Congressman Denny Rehberg

WASHINGTON, DC - While the Agriculture Appropriations Conference Committee is currently meeting to discuss the 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Bill, Montana’s Congressman, Denny Rehberg, today sent a letter urging the conferees to continue fully funding the red meat portion of the Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) program.

“Unfortunately, most consumers believe that if a product carries a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) inspection and grade designation sticker, that product is of U.S. origin,” wrote Rehberg in the letter addressed to the Conference Committee’s chairmen and ranking members. “This is simply misleading and untrue.”

Congress passed the COOL program in the 2002 Farm Bill. However, funding for the program was stripped in the House version of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill earlier this year.

“Some have argued COOL will lead to huge costs for producers of meat and meat products, and result in trade retaliation,” wrote Rehberg, a member of the House Appropriations committee. “However, it is too early to make these predictions because the USDA has not released final rules. We are in the middle of a process that needs to be completed.”

“There’s a label on nearly every product on the shelves in stores today telling consumers where the product comes from,” Rehberg said. “A label on red meat shouldn’t be any different. Consumers deserve to know where their food comes from.”  

Letter Attached

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October 24, 2005

Dear Chairmen Bennett and Bonilla, and Ranking Members Kohl and DeLauro:

As the conference committee meets to discuss the 2006 Agriculture Appropriation Bill, we urge you to preserve funding for the red meats portion of the Country of Origin Labeling program (COOL) that Congress passed in the 2002 Farm Bill.

For many years, there has been broad support in Congress for COOL, however, funding was stripped in the House version of the Agriculture Appropriations Bill.  Some have argued COOL will lead to huge costs for producers of meat and meat products, and result in trade retaliation.  However, it is too early to make these predictions because the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) has not released final rules.  We are in the middle of a process that needs to be completed.  The public has been given opportunities to comment at public listening sessions that were held throughout the country and during the official comment period for proposed rules.  The public is currently involved, and stripping away the funding to implement the program at this point would halt the rules writing process, yet it would not change the law.  Producers, packers and retailers will still be accountable for COOL on September 30, 2006 regardless of USDA funding.  We should not stop a process that is underway at USDA.

American consumers also support COOL.  We know where our clothes, cars, electronics and toys come from, and they have the right to know where their food originates.    Unfortunately, most consumers believe that if a product carries a USDA inspection and grade designation sticker, that product is of U.S. origin.  This is simply misleading and untrue.  Numerous surveys and consumer studies have indicated American consumers overwhelmingly support mandatory labeling and are willing to pay a premium for that information. COOL is also supported by over 130 agriculture and consumer organizations.  In short, COOL has broad support.

We respectfully request that COOL remains fully funded and appreciate your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Denny Rehberg

Montana’s Congressman

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