Feenstra Backs Legislation to Help Open New Export Markets for Iowa Agriculture

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In February, U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstra (R-Hull) cosponsored the Agriculture Export Promotion Act – led by U.S. Rep. Dan Newhouse (R-WA) – which would double funding for the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Market Development Program (FMD) to support increased exports of Iowa agricultural products.

“Opening new export markets for Iowa farmers is critical to increasing demand for Iowa agricultural products and putting more money in the pockets of our producers. However, for four years, our country did not negotiate a single new trade agreement, nor did the Biden administration hold our trading partners accountable for violations. This indifference toward Iowa farmers and producers left our agricultural economy weakened and emboldened foreign nations – especially our enemies – to take advantage of our country,” said Rep. Feenstra. “I’m glad to work with my colleague from Washington state, Rep. Dan Newhouse, on legislation to double funding for two critical export-market promotion programs – the Market Access Program and the Foreign Market Development Program – to give our farmers a voice in new markets. Serving on both the House Agriculture Committee and the House Ways and Means Committee, I’ll keep supporting policies that grow our export markets, help our farmers succeed financially, and increase demand for Iowa agricultural commodities.”

More specifically, this legislation would double funding from $200 million to $400 million annually for MAP and from $34.5 million to $69 million for FMD.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, export promotion programs like MAP and FMD contribute more than $8 billion in value to U.S. agricultural exports.

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