A resolution reaffirming a strong commitment to the U.S. producers and American-made commodities.

III 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION S. RES. 391 Reaffirming a strong commitment to U.S. producers and American-made commodities. IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES OCTOBER 31, 2019 Mr. TESTER submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry RESOLUTION Reaffirming a strong commitment to U.S. producers and American-made commodities. Whereas the U.S. farmers and ranchers raise the best meat in the world; Whereas Americans should have the right to knowingly buy made in America products; Whereas American farmers, ranchers, workers and consumers benefit from transparency on the origin of food; Whereas Congress overwhelmingly supported Country-of-Ori- gin Labeling (COOL) in the Food, Conservation, and En- ergy Act of 2008 (Public Law 110–246; 122 Stat. 1651) because 87 percent of consumers want to know the coun- try of origin of their meat; VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:32 Oct 31, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\SR391.IS SR391 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •SRES 391 IS Whereas in 2015, Congress repealed the Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law for beef and pork, reducing the competitive advantage of products born, raised, and slaughtered in the U.S.; Whereas there is no standardized definition of the term ‘‘truth in labeling’’, disadvantaging American producers; Whereas Congress supports American products, and con- sumers deserve the right to know where their food comes from; Whereas the United States has the highest phytosanitary standards in the world while other countries place less emphasis on food safety; Whereas foreign commodities, like beef and pork, are misleadingly labeled ‘‘Product of USA’’ if they are proc- essed or packed in the United States; Whereas technological advancements make it possible to accu- rately and efficiently identify the origin of beef and pork without costly segregation of imported and domestic com- modities; Whereas this gives producers and consumers the ability to identify true American products from foreign imported meat; and Whereas Country-of-Origin labeling is good for farmers, ranchers, workers, and packers, because it allows them to identify their products as born and raised in the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate supports legislation to rein- 1 state Country-of-Origin labeling for pork and beef to allow 2 VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:32 Oct 31, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6201 E:\BILLS\SR391.IS SR391 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 3 •SRES 391 IS consumers to make an informed and free choice about 1 where their food comes from. 2 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 22:32 Oct 31, 2019 Jkt 099200 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\SR391.IS SR391 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS