Beef Labeling and Senate Ag Committee
Senate Bill 52 is the current legislation introduced to enacted changes to correct the labeling and protect beef born, raised, and harvested in the United States from being labeled the same as imported beef. Since the repeal of the MCOOL in 2015 there have been five bills that were aimed at specifically providing changes to the labeling of US beef:
Senate Bill 52 - American Beef Labeling Act of 2023 (118th Congress) - 2023
Senate Bill 3439 – Bona Fide Beef Branding Act of 2022 (117th Congress) - 2021
Senate Bill 2716 – American Beef Labeling Act of 2021 (117th Congress)
Senate Bill 2623 - U.S.A. Beef Act (117th Congress) - 2021
Senate Bill 2744 – U.S. Beef Integrity Act (116th Congress) – 2019
All four of the previous bills were introduced and submitted to the Senate Ag Committee where they were sent out to pasture and never to return. This is not an uncommon occurrence for bills. From January 3, 2015, to February 2, 2023, there have been 490 Senate Bills introduced and referred to the Senate Ag Committee. Of these 490 Senate Bills, 21 were considered by the Senate Ag Committee. Of the 21 Senate Bills considered by the Committee, 6 were referred back to the Senate floor with 5 being passed by the Senate and 3 of those being signed into law.
Senate Bill 2609 - An original bill to amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a national voluntary labeling standard for bioengineered foods, and for other purposes. (114th Congress) – No further action
Senate Bill 1251 – Growing Climate Solutions Act of 2021 (117th Congress) Passed Senate
Senate Bill 3076 - An original bill to release a federal reversionary interest in Chester County, Tennessee, to manage certain Federal land in Bath County, Virginia, and for other purposes. (116th Congress) – Passed Senate
Senate Bill 3395 – Prescribed Burning Approval Act of 2016 (114th Congress) – Signed into Law
Senate Bill 4054 – United States Grain Standards Reauthorization Act of 2020 (116th Congress) – Signed in Law
Senate Bill 409 - A bill to provide for the availability of amounts for customer education initiatives and non-awards expenses of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission Whistleblower Program, and for other purposes. (117th Congress) – Signed into Law
It is time that action is taken to maintain the integrity of US beef and the cattlemen and families that produce it. Under the current labeling requirements imported beef can both be labeled as “Product of the US” as well as be graded by the USDA when processed at a USDA inspected facility.
The Kansas Cattlemen’s Association supports country-of-origin labeling beef (2023 Resolution #4). Contact both the Senate Ag Committee and your legislators to help ensure that the Senate Ag Committee takes actual step to ensure correct labeling of American beef.
Matthew T Steele, PhD, PE CEO / Executive Director Kansas Cattlemen’s Association
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