U.S. Senator Ken Salazar

Member of the Agriculture, Energy and Veterans Affairs Committees

 

2300 15th Street, Suite 450 Denver, CO 80202 | 702 Hart Senate Building, Washington, D.C. 20510

 

 

For Immediate Release

March 3, 2005

CONTACT:    Cody Wertz – Press Secretary

                        202-228-3630

Jen Clanahan – Deputy Press Secretary

                        303-455-7600

 

SEN. SALAZAR INSTRUMENTAL IN INITIAL BIPARTISAN WIN TO KEEP U.S. BORDER CLOSED TO CANDADIAN BEEF

WASHINGTON, DC – United States Senator Ken Salazar today led a bipartisan group of Senators in passing a resolution that urges the Canadian border remain closed until critical health and safety measures are implemented. Senator Salazar helped ensure a consideration of the bi-partisan S.J. Res 4, a Resolution of Disapproval of the USDA’s Canadian border rule, on the Senate floor. Salazar was an original co-sponsor of the legislation and was one of 33 signatories on a discharge petition, which forced its immediate consideration by the Senate.

The Senate voted 52 to 46 in favor of disapproving of the USDA’s 2005 rule opening the U.S. border to Canadian beef imports despite extensive concerns about the existence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) contamination to American consumers and livestock. The majority of Western Senators joined in voting for the Resolution of Disapproval, including Senators Craig (R-ID), Crapo (R-ID), Burns (R-MT) Domenici (R-NM), Ensign (R-NV) Coburn (R-OK), Inhofe (R-OK), Smith (R-OR), Thune, (R-SD), Thomas (R-WY) and Enzi (R-WY).

Salazar said, “Today’s vote by the United States Senate is a victory for Colorado’s consumers, farmers and ranchers. By standing up for small ranchers around the country, the Senate has sent a message: There are serious risks posed to Colorado’s ranchers and consumers by the USDA’s premature decision to re-open the Canadian border.”

“This is a reasonable request to further protect the interests of Colorado and its ranchers and farmers.”

Background:

Today’s action will allow the Congress to review the impact of reopening the border at this time on the protection of human and animal health in this country, as well as on our efforts to reopen beef export markets and the financial health of the U.S. cattle industry.

In 2003, after one case of BSE in Canada, USDA closed its border to imports of Canadian beef. Since 2003, three additional cases have been reported in Canada.

26 of the 38 Western Senators voted to overturn the USDA rule including 11 Republicans.

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