OKLAHOMA CITY—Reps. Frank Lucas (OK-03), Tom Cole (OK-04), Markwayne Mullin (OK-02) and Stephanie Bice (OK-05) joined 47 other members of Congress in sending a bipartisan letter to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland June 8. The letter requests the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) provide an update or final report on its investigation into potential anticompetitive behavior within the beef industry.
The letter joins a growing chorus of cattle producers, industry organizations and lawmakers who are both concerned with the current state of the U.S. beef industry and frustrated about a lack results of the more than yearlong DOJ investigation. This is not the first time Lucas has taken a leadership role on this issue. In May 2020, he led a bipartisan letter to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) requesting the Agency provide results from its beef pricing investigation.
“We are very pleased four members of our state’s congressional delegation are standing in solidarity with Oklahoma’s ranchers in recognizing the potential for antitrust behavior in the beef industry and calling upon the U.S. Attorney General to continue to take action,” said American Farmers & Ranchers (AFR) Cooperative President Scott Blubaugh. “Rep. Lucas showed a willingness to lead on this issue during the pandemic and we are pleased to see he is continuing to push for answers, along with other members of the Oklahoma delegation asking for DOJ investigation results.”
“Cattle producers nationwide are desperate for answers and they have certainly waited long enough. Reps. Lucas, Cole, Mullin and Bice have shown they understand the severity of the situation and have proven they’re in sync with our state’s cattlemen and cattlewomen. It is time for the rest of the Oklahoma congressional delegation to take note and voice their support for the Oklahoma rancher.”
AFR Cooperative is a membership services organization established in 1905 as Oklahoma Farmers Union. AFR provides educational, legislative and cooperative programs across the state and serves as a watchdog for Oklahoma’s family farmers and ranchers and rural communities. The organization is actively supportive of the state’s agricultural industry and rural population with membership consisting of farmers actively involved in production agriculture and non-farmers adding their voice in support of AFR/OFU principles.
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