Senator cheers passage of grain bill containing inspection reforms

U.S. Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) issued a celebratory statement this week after the Senate passed the United States Grain Standards Act Reauthoraization Act of 2015, which mandates major reforms to federally mandated grain inspections.

“Today’s passage of the U.S. Grain Standards Act Reauthorization Act is good news for Montana farmers whose livelihoods depend on reliable and on-time grain inspections,” Daines said.

The senator’s efforts on the issue began this spring with a letter to the Agriculture Committee asking for changes to the bill’s language so that farmers could count on timely, efficient grain inspections by the USDA. These changes include requiring the USDA to take immediate actions to relieve any disruptions to inspections, notify Congress within 24 hours of a persistent disruption and issue daily updates throughout the disruption. The committee passed the bill in May with Daines' requested measures attached.

“I’m glad that my reforms to maintain normal shipments and protect Montana farmers from disruptions in the inspections process were included in this bill,” Daines said. “I urge the House to quickly pass this legislation so that it can be signed into law and provide Montana farmers with the certainty they deserve.”