Talking BACA with Congressman Greg Murphy
May 4, 2026 In this episode of the Cotton Companion podcast, U.S. Representative Greg Murphy discusses the Buying American Cotton Act (BACA) and its potential impact on U.S. cotton producers, offering both policy insight and a behind-the-scenes look at how legislation moves through Congress.
Murphy, who represents eastern North Carolina, emphasized that his support for the bill stems directly from his role representing a district where agriculture is a major economic driver, noting that cotton is “close to the biggest economic engine in that district” and that the industry has been “under a lot of pressure recently.”
Murphy explained that the legislation is designed to strengthen domestic demand for U.S.-grown cotton by incentivizing its use throughout the supply chain.
“Simplifying it, [the bill] basically incentivizes…retailers…to use American cotton,” Murphy says, outlining how tax credits would increase as more of the production process — from cotton to finished goods — occurs within the United States.
This structure, he added, makes the bill attractive not just to growers but to manufacturers and retailers as well, helping drive broader economic impact.
The conversation also highlighted the strong bipartisan backing behind BACA, which Murphy introduced alongside Congresswoman Terri Sewell. Despite a political climate often defined by division, Murphy noted that “a lot of things that happen in Congress are bipartisan,” adding that agriculture’s widespread economic importance has helped the bill gain traction across party lines.
“Nothing happens quick in D.C.,” Murphy says. He acknowled that while the bill has strong support, “this is not a slam dunk” due to the complexities of funding tax credits and competing priorities. Even so, he expressed optimism that continued industry advocacy and increased congressional backing could improve its chances of passage.
Ultimately, the discussion reinforced the broader pressures facing the cotton industry — from global competition to synthetic alternatives — and positioned BACA as a potential tool to help stabilize and strengthen the domestic market.
Murphy says, supporting U.S. cotton is “the right thing to do to try to help our industries at home…remain viable and continue to be able to be prosperous in the future.”
Listen to the full podcast here: https://www.cottongrower.com/companion/talking-baca-with-congressman-greg-murphy/
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