On the recordJune 10, 2015
I thank Ranking Member Peterson for yielding me this time, and I rise in support of maintaining food labeling for the American people. Polls show 9 out of 10 Americans overwhelmingly support country of origin labeling. I certainly look for those labels when I go to the store. It ensures that the public knows the source of their food. What could be more important? In fact, American producers want to share that information because it is a way to differentiate their products in an increasingly international marketplace. Country of origin labeling is strongly supported by America's farmers and ranchers, who are proud of what they produce. Restoring local food markets, in fact, is a growing trend across the Midwest and the whole country. Farmers and ranchers know that people are demanding more and more information about their food. Restaurateurs are putting on their menus ``local beef,'' ``local pork,'' and ``local chicken.'' COOL allows farmers and ranchers the ability to market their products with pride because the label has integrity. The widespread support for country of origin labeling is what led to its enactment and implementation in the 2002, 2008, and 2014 Farm Bills. The trend is very clear. Current efforts in Congress to repeal country of origin labeling are simply veiled attempts to gut these laws for meat--for beef, for pork, for chicken, three arenas that are completely controlled by a few processing companies.…
