Support for R-CALF USA's Stance on Japanese Beef Imports
(Washington, D.C.) – Recent efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to reopen the United States to imports of Japanese beef suffered a significant blow in the U.S. Senate this morning. Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., introduced Senate Amendment 1732 to the 2006 agriculture appropriations bill (H.R. 2744) brought forth by the U.S. House of Representatives, and senators today voted 72-26 in favor of the move.
This particular amendment relates to the agricultural appropriations bill now under consideration by Congress and prohibits Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns from spending any appropriation funds whatsoever "for the purpose of developing a final rule relating to the proposed rule entitled 'Importation of Whole Cuts of Boneless Beef from Japan,' dated August 18, 2005 (70 Fed. Reg. 48494), to allow the importation of beef from Japan, unless the President certifies to Congress that Japan has granted open access to Japanese markets for beef and beef products produced in the United States."
Trade must be based on fair play, and free trade must include a vision of fair trade, said Nelson in part of his comments on the floor. He noted that in beef states, cattle outnumber people 4-1, and that nationally, the cattle and beef industries have an annual economic impact of $175 billion that involves approximately 800,000 ranchers running about 94.9 million head of cattle, and another 1.4 million related jobs in the beef industry. These figures translate into business conducted in nearly each and every county in the nation, Nelson continued. He also reminded fellow senators that in 2003, the last year Japan accepted beef and beef variety meats from the U.S., those products were worth $1.4 billion to the U.S. economy.
"It's important to recognize . . . R-CALF USA's statement on the USDA's proposed rule that is subject to my amendment," Nelson said. "On August 22, R-CALF USA stated that this is an example of 'USDA tilting the playing field away from independent U.S. cattle producers by continuing to give market access before we gain market access.' Mr. President, I would ask that R-CALF USA's entire statement be entered into the record."
Nelson recently co-authored a letter with U.S. Rep. Tom Osborne, R-Neb., to Johanns, urging the Secretary to delay the proposed rule until such time that Japan completes its process and accepts beef from the United States. Other senators also recently wrote Johanns asking him to hold off on Japanese beef imports, emphasizing that U.S. ranchers and rural communities cannot continue to bear the economic uncertainty resulting from bad international Those individuals included: Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan.; Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas; Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho; Sen. Conrad Burns, R-Mont.; Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho; Sen. Wayne Allard, R-Colo.; Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas; Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb.; Sen. Craig Thomas, R-Wyo.; and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D.
"Unfortunately, bipartisan letters of support have not been able to resolve this issue," said Nelson. "A congressional response is warranted that includes a strong statement that prematurely allowing Japan any access to our markets is simply unacceptable.
"I see (this amendment) as simply as applying the same policy as Japan has in place against U.S. beef, . . . by sending Japan a clear message that senators from beef-producing states and our neighboring states aren't going to drop this matter," Nelson emphasized. "Our beef is the safest and highest quality in the world . . . and if they want to sell beef here, then they need to let us sell beef there."
"On the stage of global beef trade, so much is at stake here for our independent U.S. cattle producers, and our members want to express deep gratitude to the senators who recognize that point and chose this morning to send a crystal clear message to Secretary Johanns and the Administration that trade policies must be reformed to benefit domestic producers before we just give the whole store away with nothing in return," said R-CALF USA President and Co-Founder Leo McDonnell. "We look forward to working with Congress on this matter and other issues that continue to affect independent U.S. cattle producers."
Note: Results of today's vote follow. Also, on Monday, R-CALF USA submitted formal comments on this proposed rule. To view, go to: www.r-calfusa.com and click "BSE-Litigation."
Final Vote Count: 72 Yeas 26 Nays
Alabama:
Sessions (R-AL), Yea
Shelby (R-AL), Yea
Alaska:
Murkowski (R-AK), Nay
Stevens (R-AK), Nay
Arizona:
Kyl (R-AZ), Nay
McCain (R-AZ), Nay
Arkansas:
Lincoln (D-AR), Yea
Pryor (D-AR), Yea
California:
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Colorado:
Allard (R-CO), Nay
Salazar (D-CO), Nay
Connecticut:
Dodd (D-CT), Yea
Lieberman (D-CT), Yea
Delaware:
Biden (D-DE), Yea
Carper (D-DE), Yea
Florida:
Martinez (R-FL), Nay
Nelson (D-FL), Yea
Georgia:
Chambliss (R-GA), Yea
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Hawaii:
Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Nay
Idaho:
Craig (R-ID), Yea
Crapo (R-ID), Yea
Illinois:
Durbin (D-IL), Yea
Obama (D-IL), Yea
Indiana:
Bayh (D-IN), Yea
Lugar (R-IN), Nay
Iowa:
Grassley (R-IA), Nay
Harkin (D-IA), Yea
Kansas:
Brownback (R-KS), Yea
Roberts (R-KS), Yea
Kentucky:
Bunning (R-KY), Nay
McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Louisiana:
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Yea
Maine:
Collins (R-ME), Yea
Snowe (R-ME), Yea
Maryland:
Mikulski (D-MD), Yea
Sarbanes (D-MD), Yea
Massachusetts:
Kennedy (D-MA), Yea
Kerry (D-MA), Yea
Michigan:
Levin (D-MI), Yea
Stabenow (D-MI), Yea
Minnesota:
Coleman (R-MN), Yea
Dayton (D-MN), Yea
Mississippi:
Cochran (R-MS), Nay
Lott (R-MS), Nay
Missouri:
Bond (R-MO), Yea
Talent (R-MO), Yea
Montana:
Baucus (D-MT), Yea
Burns (R-MT), Yea
Nebraska:
Hagel (R-NE), Nay
Nelson (D-NE), Yea
Nevada:
Ensign (R-NV), Yea
Reid (D-NV), Yea
New Hampshire:
Gregg (R-NH), Nay
Sununu (R-NH), Nay
New Jersey:
Corzine (D-NJ), Not Voting
Lautenberg (D-NJ), Yea
New Mexico:
Bingaman (D-NM), Yea
Domenici (R-NM), Yea
New York:
Clinton (D-NY), Yea
Schumer (D-NY), Yea
North Carolina:
Burr (R-NC), Nay
Dole (R-NC), Nay
North Dakota:
Conrad (D-ND), Yea
Dorgan (D-ND), Yea
Ohio:
DeWine (R-OH), Yea
Voinovich (R-OH), Yea
Oklahoma:
Coburn (R-OK), Yea
Inhofe (R-OK), Yea
Oregon:
Smith (R-OR), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Pennsylvania:
Santorum (R-PA), Yea
Specter (R-PA), Yea
Rhode Island:
Chafee (R-RI), Nay
Reed (D-RI), Yea
South Carolina:
DeMint (R-SC), Nay
Graham (R-SC), Yea
South Dakota:
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Thune (R-SD), Yea
Tennessee:
Alexander (R-TN), Nay
Frist (R-TN), Nay
Texas:
Cornyn (R-TX), Yea
Hutchison (R-TX), Yea
Utah:
Bennett (R-UT), Nay
Hatch (R-UT), Nay
Vermont:
Jeffords (I-VT), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Virginia:
Allen (R-VA), Yea
Warner (R-VA), Yea
Washington:
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia:
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Not Voting
Wisconsin:
Feingold (D-WI), Yea
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming:
Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Thomas (R-WY), Yea
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R-CALF USA (Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America) represents thousands of U.S. cattle producers on domestic and international trade and marketing issues. R-CALF USA, a national, non-profit organization, is dedicated to ensuring the continued profitability and viability of the U.S. cattle industry. R-CALF USA's membership consists primarily of cow-calf operators, cattle backgrounders, and feedlot owners. Its members – over 18,000 strong – are located in 47 states, and the organization has over 60 local and state association affiliates, from both cattle and farm organizations. Various main street businesses are associate members of R-CALF USA. For more information, visit www.r-calfusa.com or, call 406-252-2516.
