Senate Concurrent Resolution 103 PAG LIN 1 1 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION NO. ___ 1 2 BY KIBBIE 1 3 A Concurrent Resolution to urge that the President of 1 4 the United States and the United States Congress take 1 5 all steps necessary to ensure that food is 1 6 labeled with its country of origin by the end of 1 7 2004. 1 8 WHEREAS, on May 13, 2002, President Bush signed 1 9 into law the federal Farm Security and Rural 1 10 Investment Act of 2002, more commonly known as the 1 11 2002 Farm Bill (Pub. L. No. 107=171); and 1 12 WHEREAS, Title X, subtitle I, section 10816, of the 1 13 2002 Farm Bill requires country of origin labeling for 1 14 perishable agricultural commodities, including beef, 1 15 pork, lamb, fruits and vegetables, fish, shellfish, 1 16 and peanuts, which was to begin on September 30, 2004; 1 17 and 1 18 WHEREAS, the implementation of the mandatory 1 19 country of origin labeling provisions is the 1 20 responsibility of the Agricultural Marketing Service 1 21 of the United States Department of Agriculture, which 1 22 published proposed rules required to implement 1 23 labeling requirements in the October 30, 2003, Federal 1 24 Register; and 1 25 WHEREAS, a primary purpose of the law is to inform 1 26 consumers of the origin of their food and to provide 1 27 consumers an informed choice when purchasing domestic 1 28 or imported agricultural products; and 1 29 WHEREAS, Japan, which is this nation's largest 1 30 export market for beef, and South Korea, which is this 2 1 nation's third largest export market for beef have 2 2 both adamantly called for country of origin labeling 2 3 information; and 2 4 WHEREAS, a complementary purpose of the law is to 2 5 encourage exports of food products labeled as 2 6 originating in this country, and especially meat 2 7 products, which have earned a superior reputation 2 8 among foreign consumers, and which would stimulate the 2 9 development and promotion of additional branded 2 10 products commanding higher prices for this nation's 2 11 agricultural producers; and 2 12 WHEREAS, the economic viability and welfare of this 2 13 nation depends upon a reliable system for the 2 14 marketing of abundant and wholesome food products, 2 15 including for consumers in this nation and foreign 2 16 nations; and 2 17 WHEREAS, enormous political pressure has been 2 18 exerted at the federal level by concentrated corporate 2 19 retail and meatpacking interests, which have adopted a 2 20 strategy of overestimating the costs and regulatory 2 21 burdens of implementing a system that would ensure 2 22 fair information to consumers and better provide a 2 23 competitive environment for agricultural producers; 2 24 and 2 25 WHEREAS, the United States Congress has passed 2 26 legislation delaying the mandatory country of origin 2 27 labeling for two additional years; NOW THEREFORE, 2 28 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, THE HOUSE OF 2 29 REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING, That the President of the 2 30 United States and the Congress of the United States 3 1 take all necessary action to ensure that food is 3 2 labeled with its country of origin by the end of 2004; 3 3 and 3 4 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this 3 5 Resolution be sent by the Secretary of the Senate to 3 6 Iowa's congressional delegation; and 3 7 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this 3 8 Resolution be sent to the President of the United 3 9 States; the Secretary of Agriculture of the United 3 10 States Department of Agriculture; the President of the 3 11 Senate of the United States; the Speaker of the House 3 12 of Representatives of the United States; the 3 13 Chairperson of the United States Senate Committee on 3 14 Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry; and the 3 15 Chairperson of the United States House of 3 16 Representatives Committee on Agriculture. 3 17 LSB 6090SS 80 3 18 da/pj/5