National Pork Producers Council

NPPC on Wednesday sent a letter to congressional leadership urging them to include the RELIEF for Producers Act of 2020 in the next COVID economic recovery package. The bill, introduced by Sens. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), includes: 1) compensation for euthanized and donated hogs; 2) additional funding for animal health surveillance and laboratories, which have appropriately assisted and shared resources with their public health partners; and 3) modification of the Commodity Credit Corporation charter so a pandemic-driven national emergency qualifies for funding. NPPC also continues to push for expanded direct payments for pork producers and enhancements to the Paycheck Protection Program. The likelihood of a deal coming together on the COVID relief package remains unclear with sides far apart.