Joseph T. Burns: “we understand in the House bill there is one section that deals with the country-of-origin labeling. This has been one…”

“we understand in the House bill there is one section that deals with the country-of-origin labeling. This has been one of the most heated debates we have had in the livestock industry. It seems like it comes up every year. In 2002, a mandatory country-of-origin labeling law was passed in the farm bill. I remind my colleagues it is the law of the land. It was signed into law. USDA was directed to start writing the administrative rules that all meat being imported into the United States have a label on it and also that meat domestically produced would also have a label saying: ``Made in the U.S.A.'' That was in 2002. That was 3 years ago. We have gone through this debate, and I know sometimes it gets carried away and is very emotional. I understand in the House bill there is another delay in putting the rules into effect. Now, whether you agree or do not agree with the mandatory law, it is the law of the land. This old business of delay and delay and delay does not do anything for our beef or pork producers because there is no consistency in the law. They do not know what to expect and what to do. In Montana, my producers are tired of waiting. The USDA published a proposed rule on mandatory country-of-origin labeling on October 27, 2003. The public had a chance to comment. In fact, they even extended the comment period to give folks extra time to weigh in on this important issue. Three years have gone by, and here we are--no progress on labeling.…”