Congressman Denny Rehberg

March 16, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC - Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, has asked House Speaker Dennis Hastert to schedule a House vote on a Senate resolution blocking the U.S. Department of Agriculture from reopening the Canadian border to live beef trade. Rehberg also sent out an “action alert,” urging agriculture industry leaders and individuals to help in the fight to keep the border closed.

“On March 3, 2005, the Senate passed, S.J.RES.4, a resolution disapproving of the USDA rule. Currently this resolution is being held at the desk in the House awaiting action. I urge you to schedule S.J.RES.4 for a floor vote at the earliest convenience,” Rehberg said in a letter to the Speaker. “This resolution is overwhelmingly supported by Montana producers along with many additional national and regional agricultural groups. Agriculture producers have spoken and agree the Canadian border needs to remain closed.”

Also today, Rehberg issued an action alert, calling on national Agriculture organizations to bring the matter to the attention of the House by demanding a vote on the resolution.

“I need your help to keep the border closed… I urge you to join me in contacting the members of the House that have the most influence on this issue,” Rehberg, a Billings rancher, said in a letter to industry leaders. “I’m also asking you to work with me to develop a more viable legislative solution should our efforts to bring the Senate resolution up for a vote fail.”

A similar call issued by Rehberg last November proved successful in blocking efforts to water-down Country of Origin Labeling.

“A strong, grassroots effort telling these members how strongly we feel about food safety and consumer confidence is critical in the fight to keep the USDA from reopening the border,” Rehberg wrote. “I appreciate all your support and help with this important issue.”

Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, sited recent discoveries of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) in Alberta as reason enough to continue the ban on live beef imports from Canada

LETTERS ATTACHED

March 16, 2005

Speaker Dennis J. Hastert

United States House of Representatives

H 232 Capitol Building

Washington, DC 20515

Dear Speaker Hastert,

In May 2003, the entire beef industry was affected by the discovery of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in Canada. Since this initial discovery, the United States’ border has been closed to live cattle imports from Canada. On January 4, 2005 the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) printed a rule in the Federal Register to establish minimal risk countries for BSE. This rule essentially paves the way for live cattle imports from Canada.

I fully understand the importance and benefit of international trade. The United States boasts the most productive farmers and ranchers in the world and the future of agriculture depends on international customers and fair access to those markets. However, many issues remain unresolved and at this time, it is vitally important the border remains closed.

Since the rule was announced, there have been two additional cases of BSE in Canada. There have also been many questions raised about Canada’s compliance to their 1997 ruminant feed ban. In the name of consumer safety, these questions need to be fully answered before USDA can open the border.

In December 2003, Japan, Korea and other international beef customers closed their borders to U.S. beef after a case of BSE was found in a Canadian born cow in Washington state. I am troubled that USDA is proposing to open the border, and potentially flood our domestic market, without reestablishing beef sales to our international markets. It is crucial we consider the impact this rule may have on the stability of our markets. In my home state of Montana, our beef industry is worth over $760 million to our economy annually. It is our duty to ensure governmental action does not adversely impact our ranchers and upset market stability. It is vital these international markets are restored before any attempt is made to open the Canadian border.

On March 3, 2005, the Senate passed, S.J.RES.4, a resolution disapproving of the USDA rule. Currently this resolution is being held at the desk in the House awaiting action. This resolution is overwhelmingly supported by Montana producers along with many additional national and regional agricultural groups. Agriculture producers have spoken and agree the Canadian border needs to remain closed. I urge you to schedule S.J.RES.4 for a floor vote at the earliest convenience.

I thank you for your time and attention to this important matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg

Member of Congress

March 16, 2005

Bill Bullard, Executive Director

R-CALF USA

P.O. Box 30715

Billings, MT 59107

Dear Bill,

The fight to keep the Canadian border closed is heating up, and as the House of Representatives considers various legislative options, I need your help to halt current efforts by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to permit live beef trade with Canada.

On January 4, 2005 the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) printed a rule in the Federal Register to establish minimal risk countries for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). As you well know, this rule essentially paves the way for live cattle imports from Canada. I need your help to keep the border closed.

As you may know, the Senate recently passed a resolution to block the reopening of the Canadian border. That resolution now awaits a vote in the House. I have urged House Speaker Dennis Hastert to schedule a floor vote on the Senate bill, and I urge you to join me in contacting the members of the House that have the most influence on this issue.

There is a similar, House version of the Senate resolution; however, time is of the essence, and this measure is currently bogged down in the House Agriculture Committee. That is why I am urging you today to join me in asking House leaders to allow a vote on the Senate bill. I’m also asking you to work with me to develop a more viable legislative solution to introduce in the House should our efforts to bring the Senate resolution up for a vote fail.

Through our collaborative efforts and unified voice, we won the country of origin labeling (COOL) battle last December and kept COOL mandatory. This approach obviously works and I urge you to have your Montana members and national organizations contact their congressional delegations encouraging they support keeping the border closed. A strong, grassroots effort telling these members how strongly we feel about food safety and consumer confidence is critical in the fight keep the USDA from reopening the border. I appreciate all your support and help with this important issue.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg

Montana’s Congressman