Thune, Johnson lead colleagues in urging Department of Justice to continue investigation into beef industry

Two members of South Dakota's congressional delegation are urging US Attorney General Merrick Garland to continue the US Department of Justice investigation into the nation's four biggest meatpackers.

In a bicameral letter, Sen. John Thune and Rep. Dusty Johnson, along with several of their colleagues, also requested that DOJ provide Congress with updates on its investigation and encouraged ongoing vigilance on this issue.

"It is critically important that producers have fair and transparent markets for the commodities they produce," the members of Congress wrote. "We urge the DOJ Antitrust Division to continue vigilance and where possible, provide updates of findings."

The letter was also signed by Sens. John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Steve Daines (R-Mont.), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), John Hoeven (R-N.D.), and Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyo.) and Reps. Kelly Armstrong (R-N.D.), Liz Cheney, (R-Wyo.), Randy Feenstra (R-Iowa), Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), and Matt Rosendale (R-Mont.).