Steve Watkins: “I rise in support of H.R. 1463, and I thank the Speaker for allowing me the opportunity to come to the floor today as we…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 1463, and I thank the Speaker for allowing me the opportunity to come to the floor today as we debate this important legislation to reauthorize the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the Customs Service and the International Trade Commission. I would like to also thank Ambassador Barshevsky and also Deputy Trade Representative Lang, and the entire staff at the USTR's office for all the work they do on behalf of the American people. I am proud to come to the floor today and express my support for this legislation. H.R. 1463 will give the USTR's office the necessary resources to fight for fair treatment, and that is what we are asking for, fair treatment for American goods and services throughout the world. As many of my colleagues know, I am an outspoken, strong advocate for the U.S. cattle and beef industry in their fight for open markets overseas. Since 1989, the European Union has had in place a ban on beef treated with growth producing hormones. Since these hormones are used in virtually all U.S. beef, this is a ban on all of our cattle people. There is no scientific basis for this ban. These hormones have been proven safe in studies by the FDA, the Lamming Commission, the World Health Organization, and the EU's own Scientific Conference on Growth Promotion in Meat Production. This, Mr. Speaker, is merely a blatantly unfair economic trade barrier against our U.S. cattle people.”