A
Anonymous
Guest
U.S. Cattle Producers Again Thank Senators
for Keeping Constituent Interests as No. 1 Priority
(Billings, Mont.) – R-CALF USA wants to again thank publicly U.S. Senators who, last Thursday, by a vote of 52-46, opposed efforts by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prematurely reopen the Canadian border to live cattle and additional beef products.
The measure, Senate Joint Resolution 4, is a Joint Resolution of Disapproval, which now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.
"We sincerely appreciate the many Senators who stood up to make certain that the Canadian border did not reopen today, as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had planned," said Bill Bullard, R-CALF USA CEO. "To reopen that border at this point in time is dangerously premature. There are potential risks to U.S. consumers and the U.S. cattle herd that must be addressed before serious consideration can be given to re-establishing imports from our northern neighbors."
Canada has had four cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in less than two years, and two of those cases were announced in the last two months.
"In 1989, the United States established regulations that prohibited the importation of beef and cattle from countries where BSE exists, but currently, the United States continues to import from Canada boneless boxed beef from cattle younger than 30 months of age," Bullard said. "However, there currently are still 33 countries that refuse to accept Canadian beef, which in turn, causes the U.S. to be the only significant market for Canadian beef. So, USDA is disregarding its own regulations.
"We would hope USDA would redirect its resources to help the Canadian government eradicate BSE from its cattle herd as quickly as possible, and the first step would be to help Canada determine how widespread the BSE problem is in the Canadian cattle herd, " Bullard continued. "To do this, Canada must substantially increase its BSE testing to include all cattle over the age at which today's BSE tests are meaningful.
"Until we know with scientific certainty what the BSE prevalence rate is in Canada, we can't know what level of additional risk mitigation measures are needed to effectively eradicate the disease, nor can we know whether the disease in on the decline or on the increase within the Canadian cattle herd," he said. "To relax our import standards without first having a science-based strategy to eradicate BSE where it is known to exist is extremely irresponsible.
"USDA must begin immediately helping to develop this eradication strategy and to implement it in Canada," Bullard emphasized.
"Again, we thank those Senators who chose to look out for the safety of not only U.S. consumers, but also the U.S. cattle herd as they sent a strong message to the Administration that it is just too early to reopen the Canadian border to live cattle and additional beef products," he said.
Jess Peterson, R-CALF USA director of governmental relations, said he wants to encourage the organization's members and affiliates to personally call and thank each of their Senators that voted for S J Res. 4.
"It's a great day when ranchers all across the United States speak and their Congressmen go to bat for them on the floor of the U.S. Senate," Peterson said. "Hopefully, members of the U.S. House of Representatives will follow the strong, positive example set by the 52 members of the Senate. Those Representatives can expect R-CALF members to be calling on them to support the Resolution of Disapproval of USDA's Final Rule."
# # #
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 13,000 strong – are located in 45 states, and the organization has over 57 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.
# # #
The Senate voting record from Thursday is listed below, state-by-state, and the information also can be viewed at:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00019
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress - 1st Session
as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate.
Vote Summary
Question: On the Joint Resolution (S.J.Res. 4 )
Vote Number:
19
Vote Date:
March 3, 2005, 12:51 PM
Required For Majority:
1/2
Vote Result:
Joint Resolution Passed
Vote Counts:
YEAs
52
NAYs
46
Not Voting
2
Grouped by Home State
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), Nay
Pryor (D-AR), Nay
California:
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Colorado:
Allard (R-CO), Nay
Salazar (D-CO), Yea
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), Nay
Georgia:
Chambliss (R-GA), Nay
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Hawaii:
Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Not Voting
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), Nay
Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Kentucky:
Bunning (R-KY), Nay
McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Louisiana:
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Maine:
Collins (R-ME), Nay
Snowe (R-ME), Nay
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), Nay
Dayton (D-MN), Yea
Mississippi:
Cochran (R-MS), Nay
Lott (R-MS), Nay
Missouri:
Bond (R-MO), Nay
Talent (R-MO), Nay
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), Yea
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), Nay
Voinovich (R-OH), Nay
Oklahoma:
Coburn (R-OK), Yea
Inhofe (R-OK), Yea
Oregon:
Smith (R-OR), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Pennsylvania:
Santorum (R-PA), Nay
Specter (R-PA), Nay
Rhode Island:
Chafee (R-RI), Nay
Reed (D-RI), Yea
South Carolina:
DeMint (R-SC), Nay
Graham (R-SC), Nay
South Dakota:
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Thune (R-SD), Yea
Tennessee:
Alexander (R-TN), Nay
Frist (R-TN), Nay
Texas:
Cornyn (R-TX), Nay
Hutchison (R-TX), Nay
Utah:
Bennett (R-UT), Nay
Hatch (R-UT), Nay
Vermont:
Jeffords (I-VT), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Virginia:
Allen (R-VA), Nay
Warner (R-VA), Nay
Washington:
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia:
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Nay
Wisconsin:
Feingold (D-WI), Not Voting
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming:
Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Thomas (R-WY), Yea
for Keeping Constituent Interests as No. 1 Priority
(Billings, Mont.) – R-CALF USA wants to again thank publicly U.S. Senators who, last Thursday, by a vote of 52-46, opposed efforts by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to prematurely reopen the Canadian border to live cattle and additional beef products.
The measure, Senate Joint Resolution 4, is a Joint Resolution of Disapproval, which now moves to the U.S. House of Representatives for consideration.
"We sincerely appreciate the many Senators who stood up to make certain that the Canadian border did not reopen today, as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) had planned," said Bill Bullard, R-CALF USA CEO. "To reopen that border at this point in time is dangerously premature. There are potential risks to U.S. consumers and the U.S. cattle herd that must be addressed before serious consideration can be given to re-establishing imports from our northern neighbors."
Canada has had four cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in less than two years, and two of those cases were announced in the last two months.
"In 1989, the United States established regulations that prohibited the importation of beef and cattle from countries where BSE exists, but currently, the United States continues to import from Canada boneless boxed beef from cattle younger than 30 months of age," Bullard said. "However, there currently are still 33 countries that refuse to accept Canadian beef, which in turn, causes the U.S. to be the only significant market for Canadian beef. So, USDA is disregarding its own regulations.
"We would hope USDA would redirect its resources to help the Canadian government eradicate BSE from its cattle herd as quickly as possible, and the first step would be to help Canada determine how widespread the BSE problem is in the Canadian cattle herd, " Bullard continued. "To do this, Canada must substantially increase its BSE testing to include all cattle over the age at which today's BSE tests are meaningful.
"Until we know with scientific certainty what the BSE prevalence rate is in Canada, we can't know what level of additional risk mitigation measures are needed to effectively eradicate the disease, nor can we know whether the disease in on the decline or on the increase within the Canadian cattle herd," he said. "To relax our import standards without first having a science-based strategy to eradicate BSE where it is known to exist is extremely irresponsible.
"USDA must begin immediately helping to develop this eradication strategy and to implement it in Canada," Bullard emphasized.
"Again, we thank those Senators who chose to look out for the safety of not only U.S. consumers, but also the U.S. cattle herd as they sent a strong message to the Administration that it is just too early to reopen the Canadian border to live cattle and additional beef products," he said.
Jess Peterson, R-CALF USA director of governmental relations, said he wants to encourage the organization's members and affiliates to personally call and thank each of their Senators that voted for S J Res. 4.
"It's a great day when ranchers all across the United States speak and their Congressmen go to bat for them on the floor of the U.S. Senate," Peterson said. "Hopefully, members of the U.S. House of Representatives will follow the strong, positive example set by the 52 members of the Senate. Those Representatives can expect R-CALF members to be calling on them to support the Resolution of Disapproval of USDA's Final Rule."
# # #
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 13,000 strong – are located in 45 states, and the organization has over 57 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.
# # #
The Senate voting record from Thursday is listed below, state-by-state, and the information also can be viewed at:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00019
U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 109th Congress - 1st Session
as compiled through Senate LIS by the Senate Bill Clerk under the direction of the Secretary of the Senate.
Vote Summary
Question: On the Joint Resolution (S.J.Res. 4 )
Vote Number:
19
Vote Date:
March 3, 2005, 12:51 PM
Required For Majority:
1/2
Vote Result:
Joint Resolution Passed
Vote Counts:
YEAs
52
NAYs
46
Not Voting
2
Grouped by Home State
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), Nay
Pryor (D-AR), Nay
California:
Boxer (D-CA), Yea
Feinstein (D-CA), Yea
Colorado:
Allard (R-CO), Nay
Salazar (D-CO), Yea
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), Nay
Georgia:
Chambliss (R-GA), Nay
Isakson (R-GA), Nay
Hawaii:
Akaka (D-HI), Yea
Inouye (D-HI), Not Voting
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), Nay
Roberts (R-KS), Nay
Kentucky:
Bunning (R-KY), Nay
McConnell (R-KY), Nay
Louisiana:
Landrieu (D-LA), Yea
Vitter (R-LA), Nay
Maine:
Collins (R-ME), Nay
Snowe (R-ME), Nay
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), Nay
Dayton (D-MN), Yea
Mississippi:
Cochran (R-MS), Nay
Lott (R-MS), Nay
Missouri:
Bond (R-MO), Nay
Talent (R-MO), Nay
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), Yea
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), Nay
Voinovich (R-OH), Nay
Oklahoma:
Coburn (R-OK), Yea
Inhofe (R-OK), Yea
Oregon:
Smith (R-OR), Yea
Wyden (D-OR), Yea
Pennsylvania:
Santorum (R-PA), Nay
Specter (R-PA), Nay
Rhode Island:
Chafee (R-RI), Nay
Reed (D-RI), Yea
South Carolina:
DeMint (R-SC), Nay
Graham (R-SC), Nay
South Dakota:
Johnson (D-SD), Yea
Thune (R-SD), Yea
Tennessee:
Alexander (R-TN), Nay
Frist (R-TN), Nay
Texas:
Cornyn (R-TX), Nay
Hutchison (R-TX), Nay
Utah:
Bennett (R-UT), Nay
Hatch (R-UT), Nay
Vermont:
Jeffords (I-VT), Yea
Leahy (D-VT), Yea
Virginia:
Allen (R-VA), Nay
Warner (R-VA), Nay
Washington:
Cantwell (D-WA), Yea
Murray (D-WA), Yea
West Virginia:
Byrd (D-WV), Yea
Rockefeller (D-WV), Nay
Wisconsin:
Feingold (D-WI), Not Voting
Kohl (D-WI), Yea
Wyoming:
Enzi (R-WY), Yea
Thomas (R-WY), Yea