Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Introducing New Legislation – The Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Act – Which Would Protect Farmers & Our Economy

Washington D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke on the Senate floor to introduce the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Act along with Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to protect farmers from Trump's turbulent economy. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Trump's terrible economy has been anything but fertile ground for America's farmers.

Today, along with Senator Klobuchar, I'm announcing the Strategic Fertilizer Reserve Act to ensure farmers have access to the resources they need to feed our nation's people and our economy.

Our farmers are getting crushed from all sides by this administration. Trump's blunder in Iran has jacked up the price of fertilizer and diesel to record highs, making it harder for farmers to do their jobs from planting through harvest. Meanwhile, Trump's costly trade wars and tariffs have raised the cost of farm equipment and worst of all, closed off markets for our farmers to sell their products. Farm bankruptcies have been increasing because of the tariffs and the markets that Trump closed off.

Many farmers were already struggling to get by, and now 70% of them say they haven't been able to afford the fertilizer they need, all because of Trump's Iran War.

Our bill directs the USDA to explore creating a strategic fertilizer reserve to help American farmers weather supply chain shocks like Trump's war in Iran.

Farmers already have to deal with enough uncertainty as it is - from unpredictable weather to inconsistent crop yields to unforeseen blights. They shouldn't have to factor in the chaos coming out of Trump's White House on top of it all.

Soaring fertilizer costs squeeze farmers first, but it doesn't take long for that pain to hit American families at the grocery store.

Every senator who cares about lowering costs, every senator who cares about helping farmers and rural communities, every senator period ought to get behind this legislation.

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