America is counting on us to not play politics with science and not play politics with the future of our competitiveness in the world.

I cannot think of a more timely hearing given recent attention on Government Sponsored Enterprises and debate over the nature and scope of their regulatory agency.

The Federal Home Loan Banks play a critical role in our Nation's housing finance and community lending system.

The country of origin labeling law gave USDA discretion to create an audit verification system, but not a mandatory system.

I want to welcome Under Secretary Hawks, Under Secretary Bost, Under Secretary Murano today, as well as FDA Commissioner McClellan.

Would you agree that the law prohibits on-farm mandatory animal identification and does not permit third-party mandates by packers?

I would hope that our USDA will be very aggressive in working with Canada in that regard.

Well, it concerns me that they may use the same science ultimately as we use in the United States, but if there is a 4-month backlog in this particular instance, that gives rise to great concern that what would have happened if that animal…

Would it not make sense to maintain the prohibition on Canadian livestock and meat exports into the United States until the United States can be comfortable that they have eliminated their backlog and that their inspection regime is…

Doesn't it make sense to USDA that tracking of 2 million imported cattle would be less costly than keeping track of the 28 million within the United States?

I think they support the concept of country of origin labeling, that our consumers deserve to know the origins of the products they feed their families.

Thank you, and I thank Senator Byrd, as well, for his leadership and guidance and his courtesy here.