[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 7, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4114-S4115]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. CRAIG (for himself, Mr. Baucus, Mr. Burns, Mr. Gorton, Mr. 
        Kempthorne, and Mr. Enzi):
  S. 716. A bill to establish a Joint United States-Canada Commission 
on Cattle and Beef to identify, and recommend means of resolving 
national, regional, and provincial trade-distorting differences between 
the countries with respect to the production, processing, and sale of 
cattle and beef, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Finance.


          legislation to establish cattle and beef commission

  Mr. CRAIG. Mr. President, I rise to introduce a bill of critical 
importance to our Nation's cattle industry. The joint United States-
Canada Commission on Cattle and Beef is designed to resolve some of the 
existing differences in trade practices between the two countries.
  I want to thank a number of my colleagues who are joining me as 
original cosponsors of this legislation. The cosponsors of this bill 
include Senator Baucus, Senator Burns, Senator Gorton, Senator 
Kempthorne, and Senator Enzi.
  As a former rancher, I have a firsthand understanding of the 
challenges that face the cattle industry. The prolonged down cycle is 
especially troubling because it affects the livelihoods of thousands of 
ranching families in Idaho and across the country.
  These beef producers are the largest sector of Idaho and American 
agriculture. Over 1 million families raise over 100 million head of 
beef cattle every year. This contributes over $36 billion to local 
economies. Even with the extended cycle of low prices, direct cash 
receipts from the Idaho cattle industry were almost $620 million in 
1995. These totals only represent direct sales; they do not capture the 
multiplier effect that cattle ranches have in their local economies 
from expenditures on labor, feed, fuel, property taxes, and other 
inputs.
  Over the years, cattle operations have provided a decent living and 
good way of life in exchange for long days, hard work, and dedication. 
While the investment continues to be high, the returns have been low in 
recent years.
  The problems facing the cattle industry in recent years are complex. 
The nature of the market dictates that stable consumption combined with 
increased productivity and growing herd size yield lower prices to 
producers. This, combined with high feed prices and limited export 
opportunities, has caused a near crisis.
  Many Idahoans have contacted me on a number of cattle industry 
issues. Some suggest the Federal Government intervene in the market to 
help producers. However, many others have expressed fear that Federal 
intervention, if experience is any indication, will only complicate 
matters and may also create a number of unintended results. I tend to 
agree with the latter. Time and again, I have seen lawmakers and 
bureaucrats in Washington, DC, albeit well intentioned, take a 
difficult situation and make it worse. This does not mean that I 
believe Government has no role to play. I have supported and will 
continue to support Government involvement in areas like trade, where 
individual producers cannot help themselves.
  This bill recognizes a number of barriers to international trade that 
adversely affect American beef producers.

[[Page S4115]]

The bill is meant to elevate the importance of all trade issues and 
specifically address some of the pending cattle trade issues between 
the United States and Canada.
  The United States-Canada Commission on Cattle and Beef is a measure 
designed to provide immediate, short-term solutions to some of the 
serious trade problems facing the cattle industry. Specific cattle 
issues that could be resolved with further discussion include animal 
health requirements and the availability of feed grains. The bill 
creates a commission composed of three people from each country along 
with a number of other nonvoting advisors. Within 30 days of passage, 
the Commission must be in place and within 6 months must issue a 
preliminary report on how to resolve the existing differences between 
United States and Canadian trade.

  I know that a number of my colleagues have legislation pending in 
regards to the cattle market. I would comment that I see this bill as a 
starting point, not an ending point for cattle industry issues and I 
urge my colleagues to support this legislation.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of my bill be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 716

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. JOINT UNITED STATES-CANADA COMMISSION ON CATTLE 
                   AND BEEF.

       (a) Establishment.--There is established a Joint United 
     States-Canada Commission on Cattle and Beef to identify, and 
     recommend means of resolving, national, regional, and 
     provincial trade-distorting differences between the United 
     States and Canada with respect to the production, processing, 
     and sale of cattle and beef, with particular emphasis on--
       (1) animal health requirements;
       (2) transportation differences;
       (3) the availability of feed grains; and
       (4) Other market-distorting direct and indirect subsidies.
       (b) Composition.--
       (1) In general.--The Commission shall be composed of--
       (A) 3 members representing the United States, including--
       (i) 1 member appointed by the Majority Leader of the 
     Senate;
       (ii) 1 member appointed by the Speaker of the House of 
     Representatives; and
       (iii) 1 member appointed by the Secretary of Agriculture;
       (B) 3 members representing Canada, appointed by the 
     Government of Canada; and
       (C) nonvoting members appointed by the Commission to serve 
     as advisers to the Commission, including university faculty, 
     State veterinarians, trade experts, and other members.
       (2) Appointment.--Members of the Commission shall be 
     appointed not later than 30 days after the date of enactment 
     of this Act.
       (c) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the first 
     meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit a 
     report to Congress and the Government of Canada that 
     identifies, and recommends means of resolving, differences 
     between the United States and Canada with respect to the 
     production, processing, and sale of cattle and beef.
                                 ______