Congress members fight anti-mink farming amendment in COMPETES Act

Eleven members of Congress are trying to have some anti-farming language removed from legislation that is supposed to create a more competitive trade balance with China. 

Congressman Tom Tiffany from Wisconsin says the MINKS Amendment to the COMPETES Act (House Resolution 4521) would amend the Lacey Act to prohibit the purchase, sale, or transportation of farmed minks. 

In a letter to House Natural Resources Committee members, eleven Congress members say American mink are highly prized on the world market and making this change would be a disservice to agriculture and American family farms.  They also say banning mink operations is incompatible with the COMPETES Act since many US mink pelts are exported to China.

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