WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Senate last week passed H.R. 2051, the Agriculture Reauthorization Act.
The bill, passed in June by the House, adds language to existing legislation to hedge against effects from labor disputes at exporting ports.
The bill includes the U.S. Grain Standards Act, which now includes language to require state agencies to continue providing USDA-delegated grain inspection during possible port disruptions.
The Port of Vancouver came under criticism in 2014 when inspectors employed by Washington state refused to enter the port, citing threats from union picketers.
"We need to prevent port disruptions like that which we saw at the Port of Vancouver last year," said National Assoc. of Wheat Growers President Brett Blankenship.
"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."
The Port of Vancouver was criticized by some in Congress for not providing grain inspectors safe access to conduct inspections in 2014.
Grain inspection at export terminals – from Superior, Mich., to Vancouver – is often delegated to employees of state agencies.
The Grain Standards Act now mandates USDA to continue providing grain inspection and weighing services "in an uninterrupted, reliable and consistent basis," according to a joint statement from the National Grain and Feed Assoc. (NGFA) and the North American Export Grain Assoc. (NAEGA).
The USDA is required to approve a waiver of the official grain inspection requirement, if authorized inspections are not restored during a port disruption, except in cases of a natural disaster or other emergency.
The NGFA and NAEGA said they will in the future still seek a provision, not included in H.R. 2051, to mandate USDA use of qualified third-party inspectors to ensure grain inspections during port disruptions.