[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 35 (Thursday, March 15, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2396-S2397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. BURNS (for himself, Mr. Bond, Mr. Craig, and Mr. Thomas):
  S. 544. A bill to amend the Federal Meat Inspection Act to provide 
that a quality grade label issued by the Secretary of Agriculture may 
not be used for imported meat food products; to the Committee on 
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President, I rise today to sponsor a bill on an issue 
of great importance to my state and to the entire livestock industry. 
The subject is that of restricting the quality USDA Grade Stamp to only 
U.S. livestock products. It would prohibit foreign meat from coming 
into America and unfairly receiving the USDA Grade Stamp.
  This language offered today, will insure that all meat products 
imported from foreign countries will not be allowed to use the USDA 
Grade. For years, other countries have used the USDA Grade Stamp to 
their advantage, and to the disadvantage of our own producers. 
Historically, Canada and Mexico have shipped livestock into the United 
States, and by doing so they have reaped the benefits of the premium 
given by USDA for our labeled grades.
  USDA Prime and USDA Choice grades are given a premium price in the 
marketplace. By allowing foreign countries to compete using our grade 
labels, American livestock producers are effectively prevented from 
receiving a premium for something that should belong solely to them.
  Agricultural producers from across our borders ship livestock to the 
United States, and feed them for a short period of time in order to 
bypass current restrictions. The animals are then slaughtered here as a 
United States product. This is not only unfair, but it is a betrayal of 
trust that our producers have placed in the system. It is one that 
American producers should not have to tolerate. My bill provides for a 
90 day feeding period to prevent this from happening, yet maintains the 
profits lightweight cattle from foreign countries bring to American 
feeders.
  The huge influx of imports from both Canada and Mexico, that American 
agricultural producers are currently faced with, has provided an added 
hardship to the agricultural economy. This is one obstacle that could 
easily be remedied by this legislation.
  When consumers see the USDA Grade Stamp on meat, most assume that 
they are buying a U.S. raised product. Even though imported carcasses 
are required to have a ``foreign origin mark,'' it is trimmed off prior 
to retail sales for marketing purposes. This is very misleading for our 
consumers.
  This bill will protect both the American producer and the American 
consumer. If the Grade Stamp is reserved exclusively for U.S. products, 
we eliminate the disadvantage American producers face in competing with 
imported meats. We would also be ensuring that American consumers know 
that the meat they purchase, is the top quality American product they 
have always assumed they were buying. Producers and consumers alike 
deserve to know that the USDA grade label really means what it says, 
produced in the U.S.
  This bill would also help assure the American consumer that the meat 
they are eating is disease free, something that our friends in Europe 
are truly concerned about right now.
  I am proud and pleased to sponsor this bill, and I look forward to 
moving it through the process so we may insure that Americans truly 
have the opportunity to use what is theirs and theirs alone, the USDA 
Grade.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.

[[Page S2397]]

  There being no objection, the bill was ordered to be printed in the 
Record, as follows:

                                 S. 544

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``USDA Grade Recission Act of 
     2001''.

     SEC. 2. QUALITY GRADE LABELING OF IMPORTED MEAT AND MEAT FOOD 
                   PRODUCTS.

       Section 1(n) of the Federal Meat Inspection Act (21 U.S.C. 
     601(n)) is amended--
       (1) in paragraph (11), by striking ``or'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (12), by striking the period at the end 
     and inserting ``; or''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(13) if it is an imported carcass, part thereof, meat, or 
     meat food product (including any carcass, part thereof, meat, 
     or meat food product produced from any cattle, sheep, or 
     goats that have not been fed in the United States for at 
     least 90 days) and bears a label that indicates a quality 
     grade issued by the Secretary.''.
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