Posted by Debbie Neustadt

This measure is supported by many progressive organizations.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                     FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT:
  November 15, 2001                                       Linda Rauser:
(701) 675-2305

Brandy Hinkle: (406) 252-9672

  WORC Applauds Committee Vote for Country of Origin Labeling
  Group Vows to Take Agriculture Competition Fight to Senate Floor

  The Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) commended the
Senate Agriculture Committee's adoption of
  country of origin labeling of meat, fish and produce in its farm bill
today, and vowed to win other anti-monopoly measures when the bill goes
to the full Senate.

  WORC, a regional network of groups representing farmers, ranchers and
consumers, says it hopes to build on a close vote
  in the Senate Agriculture Committee against a competition title on
Tuesday, and today's vote for country of origin labeling.

  "Every time corporate monopolies in our food system comes up in
Congress, we get more votes for family farmers,
  ranchers and consumers," said Linda Rauser, Chair of the Western
Organization of Resource Councils (WORC). "On
  Tuesday, a well-heeled lobby effort by corporate agribusiness
interests stopped the Senate Agriculture Committee from
  including the first-ever competition title in the Farm Bill - for now.
But today's vote for country of origin labeling shows we
  can win despite the special interests. The fight for anti-monopoly
reforms isn't over by a long shot."

  The Senate Agriculture Committee today adopted a country of origin
amendment to its version of the farm bill on an 11 to
  10 vote. The amendment, by Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN), requires
retail labeling of meat, fish and produce by its
  country of origin.

  On Tuesday, the Agriculture Committee had voted 12 to 9 to strike a
competition title -- which included country of origin
  labeling -- proposed by Committee Chairman Tom Harkin (D-IA). The
Committee also voted 9-12 to defeat an
  amendment by Senator Paul Wellstone (D-MN) to prohibit packer
ownership of livestock.

  "We urge farmers, ranchers and consumers to ask the Senators who voted
against country of origin labeling and
  competition: 'Who is opposing this common-sense legislation?'" Rauser
said. "I doubt very much that consumers got
  together and decided that they didn't want to know where their food
comes from. And I don't know any farmers or
  ranchers who favor price discrimination and price manipulation in our
markets."

  "Agribusiness monopolies, and commodity groups beholden to them,
opposed this legislation," Rauser said. "They are
  working against the interests of the overwhelming majority of
America's farmers, ranchers and consumers."

  Votes in the Senate Agriculture Committee on Competition Issues
  Tuesday, November 13, 2001

  Wellstone Amendment on Packer Ownership of Livestock and Captive
Supplies
  Similar to a bill cosponsored by Senators Johnson, Daschle, Thomas and
Grassley, this amendment would have prohibited
  meatpackers from owning livestock more than 14 days prior to
slaughter. It also contained provisions to stop price
  manipulation and price discrimination by packers.

  DEMOCRATS FOR: Wellstone (MN), Harkin (IA), Conrad (ND), Baucus (MT),
Daschle (SD), Leahy (VT), Stabenow
  (MI), Dayton (MN).
  DEMOCRATS AGAINST: Lincoln (AR), Miller (GA), and Nelson (NE).

  REPUBLICANS FOR: Thomas (WY)
  REPUBLICANS AGAINST: Crapo (ID), Allard (CO), Roberts (KS), Lugar
(IN), Cochran (MS), Helms (NC),
  McConnell (KY), Hutchinson (AR), Fitzgerald (IL)

  Motion to strike the competition title
  (A vote for the motion was a vote against the competition title)

  REPUBLICANS FOR: Crapo (ID), Allard (CO), Thomas (WY), Roberts (KS),
Lugar (IN), Cochran (MS), Helms
  (NC), McConnell (KY), Hutchinson (AR), Fitzgerald (IL)

  DEMOCRATS FOR: Miller (GA), Lincoln (AR)
  DEMOCRATS AGAINST: Wellstone (MN), Harkin (IA), Conrad (ND), Baucus
(MT), Daschle (SD), Leahy (VT),
  Stabenow (MI), Dayton (MN), Nelson (NE).


  Thursday, November 15, 2001
  Wellstone Country of Origin Amendment

  DEMOCRATS FOR: Wellstone (MN), Harkin (IA), Conrad (ND), Baucus (MT),
Daschle (SD), Leahy (VT), Stabenow
  (MI), Dayton (MN), Miller (GA), Nelson (NE).
  DEMOCRATS AGAINST: Lincoln (AR).

  REPUBLICANS FOR: Thomas (WY)
  REPUBLICANS AGAINST: Crapo (ID), Allard (CO), Roberts (KS), Lugar
(IN), Cochran (MS), Helms (NC),
  McConnell (KY), Hutchinson (AR), Fitzgerald (IL)

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