Washington, DC —
Senator John Thune today announced his support of bipartisan legislation that would move the implementation of Country of Origin Labeling, or COOL, from September 2008 to September 2007. A two-year delay of COOL (from 2006 to 2008) was added to the Agricultural Appropriations Conference Report in 2005, which Senator Thune voted against.
"Country of Origin Labeling was signed into law by President Bush on May 13, 2002. It was a major victory for cattle producers in my state of South Dakota and across the country, and for all of us who had worked so hard to secure it-or so I thought," Thune said. "It's now been more than four years, and what is technically the law of the land has become a casualty of obstruction.
"This delay hurts South Dakota's cattle producers and treats consumers with disdain. I will continue to work with my colleagues who support mandatory COOL to fight this delay and secure an earlier implementation date."
Senator Thune joined Senators Thomas (R-Wyo), Baucus (D-MT), Grassley (R-IA), Tester (D-MT), Bingaman (D-NM), Dorgan (D-ND), Enzi (R-Wyo), and Conrad (D-ND) in introducing this important legislation, S.404.
"Country of Origin Labeling was signed into law by President Bush on May 13, 2002. It was a major victory for cattle producers in my state of South Dakota and across the country, and for all of us who had worked so hard to secure it-or so I thought," Thune said. "It's now been more than four years, and what is technically the law of the land has become a casualty of obstruction.
"This delay hurts South Dakota's cattle producers and treats consumers with disdain. I will continue to work with my colleagues who support mandatory COOL to fight this delay and secure an earlier implementation date."
Senator Thune joined Senators Thomas (R-Wyo), Baucus (D-MT), Grassley (R-IA), Tester (D-MT), Bingaman (D-NM), Dorgan (D-ND), Enzi (R-Wyo), and Conrad (D-ND) in introducing this important legislation, S.404.
