Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association (CICA)
Press Release
For Immediate Release - August 1, 2005
Contact: Doug Zalesky 970.259.7118
E-Mail: [email protected]
CICA Disappointed in House CAFTA Vote
Hesperus, CO ~ The Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association (CICA) today expressed disappointment in the passage of the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) by the U.S. House of Representatives in a narrow vote of 217-215 held at midnight on July 27.
Despite intense opposition to CAFTA by Colorado agricultural producers, Representatives Bob Beauprez (R-7th District), Marilyn Musgrave (R-4th District) and Joel Hefley (R-5th District) supported the trade agreement.
Representatives John Salazar (D-3rd District), Diana DeGette (D-1st District), Tom Tancredo (R-6th District) and Mark Udall (D-2nd District) opposed CAFTA in the final vote.
CICA President Doug Zalesky, Hesperus, was in Washington, DC for the vote. Zalesky spent three days prior to the U.S House vote on CAFTA making office visits on Capitol Hill encouraging members to vote no on the flawed trade agreement.
"The vote came in the middle of the night and was held open for approximately one hour while deals were made to garner the votes needed for passage. "It was disheartening to witness the politics involved in this process," said Zalesky. "The arm-twisting and political maneuvering by the Republican leadership was simply appalling. Our elected officials are expected to lead by example. The political vote buying I witnessed in Washington, DC over CAFTA exemplifies the erosion of our moral fiber here in America. Traveling with our group to DC was a young man who is a sixth generation rancher from Nebraska. His experiences there were a sad reflection of how politics are conducted today. "
"CAFTA is a disastrous trade agreement that will negatively impact U.S. agricultural producers," continued Zalesky. "During the course of public debate over this agreement, I visited Central America as a member of R-CALF USA's CAFTA Task Force. I witnessed first-hand the low costs of production in Central America, which U.S. cattlemen cannot compete with on any reasonable basis. I also viewed first-hand the political upheaval, the heartbreaking poverty in Central American nations, and the complete absence of labor and environmental protections. CAFTA fails to implement labor protections for these poverty-stricken nations, leaving the workforce in Central America ripe for exploitation by global interests. CAFTA will accelerate the concentration of agricultural production into the hands of a few multi-national companies, while many will suffer - both here in the U.S. and in Central America."
"We thank Representatives Salazar, DeGette, Tancredo and Udall for their support during this crucial vote," said Zalesky. "We also thank R-CALF USA for its remarkable efforts to defeat CAFTA. R-CALF members everywhere can be assured they have a strong voice in DC. If not for the work done by R-CALF USA, the passage of CAFTA would have been by a much greater majority. In the end it took a personal visit to Capitol Hill by President Bush to accomplish the two vote margin for passage. That speaks volumes about R-CALF's influence. R-CALF members in Colorado far outnumber those in other national cattlemen's organizations, and I was able to deliver that message to our elected officials. While we are extremely disappointed in the final outcome on CAFTA, we have made great strides in letting our congressional delegation know which organizations speak for grassroots producers."
"With passage of CAFTA, the focus must now shift to other battlegrounds. Implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) is crucial so American consumers will have truthful food labeling that will enable them to make informed food purchases. We look forward to becoming engaged in the public debates over the Andean Trade Agreement, which will be negotiated by year's end. The Andean agreement, in terms of impact, will be exponentially greater than CAFTA. CICA will also be involved in captive supply reform as it relates both internationally and domestically. There is much to be done, and producers can count on CICA to be there," commented Zalesky.
Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association (CICA) is Colorado's fastest-growing grassroots cattle producer organization, representing grassroots producers on a state and national level. CICA is an R-CALF USA state affiliate. Membership dues are $50. Dual memberships in CICA and R-CALF USA can be purchased for $85. To join contact Kimmi Lewis at 719.384.4093 or email at [email protected].
Press Release
For Immediate Release - August 1, 2005
Contact: Doug Zalesky 970.259.7118
E-Mail: [email protected]
CICA Disappointed in House CAFTA Vote
Hesperus, CO ~ The Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association (CICA) today expressed disappointment in the passage of the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) by the U.S. House of Representatives in a narrow vote of 217-215 held at midnight on July 27.
Despite intense opposition to CAFTA by Colorado agricultural producers, Representatives Bob Beauprez (R-7th District), Marilyn Musgrave (R-4th District) and Joel Hefley (R-5th District) supported the trade agreement.
Representatives John Salazar (D-3rd District), Diana DeGette (D-1st District), Tom Tancredo (R-6th District) and Mark Udall (D-2nd District) opposed CAFTA in the final vote.
CICA President Doug Zalesky, Hesperus, was in Washington, DC for the vote. Zalesky spent three days prior to the U.S House vote on CAFTA making office visits on Capitol Hill encouraging members to vote no on the flawed trade agreement.
"The vote came in the middle of the night and was held open for approximately one hour while deals were made to garner the votes needed for passage. "It was disheartening to witness the politics involved in this process," said Zalesky. "The arm-twisting and political maneuvering by the Republican leadership was simply appalling. Our elected officials are expected to lead by example. The political vote buying I witnessed in Washington, DC over CAFTA exemplifies the erosion of our moral fiber here in America. Traveling with our group to DC was a young man who is a sixth generation rancher from Nebraska. His experiences there were a sad reflection of how politics are conducted today. "
"CAFTA is a disastrous trade agreement that will negatively impact U.S. agricultural producers," continued Zalesky. "During the course of public debate over this agreement, I visited Central America as a member of R-CALF USA's CAFTA Task Force. I witnessed first-hand the low costs of production in Central America, which U.S. cattlemen cannot compete with on any reasonable basis. I also viewed first-hand the political upheaval, the heartbreaking poverty in Central American nations, and the complete absence of labor and environmental protections. CAFTA fails to implement labor protections for these poverty-stricken nations, leaving the workforce in Central America ripe for exploitation by global interests. CAFTA will accelerate the concentration of agricultural production into the hands of a few multi-national companies, while many will suffer - both here in the U.S. and in Central America."
"We thank Representatives Salazar, DeGette, Tancredo and Udall for their support during this crucial vote," said Zalesky. "We also thank R-CALF USA for its remarkable efforts to defeat CAFTA. R-CALF members everywhere can be assured they have a strong voice in DC. If not for the work done by R-CALF USA, the passage of CAFTA would have been by a much greater majority. In the end it took a personal visit to Capitol Hill by President Bush to accomplish the two vote margin for passage. That speaks volumes about R-CALF's influence. R-CALF members in Colorado far outnumber those in other national cattlemen's organizations, and I was able to deliver that message to our elected officials. While we are extremely disappointed in the final outcome on CAFTA, we have made great strides in letting our congressional delegation know which organizations speak for grassroots producers."
"With passage of CAFTA, the focus must now shift to other battlegrounds. Implementation of mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) is crucial so American consumers will have truthful food labeling that will enable them to make informed food purchases. We look forward to becoming engaged in the public debates over the Andean Trade Agreement, which will be negotiated by year's end. The Andean agreement, in terms of impact, will be exponentially greater than CAFTA. CICA will also be involved in captive supply reform as it relates both internationally and domestically. There is much to be done, and producers can count on CICA to be there," commented Zalesky.
Colorado Independent CattleGrowers Association (CICA) is Colorado's fastest-growing grassroots cattle producer organization, representing grassroots producers on a state and national level. CICA is an R-CALF USA state affiliate. Membership dues are $50. Dual memberships in CICA and R-CALF USA can be purchased for $85. To join contact Kimmi Lewis at 719.384.4093 or email at [email protected].