WASHINGTON, D.C. –  Last week, Rep. Burgess Owens (UT-04) co-signed a letter to Natural Resources Committee Ranking Member Bruce Westerman and Subcommittee on Waters, Oceans, and Wildlife Ranking Member Cliff Bentz urging them to oppose any effort to attach extraneous language prohibiting the purchase, sale, or transport of farmed mink to China-related legislation. 

Included in the House version of H.R. 4521, America COMPETES Act of 2022, was a destructive provision called the “MINKS” Amendment, which amends the Lacey Act to prohibit the purchase, sale, or transportation of farmed minks. The goal of the America COMPETES Act is to strengthen our trade and competitive stance with China. This provision seeks to do the exact opposite and would devastate mink farmers across America instead. 

“Proposed provisions in the COMPETES Act aim to prohibit the purchase, sale, and transport of farmed mink,” said Rep. Owens. “As the second-largest producer of mink pelts in the nation, Utah’s rural economy – especially our multi-generational farms – will pay the price. Hurting American farmers will not make America more competitive against China, and I urge my colleagues on the Natural Resources Committee to immediately reconsider this textbook government overreach.”

The full letter is available here.

###