Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. YOUNG of Iowa. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak in favor of H.R. 2393, the Country of Origin Labeling Amendments Act of 2015.

I want to thank Chairman Conaway for his leadership on this issue.

On May 18, the World Trade Organization ruled against the U.S. COOL requirements. This ruling gives Canada and Mexico the green light to retaliate against United States products, particularly beef, pork, and chicken products. We are not looking here at a slap in the face, ladies and gentlemen. Unless COOL is repealed, U.S. goods could be hit with retaliatory tariffs that total $3.6 billion.

My home State of Iowa would be hit really hard. We have over 20 million hogs and almost 4 million cattle. Last year, Iowa exported almost $2 billion of pork, with Canada and Mexico as our top export markets. We need to repeal the country of origin labeling requirements in pork, beef, and chicken, which could hurt American workers.

While COOL is well-intentioned, we have voluntary programs already in place that give consumers information and the right to know where these products came from. We are out of options. Other legislative and regulatory fixes have been ineffective.

As the U.S. and State economies recover, the choice is clear. We cannot wait and see what trade retaliation from our closest trading partners would look like. It is time to repeal COOL now.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source