On the recordJune 10, 2015
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate Chairman Conaway for his leadership in bringing the repeal of the COOL amendments to the House floor so quickly. I would like to thank my fellow Ag Committee colleagues for their bipartisan support in passing the repeal of the COOL amendments out of the committee. The COOL amendments, or country or origin labeling, has nothing to do with food safety. It is a mandatory marketing program. The USDA stamp of inspection ensures consumers the meat we eat is safe and wholesome, not COOL. Mr. Speaker, here are the facts. The U.S. has lost its last three appeals in the WTO to Canada and Mexico regarding COOL. Both countries are ready to retaliate against us, as we have heard, to the tune of billions of dollars, thus hurting our ag sector and American jobs. Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack has said that only a legislative fix of COOL would bring the U.S. back into compliance. Again, I thank and congratulate Chairman Conaway and urge all of my fellow colleagues to vote in favor of this amendment.
