Cassidy, 20 senators seek cotton industry support in next pandemic relief bill

U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) and 20 other senators recently urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to craft policies in the forthcoming COVID-19 pandemic response recovery bill that will aid each segment of the U.S. cotton industry.

“We understand the cotton industry has reached consensus on a package of recommendations to assist all segments of the industry. We encourage you to work with the industry, so that needed aid can be delivered in a timely manner,” Sen. Cassidy and his colleagues wrote in a letter they sent to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue.

Since the start of 2020, cotton futures prices have declined 30 percent with orders to U.S. textile mills decreasing as much as 90 percent in the last month, according to the letter, which noted that cotton merchandisers and distributors also face additional costs for storage, interest and other carrying costs resulting from depressed worldwide demand.

“In responding to the current crisis, Congress and the administration have acted swiftly to assist the people of our country during this time,” Sen. Cassidy and the lawmakers wrote. “We ask that you use that same approach to ensure that this critical industry represented throughout our states receives the necessary assistance.”

Among the members who also signed the letter were U.S. Sens. Thom Tillis (R-NC), Martha McSally (R-AZ), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Richard Burr (R-NC), Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), and Tim Kaine (D-VA).