Washington, D.C. – The American Economic Liberties Project released the following statement in response to the USDA’s announcement that it intends to begin work on three proposed rules to support enforcement of the Packers and Stockyards Act.

“After nearly 100 years, the Packers and Stockyards Act remains a critical tool for protecting farmers and ranchers from corporate monopolies,” said J.D. Scholten, Senior Advisor at the American Economic Liberties Project. “Today’s announcement that USDA ‘intends’ to take new actions to enforce this law is a positive start, but it only scratches the surface of what is necessary to address rising corporate power in our agriculture system.”

“Moving forward, the Biden Administration must reverse President Trump’s dismantling of the Grain Inspection Packers Stockyards Administration (GIPSA), and fund it as a stand-alone agency,” said Scholten. “Congress should also build on the growing momentum to investigate the anti-competitive practices of Big Ag monopolies. Lawmakers should hold hearings on corporate abuses across our food system and pass a modern, up-to-date Packers and Stockyards Act that protects farmers, workers, and consumers while decentralizing the food supply chain.”

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.