Honolulu, Hawaii – United States Senator Daniel K. Akaka (D-Hawaii) issued the following statement in response to Secretary of Agriculture Ann Veneman's announcement of the United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) meatpacking ban on the use of downer cattle:

"I commend the USDA for adopting provisions mirroring those in my Downed Animal Protection Act by enforcing a meatpacking ban on all downed cattle and implementing other measures to ensure the safety of the food supply and restore public confidence in the safety of American beef. At the same time, as I review the specifics of the Department's proposal, I continue to urge the Congress to undertake a thorough review of the pathways for the spread of disease in livestock and to act on legislation to protect human health and establish a uniform national standard for excluding downers from human consumption. This is clearly in the best interest of the American consumer and our nation's cattlemen, livestock producers, and meatpackers."