Representative Andy Biggs (R-AZ) is celebrating the White House's recent decision to act on a proposal he advocated for to revitalize America's domestic cattle and beef industry.
In December, Rep. Biggs wrote a letter to Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum and Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins, calling for a review of federal cattle industry regulations, including those on grazing, and arguing that the industry is stalling because of the red tape ranchers must navigate.
The number of American cattle operations has declined sharply by 17% from 2017 to 2022, and the number of actual cattle is at its lowest since 1951 (86 million head), even as the demand for beef remains high.
Thankfully, the Department of the Interior listened, recently announcing a proposed grazing rule to "give ranchers more flexibility, improve the health of rangelands and support rural communities across the West."
"I applaud President Trump and Secretary Burgum for this proposed rule that puts America's ranchers and food security first," said Rep. Biggs in a celebratory press release. "Under the previous administration, cattle ranchers were forced to reduce their herd counts because of federal mandates and orders cutting public grazing land use. This administration knows how critical it is to protect our great ranchers and allow these families to provide abundant food to the American people. I support this proposed rule and look forward to it taking effect in the coming months."
In October, Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) joined several other lawmakers in a letter demanding the reversal of a plan to increase Argentinian beef imports, arguing that the proposal not only hurt American cattle ranchers but also carries health risks for animals and humans alike.
"Instead of introducing additional volatility into the market, we urge you to implement a trade policy that uses targeted tariffs and other tools to ensure U.S. producers can fairly compete in the global marketplace while also ensuring Americans have access to healthy, affordable foods," Sen. Gallego and the others wrote.
