June 20, 2013 The Honorable Tim Kaine U.S.

Senate B40C Dirksen SOB Washington, DC 20510 [Via Fax: 202-224-4024] Dear Senator Kaine: I have read with dismay the proposal to sell Smithfield Foods to a Chinese corporation. I have been searching for an alternative solution and I believe I may have found a solution that will benefit Smithfield, its current employees, Virginia and the nation. I received the attached proposal from Mr. Norm Kurland with regard to the possibility of creating a JBM S-Corp Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) that would allow the current employees of Smithfield Foods to purchase Smithfield without having to put their own savings towards that purchase. The plan would work this way. An S-Corp ESOP Trust would be set up to purchase all available shares of Smithfield Foods. The purchase would be financed through a consortium of Virginia banks and would be rediscounted to a Federal Reserve bank. The loans would be repaid from future earnings of the company through contributions to the ESOP Trust and once the acquisition loans are repaid, earnings would be returned to the employee owners as stock and cash. There is a similar plan being implemented in Cleveland which may bring a way to revive the Rust Belt. This plan is a win-win solution and I hope that you will review the details in the attached sheet and consider publicly supporting it. If this plan were to be implemented it could be a model to allow for a strong economic recovery with Americans taking charge of their own destiny. Thank you for your time and consideration. If you have any questions please contact me at 703-853-4213. Sincerely,

Delegate Bob Marshall RGM/ccg