Action Alert: Protect Country of Origin Labeling!

Once again, the Senate has refused to delay country of origin labeling!   Your calls, letters and actions have made that happen.  

January 21, the Senate refused to end debate and vote on final passage of the omnibus appropriations bill, which contains language that would delay country of origin labeling of origin labeling implementation for two years. Sixty votes were needed to end debate so the bill (and the country of origin labeling delay) could pass, but the motion to end debate received only 48 votes.

However, another vote is planned for Thursday, January 22. There is a lot of discussion about compromise and other options regarding country of origin labeling.   However, as WORC members have directed, the best option now is to continue to urge senators to vote “no” on the omnibus bill until language squelching country of origin labeling is removed   Call your Senator before 3:00 Eastern Time Thursday!   If your Senator voted “no” yesterday, thank them for their support for country-of-origin labeling and urge them to continue to oppose the omnibus appropriations bill until the delay on implementing country of origin labeling is removed.  

If your Senator voted “yes” on cloture, call to express your disappointment with their vote, and assure them that they can stand by American farmers, ranchers and consumers by withdrawing their support for the omnibus appropriations bill until the delay on implementing   country of origin labeling is removed.  

The votes from WORC's seven-state region are as follows:  

(A “yes” vote supported ending debate and voting on the entire bill.   A “no” vote indicated support for country of origin labeling and continuing debate on the bill.)

Colorado :   Campbell (R)—No; Allard (R)--Yes

Idaho :   Craig (R)—Yes; Crapo (R)—Yes

Montana :   Burns (R)—Yes; Baucus (D)—Not voting

North Dakota :   Dorgan (D)—No; Conrad (D)—No

Oregon :   Wyden (D)—No; Smith (R)—Yes

South Dakota :   Daschle (D)—No; Johnson (D)—No

Wyoming :   Enzi (R)—Yes; Thomas (R)—Yes

For other states, you can find a link to the full vote tally by logging on to:   http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_108_2.htm

Another update will be issued as soon as more information is available.   Please watch your email for updates and be ready to take necessary action to save country of origin labeling.

For more information on how you can help preserve country of origin labeling, call Jeri Lynn Bakken at 701-376-7077 or email her at jerilynn@worc.org .

What You Can Do

You can make a difference! CALL or FAX (or both) your senators today. Urge them to vote “No” on the appropriations bill until the anti-Country of Origin Labeling language is removed.

Tell your senators that a two-year delay for such vital consumer information is unacceptable and that you want mandatory Country of Origin Labeling for food implemented on schedule!

You can find the phone and fax numbers of your senators below.

What to say when you call or put in your fax

1. Congress has until January 31, 2004 to pass the bill because the current appropriations bill ends then. There is time to protect Country of Origin Labeling without affecting the funding for other government programs.

2. Given the food safety scares like Mad Cow disease in Canadian animals and hepatitis A in green onions from Mexico , it's time make basic information available to consumers in the United States . A national survey showed strong consumer support in the U.S. , and this basic information is already available to consumers in the European Union, Australia , and Japan .  

3. Livestock producers want Country of Origin Labeling, too. It differentiates U.S. products for both U.S. and foreign consumers from the products of other countries. A poll found that 98% of U.S. producers support Country of Origin Labeling.
 
Background

The 2002 Farm Bill requires the U.S. Department of Agriculture to write rules for Country of Origin Labeling of beef, lamb, pork, fish, fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables, and peanuts. The label would be found on foods sold in grocery stores, and would state the food's country of origin. The Farm Bill calls for the rules to go into effect in September 2004.

Since the passage of the Farm Bill, the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and corporate agribusiness have been trying to delay and ultimately kill Country of Origin Labeling. This kind of labeling could benefit both consumers, who will be able to make an informed choice and buy food produced closer to home, and producers, who need a way to identify their crops and livestock as products of the United States.

Despite practical suggestions from small farmers and ranchers for streamlining the Country of Origin Labeling process, the USDA instead has been taking its lead from NCBA and agribusiness, which doesn't want consumers to know where food comes from.

The House has already passed this version of the budget bill. It's up to the Senate to keep this anti-Country of Origin Labeling version from becoming law. The vote on January 20 will be a cloture vote – a vote to end debate on this issue and bring the bill up for a vote.

Telephone and fax numbers for U.S. Senators in alphabetical order

Senator Daniel K. Akaka, Democrat – HI          Phone: 202-224-6361                  Fax: 202-224-2126

Sen. Lamar Alexander, Republican – TN           Phone: 202-224-4944                  Fax: 202-228-3398

Senator Wayne Allard, Republican – CO          Phone: 202-224-5941                  Fax: 202-224-6471

Senator George Allen, Republican – VA           Phone: 202-224-4024                  Fax: 202-224-5432

Senator Max Baucus, Democrat – MT                Phone: 202-224-2651                  Fax: 202-224-4701

Senator Evan Bayh, Democrat – IN                      Phone: 202-224-5623                  Fax: 202-228-1377

Sen. Robert F. Bennett, Republican – UT          Phone: 202-224-5444                  Fax: 202-228-1168

Sen. Joseph R. Biden, Jr., Democrat – DE         Phone: 202-224-5042                  Fax: 202-224-0139

Senator Jeff Bingaman, Democrat – NM            Phone: 202-224-5521                  Fax: 202-224-2852

Sen. Christopher S. Bond, Rep. – MO   Phone: 202-224-5721                  Fax: 202-224-8149

Senator Barbara Boxer, Democrat – CA            Phone: 202-224-3553                  Fax: 415-956-6701

Senator John B. Breaux, Democrat – LA            Phone: 202-224-4623                  Fax: 202-228-2577

Senator Sam Brownback, Republican – KS       Phone: 202-224-6521                  Fax: 202-228-1265

Senator Jim Bunning, Republican – KY             Phone: 202-224-4343                  Fax: 202-228-1373

Senator Conrad Burns, Republican – MT          Phone: 202-224-2644                  Fax: 202-228-2034

Senator Robert C. Byrd, Democrat – WV          Phone: 202-224-3954                  Fax: 202-228-0002

Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, Rep.     - CO       Phone: 202-224-5852                  Fax: 202-228-4609

Senator Maria Cantwell, Democrat – WA         Phone: 202-224-3441                  Fax: 202-228-0514

Sen. Thomas R. Carper, Democrat – DE            Phone: 202-224-2441                  Fax: 202-228-2190

Sen. Lincoln D. Chafee, Republican – RI           Phone: 202-224-2921                  Fax: 202-228-2853

Senator Saxby Chamblis, Republican – GA       Phone: 202-224-3521                  Fax: 202-224-0103

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, Dem.- NY           Phone: 202-224-4451                  Fax: 202-228-0282

Senator Thad Cochran, Republican – MS          Phone: 202-224-5054                  Fax: 202-224-9450

Senator Norm Coleman, Republican – MN        Phone: 202-224-5641                  Fax: 202-224-1152

Sen. Susan M. Collins, Republican – ME          Phone: 202-224-2523                  Fax: 202-224-2693

Senator Kent Conrad, Democrat – ND               Phone: 202-224-2043                  Fax: 202-224-7776

Senator John Cornyn, Republican – TX             Phone: 202-224-2934                  Fax: 202-228-2856

Senator Jon S. Corzine, Democrat – NJ             Phone: 202-224-4744                  Fax: 202-228-2197

Senator Larry E. Craig, Republican – ID           Phone: 202-224-2752                  Fax: 202-228-1067

Senator Mike Crapo, Republican – ID               Phone: 202-224-6142                  Fax: 202-228-1375

Senator Tom Daschle, Democrat – SD               Phone: 800-424-9094                  Fax: 202-224-7895

Senator Mark Dayton, Democrat – MN              Phone: 202-224-3244                  Fax: 202-228-2186

Senator Mike DeWine, Republican – OH          Phone: 224-2315                          Fax: 202-224-6519

Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, Dem. – CT   Phone: 224-2823                          Fax: 202-224-1083

Senator Elizabeth Dole, Republican – NC         Phone: 202-224-6342                  Fax: 202-224-1100

Sen. Pete V. Domenici, Republican – NM         Phone: 224-6621                          Fax: 202-228-0900

Sen. Byron L. Dorgan, Democrat – ND              Phone: 224-2551                          Fax: 202-224-1193

Senator Richard J. Durbin, Democrat – IL         Phone: 224-2152                          Fax: 202-228-0400

Senator John Edwards, Democrat – NC             Phone: 202-224-3154                  Fax: 202-228-1374

Senator John Ensign, Republican – NV              Phone: 224-6244                          Fax: 202-228-2193

Senator Mike Enzi, Republican – WY   Phone: 202-224-3424                  Fax: 202-228-0359

Sen. Russell D. Feingold, Democrat – WI         Phone: 202-224-5323                  Fax: 202-224-2725

Senator Dianne Feinstein, Democrat – CA         Phone: 202-224-3841                  Fax: 202-228-3954

Sen. Peter G. Fitzgerald, Republican – IL          Phone: 202-224-2854                  Fax: 202-228-1372

Senator Bill Frist, Republican – TN                    Phone: 202-224-3344                  Fax: 202-228-1264

Senator Bob Graham, Democrat – FL   Phone: 202-224-3041                  Fax: 202-224-2237

Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican – SC       Phone: 202-224-5972                  Fax: 202-224-3808

Sen. Charles E. Grassley, Republican – IA        Phone: 202-224-3744                  Fax: 202-224-6020

Senator Judd Gregg, Republican – NH              Phone: 202-224-3324                  Fax: 202-224-4952

Senator Chuck Hagel, Republican – NE             Phone: 202-224-4224                  Fax: 202-224-5213

Senator Tom Harkin, Democrat – IA                    Phone: 202-224-3254                  Fax: 202-224-9369

Senator Orrin G. Hatch, Republican – UT         Phone: 202-224-5251                  Fax: 202-224-6331
 
Senator Ernest F. Hollings, Democrat – SC       Phone: 202-224-6121                  Fax: 202-224-4293

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, Rep. – TX              Phone: 202-224-5922                  Fax: 202-224-0776

Senator James M. Inhofe, Republican – OK       Phone: 202-224-4721                  Fax: 202-228-0380

Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Democrat – HI          Phone: 202-224-3934                  Fax: 202-224-6747

Sen. James M. Jeffords, Independent – VT        Phone: 202-224-5141                  Fax: 202-228-0776

Senator Tim Johnson, Democrat – SD                Phone: 202-224-5842                  Fax: 202-228-5765    

Senator Frank Lautenberg, Democrat – NJ         Phone: 202-224-3224                  Fax: 202-228-4054
 

Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, Dem. – MA              Phone: 202-224-4543                  Fax: 202-224-2417

Senator John F. Kerry, Democrat – MA             Phone: 202-224-2742                  Fax: 202-224-8525

Senator Herb Kohl, Democrat – WI                     Phone: 202-224-5653                  Fax: 202-224-9787

Senator Jon Kyl, Republican – AZ                       Phone: 202-224-4521                  Fax: 202-224-2207

Senator Mary L. Landrieu, Democrat – LA        Phone: 202-224-5824                  Fax: 202-224-9735

Senator Patrick J. Leahy, Democrat – VT          Phone: 202-224-4242                  Fax: 202-224-3479

Senator Carl Levin, Democrat – MI                     Phone: 202-224-6221                  Fax: 202-224-1388

Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman, Dem. – CT   Phone: 202-224-4041                 Fax: 202-224-9750

Sen. Blanche L. Lincoln, Democrat – AR          Phone: 202-224-4843                  Fax: 202-228-1371

Senator Trent Lott, Republican – MS                   Phone: 202-224-6253                  Fax: 202-224-2262

Sen. Richard G. Lugar, Republican – IN            Phone: 202-224-4814                  Fax: 202-228-0360

Senator John McCain, Republican – AZ            Phone: 202-224-2235                  Fax: 202-228-2862

Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republican – KY          Phone: 202-224-2541                  Fax: 202-224-2499

Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski, Democrat – MD       Phone: 202-224-4654                  Fax: 224-8858

Senator Zell Miller, Democrat – GA                   Phone: 202-224-3643                  Fax: 202-228-2090

Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican – AK       Phone: 202-224-6665                  Fax: 202-224-5301

Senator Patty Murray, Democrat – WA              Phone: 202-224-2621                  Fax: 202-224-0238

Senator Bill Nelson, Democrat – FL                    Phone: 202-224-5274                  Fax: 202-228-2183

Sen. E. Benjamin Nelson, Democrat – NE         Phone: 202-224-6551                  Fax: 202-228-0012

Senator Don Nickles, Republican – OK             Phone: 202-224-8432                  Fax: 202-224-6008

Senator Mark Pryor, Democrat – AR                   Phone: 202-224-2353                  Fax: 202-228-0908

Senator Jack Reed, Democrat – RI                       Phone: 202-224-4642                  Fax: 202-224-4680

Senator Harry Reid, Democrat – NV                   Phone: 202-224-3542                  Fax: 202-224-7327

Senator Pat Roberts, Republican – KS               Phone: 202-224-4774                  Fax: 202-224-3514

Sen. Charles E. Schumer, Democrat – NY         Phone: 202-224-6542                  Fax: 202-228-3027

Senator Jeff Sessions, Republican – AL            Phone: 202-224-4124                  Fax: 202-224-3149

Sen. Richard C. Shelby, Republican – AL         Phone: 202-224-5744                  Fax: 202-224-3416

Senator John Sununu, Republican – NH             Phone: 202-224-2841                  Fax: 202-228-4131

Senator Gordon Smith, Republican – OR           Phone: 202-224-3753                  Fax: 202-228-3997

Senator Arlen Specter, Republican – PA           Phone: 202-224-4254                  Fax: 202-228-1229

Senator Debbie Stabenow, Democrat – MI        Phone: 202-224-4822                  Fax: 202-228-0325

Senator Ted Stevens, Republican – AK             Phone: 202-224-3004                  Fax: 202-224-2354

Senator Jim Talent, Republican – MO               Phone: 202-224-6154                  Fax: 202-228-1518

Senator Craig Thomas, Republican – WY         Phone: 202-224-6441                  Fax: 202-224-1724

Sen. George V. Voinovich, Rep. – OH               Phone: 202-224-3353                  Fax: 202-228-1382

Sen. John W. Warner, Republican – VA            Phone: 202-224-2023                  Fax: 202-224-6295

Senator Ron Wyden, Democrat – OR                   Phone: 202-224-5244                  Fax: 202-228-2717