Darlene Hooley: “There are a number of things both good and bad in this Omnibus Appropriations bill that we're considering today. I want…”

“There are a number of things both good and bad in this Omnibus Appropriations bill that we're considering today. I want to talk specifically about an issue that is extremely important to me and the people I represent, and one that I've been working on for years. Our farmers grow the best produce and raise the best livestock in the world. And American consumers know this. Studies have shown that Americans want to buy American commodities, and are even willing to pay a premium to do so. Yet while a consumer can go into a department store and know that their shirt is made in this country, they can't go into the grocery store and have the same certainty about the food they are going to serve their families. U.S. producers need mandatory labeling in order to compete in the marketplace. Product differentiation is the only way consumers can exercise their choice between purchasing either domestic beef or beef produced by foreign competitors. Our nation's farmers and ranchers produce the best and safest commodities in the world, and our nation's consumers deserve the chance to determine where their food is born, raised, and processed. For these reasons we had country of origin labeling provisions added to the Farm Bill last Congress. Unfortunately this bill throws another hurdle in front of our consumers and our farmers, delaying implementation of this important law. Country of Origin Labeling is good for Americans farmers and good for Americans consumers.”