Rebuilding the American cattle herd and lowering beef prices at the grocery store should go hand in hand.
The problem: After seven straight years of declining cattle numbers, America’s herd is near historic lows, tightening beef supplies and contributing to higher prices at the grocery store. In response, the administration announced an expansion of foreign beef imports to provide some short-term relief.
But importing more beef doesn’t rebuild the American herd. At a time when Iowa cattlemen are deciding whether to hold back heifers to breed or send them to market, we should be focused on giving producers the stability they need to invest and grow.
What I’m doing: I just introduced the bipartisan BEEF Act to reverse the recent expansion of foreign beef imports, put producers at the table on a long-term plan to grow domestic supply, and bring down grocery costs for Iowa families.
Our bill would:
🥩 Grow the American beef supply by bringing producers together with USDA leadership to build a long-term strategy for expanding domestic production
🚜 Back Iowa’s cattlemen by expanding processing capacity, improving competition in livestock markets, and cutting federal red tape
🇺🇸 Put producers ahead of foreign imports by reversing the recent expansion and giving Congress a say in future decisions about imported beef
Why it matters: Rebuilding our cattle herd takes years, not months. The decisions producers make today will determine how much American beef is available tomorrow. More imports may provide temporary relief, but a stronger domestic supply is the long-term solution for both cattlemen and families at the grocery store.
Bottom Line: More American beef is the long-term answer to lower prices. I’ll keep working across the aisle to give Iowa’s cattlemen the certainty they need to invest, rebuild, and grow.