Senate Hearing on Reauthorizing the U.S. Grain Standards Act
January 1, 2020
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The Frame
The U.S. Grain Standards Act is set to expire on September 30, 2020, and congressional action is required to maintain the federal grain inspection and weighing system that facilitates the movement of grain and oilseeds to market.
Potentially affected actors named in the source documents. Mention is not a position.
Grain Farmers
Farmers rely on the federal grain inspection system to ensure the predictability and flow of their products to domestic and export markets.
Grain Inspection Agencies
These agencies operate under the standards and regulations set by the U.S. Grain Standards Act.
Export Markets
International buyers rely on the official U.S. grain standards to verify the quality and characteristics of imported grain.
Last recorded activity January 1, 2020.
Next step not available in the current record.
Summary
Key Facts
- The U.S. Grain Standards Act is scheduled to expire on September 30, 2020.
- The Act authorizes the U.S. Department of Agriculture to set marketing standards, grain classes, and numerical grades for grains and oilseeds.
- The system is intended to ensure the reliability and quality of U.S. grain exports.
- The Act was significantly reformed in the 1970s following investigations into inspection irregularities.
- The Act was modified in 2015 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to maintain export inspections during disruptions and provide daily updates to Congress.
- The hearing took place on July 31, 2019, in the Russell Senate Office Building.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the U.S. Grain Standards Act?
What happens if the Act is not reauthorized?
Why It Matters
The U.S. Grain Standards Act is set to expire on September 30, 2020, and congressional action is required to maintain the federal grain inspection and weighing system that facilitates the movement of grain and oilseeds to market.
News Coverage
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Discoveries
Patterns POLISCOPE noticed across the record. These are observations to investigate, not conclusions.
Historical Reform Trigger
The current grain inspection standards are heavily influenced by 1970s-era grand jury investigations into inspection fraud, which led to major structural reforms.
Connected Entities
Sources
www.govinfo.gov
Analysis Score
0–100- Significance65How much this matters to a regular citizen
- Controversy10Intensity of disagreement among stakeholders
- Entertainment5Compellingness for a non-policy-wonk reader
- Buzz15Current news / social attention level
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