Jeff Fortenberry: “Nebraska is famous for its high-quality beef; and what wine is to France, beef is to Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, a few weeks…”

“Nebraska is famous for its high-quality beef; and what wine is to France, beef is to Nebraska. Mr. Speaker, a few weeks ago, a number of us took note when Microsoft founder Bill Gates proposed that the wealthiest nations move to a hundred percent synthetic beef--synthetic beef--to fight climate change. Now, Mr. Speaker, I have been in meetings with Bill Gates, and I respect his intellect and his desire for social responsibility by the world's wealthiest, and I have no beef with Bill for his desire to see us transition to a much more sustainable economy, and I agree. But making supper from a lab? That is not a solution. That is a chemistry experiment. Mr. Speaker, America makes food, real food, and we shouldn't disrupt a nutritional food source and management of our animal resources that would have minimal effect on greenhouse gases. I have an idea. I would like to invite Mr. Gates to the West Point Livestock Auction, and he can present his proposal for lab-based meat to the farmers and ranchers there. We would have a healthy debate. ____________________”