The National Association of Wheat Growers (NAWG) is pleased by the Senate Agriculture Committee action this morning on the Grain Standards Act that sets the framework for the functioning of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Federal Grain Inspection Service.

Following is a statement from NAWG President, Brett Blankenship, wheat grower from Washtucna, Wash.:

“NAWG is very supportive of this bipartisan bill. We need to prevent port disruptions like that which we saw at the Port of Vancouver last year. It is vital that we remain the world’s reliable supplier of wheat. This bill will establish more transparency and will help ensure there is no disruption in inspection services should a delegated state agency discontinue providing services. NAWG urges Congress to act on the bill to prevent a lapse in authorization.”

NAWG also sent a letter of support to the Senate Agriculture Committee. “With the impending expiration of the USGSA at the end of September, it is critically important that Congress conclude the reauthorization process. We believe the bill you are considering includes several important provisions that will enable uninterrupted trade in agricultural products and maintain trust in our inspection system.”

NAWG supports legislation requiring FGIS to take whatever actions are necessary to immediately restore official grain inspection and weighing service wherever and whenever it is disrupted.