October 26th, 2005 - Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators Craig Thomas and Mike Enzi, both R-Wyo., urged conference committee appropriators to block House efforts to once again delay the implementation of country of origin labeling.
In a letter to Senate and House Agriculture Appropriations Committee Chairmen and ranking members, the senators urged the conference committee to strike House language that would further delay country of origin labeling in the Fiscal Year 2006 Agriculture Appropriations Conference Report.
“Producers have waited four years to promote their products as, ‘Made in the U.S.A.,’ since the original COOL law was included in the 2002 farm bill. We believe further delay is unwarranted and unnecessary,” the senators wrote.
The original COOL legislation was included in the 2002 Farm bill and mandated that beef, lamb, pork, fruits and vegetables be labeled with their country of origin by U.S. retailers. House opponents of COOL added language in the House Agricultural Appropriations bill to delay COOL beyond September of next year.
Thomas and Enzi co-sponsored a bill, S. 1331, in June that would move up the date of implementation for country of origin labeling from September 2006 to January 2006. The bill has been referred to the Senate Agriculture Committee.
The senators believe that consumers will choose American made products for their safety, quality and also to support American markets. Country of origin labeling provides consumers with the information to make those choices.
Click here to view the bi-partisan COOL letter.
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