[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 2]
[Senate]
[Pages 2350-2351]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       BEEF AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL

  Mrs. FISCHER. Madam President, I rise to congratulate Nebraska's beef 
producers for continuing to reach new areas of the world with our very 
high-quality American beef. Earlier this month it was announced that WR 
Reserve, a beef-processing plant in Hastings, NE, will have the honor 
of delivering the first U.S. shipments to Israel in nearly 13 years. In 
December 2003, Israel was one of many countries to suspend imports of 
U.S. beef, following a confirmed case of BSE in the United States. 
Because of this, America's beef producers have been unable to ship 
their products to this close friend and ally. However, during my visit 
to Israel last fall, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dan Shapiro asked me to 
begin a dialogue with the U.S. Department of Agriculture and find a way 
to bring Nebraska beef to Israel. The Ambassador was especially 
interested in serving that Nebraska beef at the Embassy's annual 4th of 
July celebration.
  Over the last few months, I have worked with the USDA's Food Safety 
and Inspection Service and with officials at the Nebraska Department of 
Agriculture in a concerted effort to find a solution. I am extremely 
pleased to inform this body that an agreement was achieved, the ban was 
lifted, and Nebraska will supply the first shipments of beef to Israel 
in over a decade.
  Ambassador Shapiro was quick to praise this breakthrough, noting:

       This agreement gives Israeli consumers access to the 
     world's highest-quality beef. At the same time, it creates 
     and supports jobs in the great state of Nebraska.

  I couldn't agree with the Ambassador more. Israel is a critical ally 
of the United States, and I was pleased to work with the USDA and the 
Israeli Government to supply the first American beef shipments to 
Israel in over a decade.
  Nebraska's beef producers are the best in the world, and this 
agreement is a testament to their tireless commitment to delivering 
safe and high-quality beef to millions of dinner tables around the 
world. In Nebraska, cattle outnumber people more than 3 to 1. With 
nearly $7.2 billion in annual cash receipts, our beef production is the 
largest sector of the State's economy, and Nebraska leads the Nation in 
every aspect of beef production. I would also like to note that this 
agreement shows that science-based trade can overcome myth and 
misinformation.
  By ending this ban, Israel becomes one of the last countries to 
reopen its market to U.S. beef and abide by international trade 
regulations. In doing so, this agreement reinforces the progress made 
by the U.S. beef industry to eliminate BSE-related trade restrictions.
  I also join the Nebraska Agriculture Department director, Greg Ibach, 
in

[[Page 2351]]

congratulating WR Reserve. Their hard work made this agreement possible 
after complying with a rigorous inspection process that included 
regular visits from the Israeli Government.
  Prior to this agreement, according to the USDA, Israel imported beef 
products from other nations worth $405 million in 2014. Ninety-five 
percent of these imports originated in Latin America with smaller 
volumes coming from Australia and the European Union.
  Now the United States will have the opportunity to showcase our 
world-famous beef to a new global market, and Nebraska is very proud to 
lead that charge. I was honored to work collaboratively with State, 
Federal, and international officials to ensure that Nebraska's beef 
producers achieved those necessary approvals.
  I am proud to represent the people of Nebraska. Through this 
agreement, new markets are now open to Nebraska's producers, 
businesses, and to the communities that rely on them for economic 
progress. I will continue to work to ensure Nebraska's beef producers 
have the opportunity to do what they do best--feed the world.
  Madam President, I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. CARPER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.

                          ____________________