Derrick Van Orden U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 3rd district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Derrick Van Orden U.S. House of Representatives from Wisconsin's 3rd district | Official U.S. House Headshot
Congressman Derrick Van Orden from Wisconsin has criticized the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and its Secretary, Tom Vilsack, for not responding to a letter regarding the bankruptcy of Pure Prairie Poultry. The bankruptcy has left nearly 50 farmers and over two million chickens in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Iowa without feed or processing options.
Van Orden stated, "The silence from USDA is deafening. Secretary Vilsack is not only ignoring Members of Congress but is also telling our small- and medium-sized farmers that they are not worth the time to take the proper corrective measures to ensure this never happens again." He emphasized that no federal agency should go unchecked for such a failure and demanded an immediate response from USDA.
The letter sent by Van Orden and his colleagues on October 25, 2024, requested answers regarding USDA's oversight, accountability, loan processes, grant processes, and their awareness of Pure Prairie Poultry’s financial troubles. The deadline for a response was November 8, 2024.
Van Orden further expressed frustration with what he sees as neglect by saying: "Congress is a co-equal branch of government and it is about time the Biden administration starts respecting our Constitution."
Alerts Sign-up