Georgia Leadership Sends Letter to Secretary Vilsack Regarding Relief for Cotton Merchandisers

Yesterday, Representative David Scott (D-GA), Chairman of the House Committee on Agriculture, Representative Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, and Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA), the sole cotton state Democrat on the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry wrote a letter to Secretary Vilsack asking him to use a portion of the discretionary funding given to the USDA through previous COVID-19 relief packages to assist cotton merchandisers. This coalition of key leaders referenced the additional assumed risks and costs created from COVID-19 related diminished demand and supply chain disruptions, recognizing the “important roles of merchandisers in providing liquidity and risk management to producers.” The ACSA staff is very grateful for the support displayed by these Congressional leaders.

Letter Here

More Advocacy Issues

ACSA Update: The Week Ahead

December 9^th, 2024

Please use the link below for a glance at the upcoming events for the week of December 9. Document here.

Joint Coalition Letter to ILA & USMX

December 6^th, 2024

The American Cotton Shippers Association, along with over 260 local, state, and federal trade associations, signed onto a letter urging the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) to resume contract negotiations. Letter here.

Port Strike Updates

December 3^rd, 2024

The International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) reached a tentative agreement to extend the Master Contract until January 15, 2025. While there are no formal negotiations set, the parties have been informally discussing technology and automation issues. ILA Executive Vice President Dennis Daggett posted an update on the ILA’s Facebook […]

CBP Update Isotopic Testing Guidance

November 13^th, 2024

Last week, the Customs Border Protection (CBP) released updated guidance on isotopic testing, as the agency seeks to find more efficient mechanisms for determining the origin of cotton within U.S. textile imports. The document states “… CBP is enhancing its isotopic testing capabilities at three of its laboratories. As a result of these efforts, CBP […]

Briefing on Hurricane Helene

October 29^th, 2024

On October 28, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) held a briefing on the coordinated inter-agency response to the agricultural impact of Hurricane Helene. See below for takeaways, discussion points, and other details. More here.

Joint Coalition Letter to President Biden

October 2^nd, 2024

Today, a letter was sent to President Biden, signed by the American Cotton Shippers Association and more than 270 other local, state, and federal trade associations. The letter urged President Biden and his administration to use all of its authorities to end the port strike, get the ports open, and get the parties back to […]