Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA-16) introduced the Supporting Market Access to Reinvigorate Trade (SMART) Act of 2022, which he said will expand programs to develop new opportunities for American agricultural goods.
“Opening and growing new markets for American-made products is critical to building our agricultural economy,” Costa said in a statement. “Food is a global security issue, and we must do all we can to reverse disruptions in trade and grow new partnerships that help deliver American products around the world.”
The SMART Act would increase the funding for the Market Access Program to at least $400 million per fiscal year and the Foreign Market Development Program to at least $69 million per fiscal year.
The bill has six co-sponsors, including Reps. Jimmy Panetta (D-CA-20), Cindy Axne (D-IA-03), Dan Newhouse (R-WA-04), Kim Schrier (D-WA-08), Tracey Mann (R-KS-01) and Ashley Hinson (R-IA-01).
The bill is supported by the National Milk Producers Federation, American Soybean Association, North American Meat Institute and the Coalition to Promote U.S. Agricultural Exports.
