Washington, D.C. - U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen (WA-02) today questioned U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns at a House Agriculture Committee hearing on issues important to Washington state.

Last year Vietnam attempted to block the importation of Washington state beef, while allowing U.S. beef from other states into the country. Larsen worked to stop Vietnam from doing so. Larsen thanked Johanns for USDA’s efforts in keeping the Vietnam market open to the state’s beef but raised concerns that other countries have Washington state beef bans in place.

“I am concerned that other countries such as Kuwait and Saudi Arabia are banning Washington state beef while allowing exports from other states,” Larsen said. “I ask that you continue to fight countries' efforts to block Washington beef. Is the administration working with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to end their ban on Washington beef?”

Johanns assured Larsen that he tells countries that all U.S. beef is safe and that USDA does not exclude any state in their message. And he commented that it is not possible to carve out areas in the United States when talking about safe beef.

Larsen also raised the issue of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance.

Washington State University’s Animal Diagnostic Laboratory is one of seven BSE surveillance laboratories that was set up after the discovery of a cow with BSE in Washington state in December 2003. In June 2004, USDA began the expanded surveillance program with a goal to test roughly 460,000 cattle by December 2005. Larsen shares the university’s concern that uncertainty over how USDA will proceed after the testing goals are met impacts Washington State University and other universities that have participated in expanded surveillance.

Larsen asked, “Once the surveillance goal is completed, what is USDA’s plan going forward and what should a university like Washington State University expect once that goal is met?”

Since Johanns said that there is no clear plan once the expanded surveillance programs ends, Larsen urged USDA to keep in mind the needs of the universities as they adapt to this unknown fluctuation. 

Larsen represents the 2nd Congressional District. Larsen is the first member from Washington state in over 50 years to serve on the Agriculture Committee.