Sen. Cramer Delivers Remarks at Crop Outlook and International Durum Forum

Source: United States Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND)

MINOT – Today, U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, delivered remarks at the U.S. Durum Growers Association Crop Outlook and International Durum Forum highlighting what the federal employee vaccine mandate means for North Dakota producers.

“Our durum growers and other agriculture producers are persevering through federal overreach by Joe Biden. I am thankful for the opportunity to participate in a productive discussion with producers about the impact Joe Biden’s federal worker vaccine mandate would have on USDA offices. As we continue to tackle issues like vaccine mandates, it is good to hear their views on how to assist our workforce and help our producers stay strong in the face of federal overreach,” said Senator Cramer.

He discussed Democrats efforts to expand farm bill conservation programs through the budget reconciliation process, which harms the bipartisan basis of the farm bill. Senator Cramer also discussed the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which was supported by the U.S. Durum Growers Association and passed Congress last week.

“The bipartisan infrastructure legislation will be a boon for North Dakota’s economy and our country. It confronts supply chain and other issues impacting local producers, and provides much needed dollars for our state’s hard infrastructure,” said Senator Cramer.

Last month, 24 North Dakota agriculture industry groups sent a letter to President Joe Biden and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack raising concerns about the vaccine mandate leading to massive elimination of USDA workers in already understaffed areas. Biden’s vaccine mandate is likely to leave many offices, particularly at the county level, and the producers they serve in the lurch.