R-CALF USA applauds Tester’s Amendment

Billings, MT – Senator Jon Tester included an amendment to FY 2016 Ag appropriations bill during consideration by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The included amendment addresses some concerns regarding importation of beef from Brazil and Argentina.

Specifically, Senator Tester’s amendment would require the Secretary of Agriculture to take several steps before the rules could be implemented:

• Conduct an updated comprehensive risk evaluation

• Update a key report to Congress, including identifying specific actions by federal agencies to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from being introduced to or disseminated within the U.S.

• Report to Congress on specific steps USDA is taking to implement recent GAO recommendations on ensuring a sufficient number of veterinarians in the federal workforce to respond to animal disease outbreaks

“R-CALF USA is thankful for Senator Tester’s concern and dedication to protect the U.S. cattle industry. It is unconscionable to expose our U.S. cattle herd to an unnecessary and avoidable risk of introducing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) from imports of fresh beef from Northern Argentina and 14 states in Brazil. These regions are not free of FMD and the live FMD virus is known to exist in and/or alongside these regions.” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard.