Whereas during the global COVID–19 pandemic, cooperatives have taken extraordinary steps to serve their member-owners and communities; Whereas a cooperative— (1) is a business that is owned and governed by its members, who are the individuals who use the business, create the products of the business, or manage the operation of the business; and (2) operates under the 7 principles of— (A) voluntary open membership; (B) democratic control; (C) owner economic participation; (D) autonomy and independence; (E) education, training, and information; (F) cooperation among cooperatives; and (G) concern for community; Whereas cooperative entrepreneurs can be found in almost every economic sector in the United States, throughout all 50 States and territories, and every congressional district in the United States; Whereas cooperatives help farmers increase incomes and become more resilient to economic business cycles by working together to plan and prepare for the future, while contributing significantly to the economic activity in the United States agriculture and food markets; Whereas the roughly 1,800 agricultural cooperatives in America operate more than 8,000 facilities, employ $96 billion in assets, and generate nearly $204 billion in business; Whereas the majority of America’s 2 million farmers belong to an agricultural cooperative; Whereas agricultural cooperatives offer members the opportunity to tap into the commodity value-added profits throughout the handling, processing, and distribution chains; Whereas member owners in agricultural cooperatives are dedicated to providing the highest quality product for consumers; Whereas agricultural cooperatives add significant benefits to the economic well-being of rural America by providing over 250,000 jobs with annual wages totaling over $8 billion; Whereas agricultural cooperatives provide resources such as low-cost supplies, effective marketing, and services to their member-owners