February 5, 2019

Washington, DC – Today, President Donald J. Trump delivered his 2019 State of the Union Address before Congress and the Supreme Court. In a speech calling for political unity and optimism, President Trump addressed multiple topics of note to the Corn Refiners Association (CRA), including agriculture, trade, and infrastructure issues. John Bode, President and CEO of the Corn Refiners Association, commented:

“We commend President Trump’s State of the Union message, particularly its call for bipartisan action, infrastructure development and ratification of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which promises to put our North American trade relations on a stronger footing. We look forward to working with the President and Congress on these initiatives critical to the one in five American jobs that are agriculture related.”

The Corn Refiners Association advocates for Congressional ratification of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), under which farmers, ranchers, and workers will prosper from stronger trade relationships with our neighbors in Mexico and Canada.

Trucks carry about 75 percent of domestic agricultural tonnage, and nearly half of U.S. agricultural exports are moved by rail or barge, based on Department of Agriculture statistics. CRA urges the President and Congress to work together in modernizing America’s aging infrastructure and strained transportation systems.

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The Corn Refiners Association (CRA) is the national trade association representing the corn refining industry of the United States. CRA and its predecessors have served this important segment of American agribusiness since 1913. Corn refiners manufacture sweeteners, starch, advanced bioproducts, corn oil and feed products from corn components such as starch, oil, protein and fiber.