[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 50 (Friday, April 6, 2001)]
[Senate]
[Page S3699]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




      ANIMAL DISEASE RISK ASSESSMENT, PREVENTION, AND CONTROL ACT

  Mr. BURNS. Mr. President I rise today as one of the proud co-sponsors 
of the Animal Disease Risk Assessment, Prevention, and Control Act of 
2001.
  This bill will go a long way toward offering the American public and 
producers the vital information necessary to begin to understand the 
economic impacts associated with Hoof and Mouth Disease and Bovine 
Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). The risks associated with these 
diseases to the public health will also be reviewed.
  In the United states, we take great pride and have worked diligently 
to maintain healthy herds. We have spent years creating our breeding 
programs and ensuring the animals we produce are the finest in the 
world. This bill will help ensure that effort will not be jeopardized.
  We need to create a solid unified front to ensure that all the 
information available on these diseases is readily accessible. This 
bill will not only make that knowledge available, it will provide 
Congress with the information necessary to move forward quickly with 
any other type of action that is required. This bill will provide an 
important tool that will allow us to continue producing the safest meat 
supply in the world.
  I look forward to working with Senators Hatch and Harkin on this very 
important piece of legislation.

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