BILL REQ. #:  H-0015.1 

Read first time 01/10/2007.   Referred to Committee on Agriculture & Natural Resources.

     TO THE HONORABLE GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, AND TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE AND THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AND TO THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNITED STATES, IN CONGRESS ASSEMBLED, AND TO THE SECRETARY OF THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE:
     We, your Memorialists, the Senate and House of Representatives of the State of Washington, in legislative session assembled, respectfully represent and petition as follows:
     WHEREAS, A mandatory country-of-origin labeling program covering beef, lamb, pork, fish, shellfish, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President as part of the 2002 Farm Bill; and
     WHEREAS, Congress and the President have, in 2004 and again in 2005, delayed implementation of the program for all covered commodities except fish and shellfish, and have designated a new implementation date of September 30, 2008; and
     WHEREAS, Many United States producers support development of a market-driven, country-of-origin labeling system that will help them differentiate their products from imported commodities and thereby promote their comparative advantages; and
     WHEREAS, American consumers have a right to know information, including the origins of their foods, that will enable them to make educated food purchases and avoid buying products from countries with substandard sanitation, inspection, or pesticide application practices; and
     WHEREAS, A country-of-origin labeling system adopted at the federal level can be expected to prevent future court challenges over the constitutionality of individual state labeling laws and regulations; and
     WHEREAS, The 2007 Farm Bill provides a renewed opportunity for representatives of industry, consumers, and government to collaborate on a mandatory country-of-origin labeling program that meets their common goals;
     NOW, THEREFORE, Your Memorialists respectfully pray that Congress and the Executive Branch immediately begin work with agricultural producers and consumer interest groups to reach agreement on a mandatory country-of-origin labeling system covering beef, lamb, pork, poultry, perishable agricultural commodities, and peanuts, to take effect September 30, 2007.
     BE IT RESOLVED, That copies of this Memorial be immediately transmitted to the Honorable George W. Bush, President of the United States, the Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and each member of Congress from the State of Washington.