Tester, Rounds Introduce Resolution to Overturn Biden Administration Decision Allowing Beef Imports from Paraguay
Senators officially file bipartisan Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution to overrule Biden Administration and support American ranchers and consumers
By Denise Rivette
As part of Senator Jon Tester’s continued efforts to work with his Republican counterparts, to support American ranchers and to ensure the safety of consumers, he along with Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) today officially filed a Congressional Review Act (CRA) resolution that would overturn the Biden Administration’s recent decision to lift a long-standing ban on beef imports from Paraguay.
A Congressional Review Act resolution, or CRA, is an oversight tool Congress may use to overturn final rules issued by federal agencies by a simple majority vote.
“My message to the Biden Administration is simple: cutting corners to resume beef imports from a country with a recent history of foot and mouth disease is bad news for both Montana consumers and producers, and I won’t let it stand,” said Tester. “Montana ranchers produce the best beef in the world, and it’s clear that the USDA doesn’t have the data to show that Paraguay meets the same animal health standards. That’s why I’m teaming up with Senator Rounds to overturn this decision from the Biden Administration that is giving a raw deal to American ranchers and could have dangerous impacts on our food supply.”
“South Dakota farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to produce the safest, highest quality and most affordable beef in the world,” said Rounds. “Paraguay, on the other hand, has historically struggled to contain outbreaks of foot and mouth disease. Consumers across America should be able to confidently feed their families beef that they know has met the rigorous standards required in the United States. I’m pleased to be filing this CRA with Senator Tester to overturn this rule that harms American producers and consumers.”
Senator Steve Daines is currently reviewing the newly introduced CRA. Although he has not yet determined his support for the legislation, he did state, “Montanans deserve to know that the meat they buy for their families is safe for consumption and has met the high standards required in the U.S. Biden’s move to carelessly allow beef imports from Paraguay despite their failure to contain infectious diseases may harm Montana consumers and undermines the hard work our Montana ranchers do to produce the best, highest-quality beef in the world.”
Tester and Rounds’ bipartisan resolution is supported by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), United States Cattlemen’s Association (USCA), R-CALF USA, Livestock Marketing Association, National Farmers Union, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Stockgrowers Association, and the Montana Farm Bureau Federation.
“Here in Montana we hold our beef to a higher standard, and Senator Tester will stand up to anyone that tries to jeopardize the hard work of our ranchers,” said Walter Schweitzer, President of the Montana Farmers Union. “With plenty of questions surrounding animal safety and standards in Paraguay, it’s clear that reversing a ban on Paraguayan beef is the wrong move for producers and consumers in Montana.”
“American cattle ranchers work diligently to grow and deliver the most safe, healthy, sustainably produced beef to the world,” said John Grande, President of the Montana Stockgrowers Association (MSGA). “Montana Stockgrowers Association applauds Senators Tester and Rounds on their work to protect the American beef industry and for their effort to stop unscientific rulemaking on beef imports from Uruguay.”
Cyndi Johnson, President of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation urged “swift passage of this CRA”. “Until it can be absolutely proven that there is no risk of an infectious animal disease outbreak in the U.S. domestic animal population caused by these imports, they must be halted.”
“The last time U.S. government officials stepped foot in a Paraguayan meat processing facility was in 2014. That nearly ten-year gap since the last site visit does not inspire confidence in Paraguay’s animal health and food safety protocols,” said Justin Tupper, President of U.S. Cattlemen’s Association (USCA). “Further, in its regulatory impact analysis, USDA fully admits that there is a real possibility we could import beef from an animal infected by Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). An outbreak of FMD in the United States would be devastating for both producers and consumers, causing lasting financial losses between $33 and $93 billion.”
Tester and Rounds have led the charge to support American ranchers. In December, Tester and Rounds first announced their plan to file a CRA to overturn the Biden Administration’s decision. The senators also introduced bipartisan legislation to suspend beef imports from Paraguay in response to animal health concerns.
Their bipartisan bill would also require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the threat to food safety and animal health posed by Paraguayan beef. Tester and Rounds have called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to collect more up to date data before resuming beef imports from a country like Paraguay with a recent history of foot and mouth disease. Paraguay last reported cases of foot and mouth disease in 2012. The USDA’s decision to resume Paraguayan imports relies on an analysis completed in 2018, and American inspectors have not conducted a site visit to Paraguay since 2014.
Last year, Tester and Rounds introduced bipartisan legislation to suspend Brazilian beef imports to the U.S. until experts can conduct a systemic review of the commodity’s impact on food safety and animal health. Senator Daines also pushed the Biden administration to suspend Brazilian beef imports after a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) was reported last year. Daines position at that time was that it is fully within the President’s power to take this step to protect the safety of our food supply and cattle herds and Congressional action was not necessary.
The full text of the Senators’ CRA can be read HERE.