[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 17 (Wednesday, January 28, 2009)]
[Senate]
[Pages S995-S996]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. JOHNSON (for himself, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Tester, Mr. Thune, 
        Mrs. McCaskill, Mr. Dorgan, Mr. Nelson of Nebraska, Mr. 
        Barrasso, and Mr. Conrad):
  S. 337. A bill to prohibit the importation of ruminants and swine, 
and fresh and frozen meat and products of ruminants and swine, from 
Argentina until the Secretary of Agriculture certifies to Congress that 
every region of Argentina is free of foot and mouth disease without 
vaccination; to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
  Mr. JOHNSON. Mr. President, today I introduce the Foot and Mouth 
Disease Prevention Act of 2009 with my colleague from Wyoming, Senator 
Mike Enzi, and with broad organizational support. I drafted this bill 
with one goal in mind: to keep America Foot and Mouth Disease, FMD, 
free.
  The United States Department of Agriculture, USDA, under the Bush 
administration proposed throwing open our borders to Argentine 
livestock, fresh meat and fresh product. While the United States of 
America has been free of FMD without vaccination since 1929, Argentina 
has consistently struggled with the disease, experiencing outbreaks as 
recently as 2006. Argentina has failed to remain FMD free for any 
length of time and arguably lacks the infrastructure necessary for this 
proposal to fly. In fact, a 2001 outbreak in Argentina went unreported 
and was hidden by the Argentine government, raising serious questions 
regarding their communication on this front.
  The Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2009 doesn't interrupt 
the status quo. Argentina can import product that is dried or cooked, 
for example, that doesn't pose a risk for disease transmission. And 
we're not saying that increased trade is permanently prohibited. We are 
simply asking for Argentina to comply with certain acceptable standards 
for trade that would ensure the country as a whole is FMD free, and FMD 
free without vaccination. Additionally, our requirement that the 
Secretary of Agriculture ``certifies to Congress'' that Argentina as a 
country is free of FMD is merely a reporting process regarding 
Argentina's disease status.
  Senator Enzi and I consulted extensively with nationally recognized 
livestock health experts on USDA's proposal. These livestock health 
experts resoundingly voiced their concern for USDA's plan, which fails 
to put American farmers and ranchers first. Dr. Sam Holland, South 
Dakota State Veterinarian and Past President of the National Assembly 
of State Animal Health Officials, NASAHO, has been instrumental with 
offering his guidance and expertise. A poll was taken within NASAHO and 
the majority of state veterinarians oppose regionalizing for FMD. While 
regionalization may be an appropriate approach in various other 
circumstances, it is unequivocally unacceptable in responding to Foot 
and Mouth Disease. An FMD outbreak in the United States is projected to 
cost our agricultural economy billions of dollars, and it is with good 
reason that the American Veterinary Medical Association, AVMA, has 
deemed FMD to be the most devastating of all livestock diseases.
  USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Services, APHIS, arguably 
violated its own World Organization for Animal Health-complaint 
regionalization plan in proposing increased meat trade with Argentina. 
APHIS must address eleven points when initiating the regionalization 
process, including points six and seven which speak to the degree of 
separation of the region and the extent to which movement can be 
determined and controlled. Nationally recognized livestock health 
experts believe that in the case of regionalizing for FMD, sound 
scientific evidence argues against USDA's proposal.
  This past fall, USDA APHIS Chief Veterinarian Dr. Clifford discussed 
with my staff his intention not to proceed with the Argentina plan 
until a review of the 2005 risk assessment was completed. It is my 
understanding that a team will be sent to Argentina to conduct this 
review in late February. Additionally, the new Administration is 
reviewing proposed rules, of which the Argentina plan is included. 
While both of these developments are encouraging, it is essential that 
we continue to communicate the potentially disastrous consequences of 
this plan.
  Organizations across the agricultural industry support this 
legislation, including the American Sheep Industry Association, United 
States Cattlemen's Association, R-CALF, National Farmers Union, South 
Dakota Stockgrowers Association, South Dakota Cattlemen's Association, 
Wyoming Stock Growers Association, South Dakota Farmers Union, Women 
Involved in Farm Economics, and Dakota Rural Action.
  Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that letters of support be 
printed in the Record.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be placed in 
the Record, as follows:
                                                      South Dakota


                                        Animal Industry Board,

                                     Pierre, SD, January 27, 2009.
     Hon. Tim Johnson,
     U.S. Senator, Hart Office Building, Washington, DC.
       Dear Senator Johnson: As a follow-up to our conversation on 
     Regionalization of Argentina for FMD:
       As you recall NASAHO was overwhelmingly opposed to such 
     regionalization during the last session of congress.
       As I understand a more current review and risk assessment 
     is planned regarding such regionalization. While a recent 
     review will provide useful risk information, concerns remain.
       Personally, the issues I stated in the past appear still 
     valid.
       (1) Economic benefits do not justify the risk of embarking 
     on a regionalization for this disease.
       (2) Inability to effectively monitor risk on an ongoing 
     basis.
       (3) Resources, Biosecurity, and experience in monitoring 
     FMD freedom are inadequate.
       (4) Regionalization for one of the world's most highly 
     contagious virus disease(s) (FMD) is much more complicated 
     than regionalization for tuberculosis, brucellosis and many 
     other diseases. FMD virus is not only arguably the most 
     contagious virus known for animals, but also is particularly 
     resilient in the environment and may persist in fomites and 
     be transmitted by such through aerosol or contact.
       While I certainly support trade based on science, 
     prioritization must occur. Regionalization efforts should 
     start at home and resources should be spent on enhancing 
     animal health in the United States, along with efforts to 
     increase our exports, prior to spending precious resources in 
     foreign countries in attempts to increase food imports.
           Sincerely,
                                                   Sam D. Holland,
     State Veterinarian and Executive Secretary.
                                  ____



                                 U.S. Cattlemen's Association,

                                  San Lucas, CA, January 28, 2009.
     Hon. Tim Johnson,
     Hon. Mike Enzi,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Sirs: The U.S. Cattlemen's Association (USCA) applauds 
     your leadership in introducing the Foot and Mouth Disease 
     Prevention Act. This bill would prohibit the importation of 
     ruminants and swine and fresh or frozen ruminant and pork 
     products from any region of Argentina until the United States 
     Department of Agriculture (USDA) can certify to Congress that 
     Argentina is free of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
       This bill is extremely important as it protects the U.S. 
     cattle herd from FMD. If FMD

[[Page S996]]

     infiltrates our borders, entire herds would be destroyed 
     leaving ranchers in financial ruin. Furthermore, the scare 
     would immediately shut global markets to U.S. beef products, 
     a move that would have a disastrous economic effect on rural 
     economies.
       The American Veterinary Medical Association has deemed FMD 
     the most economically devastating of all livestock disease. A 
     recent study by Kansas State University found that an 
     outbreak of FMD would cost the State of Kansas alone nearly 
     $1 billion.
       Despite the risks, the Department of Agriculture continues 
     to consider the implementation of a regionalized beef trade 
     plan with Argentina. FMD is an airborne disease that will not 
     stop at an imaginary border controlled by a foreign nation. 
     Argentina has proven time and time again that it does not 
     have America's best interests at heart. This is a country 
     that has attacked U.S. agriculture in the World Trade 
     Organization (WTO) and has intentionally turned its back on, 
     and still refuses to pay, billions in U.S. loans despite U.S. 
     court judgments mandating it do so.
       USCA is committed to working with you and moving this bill 
     forward by garnering support both on Capitol Hill and in the 
     country. USCA is firmly resolved to ensuring the U.S. cattle 
     industry is protected by the highest import standards 
     possible, and to seeing that this bill becomes law.
           Sincerely,
                                                      Jon Wooster,
     President.
                                  ____



                                       National Farmers Union,

                                 Washington, DC, January 27, 2009.
     Hon. Tim Johnson,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington D.C.
       Dear Senator Johnson: On behalf of the family farmers, 
     ranchers and rural residents of National Farmers Union (NFU), 
     I write in strong support of your legislation to prohibit the 
     importation of Argentine ruminants, swine, fresh and frozen 
     meat, and fresh and frozen products from ruminants and swine 
     until the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary 
     certifies the country Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) free 
     without vaccination. I applaud your leadership to ensure all 
     measures are employed to protect the American livestock 
     industry and consumer confidence in our meat supply.
       The ban proposed in your legislation is necessary in order 
     to prevent jeopardizing our own efforts to eradicate 
     livestock diseases, and thereby protecting the food supply. 
     Your legislation enhances food safety through requiring every 
     region of Argentina to be FMD-free without vaccination before 
     exporting ruminants, swine and meat products to the United 
     States.
       FMD is a highly infectious virus that, if introduced into 
     the United States, could contaminate entire herds and leave 
     producers in financial ruin, as infected herds must be culled 
     to prevent the spread of the disease. FMD is so devastating 
     the American Veterinary Medical Association considers it to 
     be the most economically destructive of all livestock 
     diseases. The United States suffered nine outbreaks of FMD in 
     the early twentieth century, but has been FMD-free since 
     1929. According to USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
     Service, the economic impacts of a re-occurrence of FMD in 
     the United States could cost the economy billions of dollars 
     in the first year alone.
       America's family farmers and ranchers produce the safest, 
     most abundant food supply in the world. FMD presents a very 
     real threat to American agriculture and its introduction into 
     the United States can and must be prevented. Requiring a 
     country like Argentina, with such an apparent problem with 
     this devastating disease, to prove FMD-free status is an 
     acceptable standard to trade. Opening our borders to 
     Argentine ruminant products is a risk that American producers 
     simply cannot afford. Your legislation is needed to ensure 
     harmful products are not allowed into the United States and 
     that Argentina is not an exception to the rule.
       I thank you for introducing this important legislation, and 
     look forward to working with you to ensure its passage.
           Sincerely,
                                                         Tom Buis,
     President, National Farmers Union.
                                  ____

                                                            R-CALF


                               United Stockgrowers of America,

                                   Billings, MT, January 26, 2009.
     Hon. Tim Johnson,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
     Hon. Mike Enzi,
     U.S. Senate,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senators Johnson and Enzi: On behalf of the thousands 
     of cattle-producing members of R-CALF USA located throughout 
     the United States, we greatly appreciate and strongly support 
     the reintroduction in the 111th Congress of your joint 
     legislation to prohibit the importation of certain animals 
     and animal products from Argentina until every region of 
     Argentina is free of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) without 
     vaccination.
       Foot-and-mouth disease is recognized internationally as one 
     of the most contagious diseases of cloven-hoofed animals and 
     it bears the potential to cause severe economic losses to 
     U.S. cattle producers. Your legislation recognizes that the 
     most effective prevention measure against this highly 
     contagious disease is to ensure that it is not imported into 
     the United States from countries where FMD is known to exist 
     or was recently detected.
       R-CALF USA stands ready to assist you in building both 
     industry and congressional support for this important 
     disease-prevention measure. Thank you for reintroducing this 
     needed legislation in the 111th Congress to protect the U.S. 
     cattle industry from the unnecessary and dangerous exposure 
     to FMD from Argentinean imports.
           Sincerely,

                                             R.M. Thornsberry,

     President,
                                  ____

                                                      South Dakota


                                      Cattlemen's Association,

                                                 January 26, 2009.
     Senator Tim Johnson,
     Hart Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
     Senator Mike Enzi,
     Russell Senate Office Building,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Senators Johnson and Enzi: I'm writing on behalf of 
     the 1,000 beef producer members of the South Dakota 
     Cattlemen's Association (SDCA) to express support for the 
     Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act of 2009. In light of 
     numerous unanswered questions regarding the status of Foot 
     and Mouth Disease in Argentina, we believe passage of the 
     Foot and Mouth Disease Prevention Act is critical to ensure 
     this devastating disease doesn't enter the U.S. cattle herd 
     through the importation of Argentine cattle and beef 
     products.
       SDCA supports free and fair trade based on OIE standards 
     that will protect the health of our cattle herd and the 
     economic livelihood of our cattlemen. Our top trade priority 
     is to regain market access for U.S. beef in order to 
     recapture the lost value of exports that occurred after the 
     occurrence of BSE in 2003. To that end, we've worked closely 
     with elected and regulatory officials to ensure adequate 
     measures are taken to protect our herd health and maintain 
     consumer confidence in U.S. beef.
       We commend your willingness to stand up for South Dakota's 
     beef producers and look forward to working with you on this 
     important issue.
           Regards,
                                                    Jodie Hickman,
                                               Executive Director.
                                 ______