers and undermine the long-term viability of family-owned cattle operations throughout the supply chain.”
“As you consider policy changes which could impact American livestock producers, we urge you to prioritize proposals which deliver long-term market stability and confidence while consulting closely with impacted stakeholders,” concluded the lawmakers. “We are eager to work together to deliver certainty for American cattle producers while continuing to deliver safe, affordable, and high-quality American beef.”
In addition, the letter was signed by Sens. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.), Jim Justice (R-W.Va.) and Steve Daines (R-Mont.) and Reps. Dusty Johnson (R-SD), Randy Feenstra (R-IA-04), Ann Wagner (R-MO-02), Max Miller (R-OH-07), Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), Greg Steube (R-FL-17), Mike Carey (R-OH-15), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN-07), Blake Moore (R-UT-01), Mike Flood (R-NE-01), Mike Bost (R-IL-12), Jeff Hurd (R-CO-03), Zach Nunn (R-IA-03), Warren Davidson (R-OH-08), Gabe Evans (R-CO-08), Mark Alford (R-MO-04), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA-01), French Hill (R-AR-02), Morgan Griffith (R-VA-09), Brad Finstad (R-MN-01), Greg Murphy (R-NC-03), Frank Lucas (R-OK-03), Andy Barr (R-KY-06), John Rose (R-TN-06), Troy Downing (R-MT-02), Cliff Bentz (R-OR-02), Julie Fedorchak (R-ND), Tim Moore (R-NC-14), Bruce Westerman (R-AR-04), Rob Wittman (R-VA-01), Scott Franklin (R-FL-18), Austin Scott (R-GA-08), Mary Miller (R-IL-15), Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02), August Pfluger (R-TX-11), John McGuire III (R-VA-05), Darin LaHood (R-IL-16), Tom Cole (R-OK-04) and Mark Harris (R-NC-08).
