No, not the kind you're thinking about.
In this case, we're talking about what's known as "the other white meat."
Seven of North Carolina’s members of Congress have asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect the pork industry from its economic troubles by buying $100 million worth of meat for the USDA’s federal food assistance programs.
In a letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, they say the recession and the recent swine flu outbreak have hurt the industry. The lawmakers thanked Vilsack for his push earlier this year to call the swine flu virus H1N1 to disassociate it from pork products, but they said the impacts of the scare have hurt the industry.
The letter notes that USDA already has announced $30 million in purchases through the end of the fiscal year, reports Barb Barrett.
“We asking for additional help with the economic crisis the U.S. pork industry currently faces,” the letter reads. “Without your assistance, we are putting thousands of rural jobs and businesses at risk.”
The N.C. lawmakers are Democratic U.S. Reps. Bob Etheridge, Larry Kissell, Mike McIntyre, Brad Miller and G.K. Butterfield, along with Republican U.S. Reps. Howard Coble and Walter Jones. Fifty-five other lawmakers also signed the letter.
They want Vilsack to use $100 million to buy pork for federal food assistance programs, with an emphasis on sow meat to reduce breeding stock.
–––––
In addition, the letter seeks help in international trade relations.
China has imposed restrictions on U.S. pork imports since the outbreak of H1N1, the letter says, and lawmakers asked Vilsack to work with the U.S. Trade Representative to open China’s market to more imports.
The letter also asks for help in monitoring swine disease outbreaks at pig farms.
Comments
Re: Congressmen seek money for pork
October 8, 2009 - 9:41pm — mschuckerI would rather see the money go to clean up the end product of all that pork, the euphemistically named "hog lagoon". While the stench makes it obvious that it is polluting the air, it is also an environmental disaster for our precious rivers, streams and groundwater.
Re: Congressmen seek money for pork
October 8, 2009 - 9:37pm — mschuckerI would rather see the money go toward cleaning up the euphemistically named
"hog lagoons". They stink to the high heavens and they pose an environmental disaster to our ground water.
Re: Congressmen seek money for pork
October 8, 2009 - 6:32pm — stanley2Indeed I think the classic concept of "the rich get richer, the poor get poorer" here.
I personally do not see why the taxpayer should have to foot the bill for this either, and whether or not this helps prevent the reoccuranced of the swine flu epidemic remains to be seen.
golf exercises
golf stretches
Re: Congressmen seek money for pork
October 8, 2009 - 3:43pm — TOPASSISTANTAMERICA IS BEYOND BROKE. Join the Fire Etheridge Campaign. Send me an e-mail to help, Smokey1977@att.net
Re: Congressmen seek money for pork
October 8, 2009 - 3:38pm — henryeIf they had the sense of a brass horn Billy Goat. they would not need money to buy pork for the disadvantaged. they are sitting in the seat of authority. all they have to do is change global trade to a point where we can not buy any more of other countries products, than they buy from us.
that way we americans can invest in factories, and hire americans, and then we won't need to help so many.under this situation today where capitolism has ignored every thing but profits. they are forcing this country into communism, or socialism,at that point. capitolism will cease to exist. I can't understand why someone else does not realize that.
Re: Congressmen seek money for pork
October 8, 2009 - 2:44pm — j1c2kpWhat help did those congressmen offer citizens who had industrial pig factory farms move into their neighborhoods destroying their quality of life. Forcing people to breathe the toxic gases, have manure sprayed in the air to mist all over them, etc.
Who forced the hog industry to oversaturate the market, to oversaturate southeastern NC???
Where were those congressmen then? Stuffing their pockets with campaign donations from the industry?
The taxpayers now have to foot the bill for a greedy industry.