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.