 Critics Slammed COOL Delay That Was Worked Out Behind Closed Doors. Discussing the two-year delay of county-of-origin labeling requirements in 2004, Dave Frederickson, president of the National Farmers Union, said, “I am appalled that this attack on the country-of-origin food labeling law was not debated in public.” [Star Tribune, 1/23/04] XXXX Voted Against Requiring Country Of Origin On Meat Labels. In a vote against small American ranchers, 29 Republicans, including XXXX, bowed to the pressure from huge, big business, international meat producers and vote to kill a Daschle amendment that would have mandated that all meat sold in the US be labeled, displaying the country the animal was raised. Country of Origin labeling is also important following the discovery of livestock inflicted with Mad Cow disease in Canada. The motion to kill the Daschle bill did not pass. [Vote 443, 11/6/03] XXXX Voted to Restrict Federal Environmental Subsidies For Certain Livestock Operations. In 2002, XXXX voted to restrict federal environmental subsidies for new and expanding livestock operations. [Vote 15, 2/6/02; National Journal's Congress Daily, 2/7/02] XXXX Voted to Place Livestock Contracts Under The Jurisdiction Of The Packers And Stockyards Act. In 2002, XXXX voted to put livestock production contracts under the jurisdiction of the Packers and Stockyards Act. It would also permit parties to a contract for the sale or production of livestock or poultry to discuss terms or details of the contract with a legal adviser, lender, accountant, executive or manager, landlord, or family member. The vote was on the Harkin modified amendment to the Daschle (for Harkin) substitute amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001 (S. 1731). The amendment was agreed to, 82-14. [Vote 16, 2/6/02] XXXX Voted For The Packer Ban. In 2002, XXXX voted in favor of banning most meatpackers from owning or controlling livestock for more than 14 days before slaughter. Cooperatives and small packers would be excluded from the ban. Packers, who would have up to 18 months to sell off any livestock that they own, said the restrictions make it harder for them to procure adequate supplies of top-quality meat. The vote was on a motion to table the Harkin (for Grassley) amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001. [Vote 23, 2/12/02; Associated Press, 12/1/01; Associated Press, 2/12/02] XXXX Voted Against Replacing Dairy Program With New System Benefiting Western Farmers. In 2002, XXXX voted against an effort to replace Farm Bill’s $2 billion dairy program with a system that would have been more favorable to large Western dairy producers. The vote was on a motion to table the Domenici modified amendment to the Agriculture, Conservation, and Rural Enhancement Act of 2001. [Vote 29, 2/13/02; National Journal’s Congress Daily, 2/13/02] XXXX Voted To Alter USDA Meat And Poultry Inspection Standards. In 2001, XXXX voted to prohibit the USDA from using funds from this Act to apply the mark of inspection to any meat or poultry product that was shown to be adulterated. It would also instruct the Secretary of Agriculture to submit a report on the role of microbiological monitoring and standards relating to indicator organisms and pathogens in determining the effectiveness and adequacy of Food Safety and Inspection Service Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) meat and poultry safety programs. The vote was on the Nelson (of Nebraska)/Miller amendment to the Harkin amendment to the Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2001 (H.R. 2330). The motion to table failed, 45-50. [Vote 314, 10/25/01] XXXX Opposed Allowing the Dept. of Agriculture to Enforce Pathogen and Salmonella Standards. XXXX, on October 25, 2001, voted for the Nelson [NE] amendment to H.R.2330, which was an amendment to eliminate the Harkin amendment to H.R.2330. The Harkin amendment, which was supported by AARP, the American Food Safety Institute, American Public Health Association, the Consumer Federation of America, the National Farmers Union, the National Parent Teachers Association, and Consumers Union, was an amendment to clarify that the Agriculture Department has the authority to enforce pathogen reduction standards, including standards on salmonella, in meat and poultry plants. The Nelson [NE] amendment replaced the Harkin amendment with a watered-down provision to prevent funds from being used to apply inspection marks to meat and poultry products 8