Sen. Grassley also won Budget committee approval of a resolution he offered last month to make sure the federal government has the necessary resources to enforce the antitrust laws and gives special attention to corporate transactions and anti-competitive practices in agriculture.
At Grassley's request the independent General Accounting Office has been studying how well the Justice Department and the USDA have met their respective obligations to enforce the antitrust laws specific to agriculture. A report from the GAO is expected sometime this summer. Last year, Grassley was the only Republican senator to vote for an amendment offered by Sen. Paul Wellstone to place an 18-month moratorium on ag mergers.
Sen. Grassley issued the following comment regarding the bill introduced today to address concentration in agriculture.
"The introduction of Sen. Daschle's bill along with the legislation I introduced last month demonstrates how seriously Congress takes the issue of ag concentration and anti-competitive practices in the agricultural industry. There is a sincere desire on both sides of the aisle to take meaningful action to address these issues. My proposal gives USDA the ultimate authority to challenge an ag merger in court. I think it's possible to achieve common ground based on the similar themes expressed in my bill and the Daschle bill ? that USDA should at least play a more enhanced role in protecting family farmers and independent producers, and that USDA should be focused on the effect concentration and unfair practices have on producers. My goal is to come to a workable agreement so that we ensure family farmers have access to an open and competitive marketplace."