Kerry - Mad Cow Reforms

This is just another reason I support Kerry. When a problem comes up, he already knows how to fix it because he is an "insider" and already knows what should have been done by now. The beef industry has had too much sway over the Bushies, and now we're paying for it.

"As the Washington Post helpfully pointed out, Bush is closer to the beef industry than any other industry except oil. The Post noted that:

"Bush donned a cowboy hat when he spoke last year to the annual convention of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, and livestock interests have been among his most reliable supporters. The Center for Responsive Politics found that 79 percent of the livestock industry's $4.7 million in contributions for the 2000 elections went to Republicans. Of the $1.1 million the industry has given so far for next year's election, 84 percent went to the GOP."

Kerry asked President Bush to make 5 policy changes:

(1) IMMEDIATELY IMPLEMENT ‘TEST AND HOLD’ POLICY FOR DOWNED COWS: In the current investigation, the meat from a ‘downed cow’ or non-ambulatory cow was sent to be tested. It typically takes one or two weeks for test results to come back. However, by the time the test results for the Washington cow were known, thirteen days had passed and the meat had already been distributed.

Requesting immediate “test and hold” procedure: John Kerry called on President Bush and the USDA to immediately put into place a “test and hold” procedure that would require any animal tested to be held and not further processed until test results are received and the health of the animal can be confirmed. With a “test and hold” procedure in place, we would significantly decrease the chance that the meat from a cow with mad cow disease or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) could actually make it to the grocers’ shelves. Had this policy been in place before the Washington case appeared, it is also likely we could have avoided the need for such a massive recall because we would have known exactly where the carcass was located. It’s common sense - - if a cow is suspect, it should be tested and the results should be back before it is processed and in the food supply.

(2) MORE INSPECTIONS: United States inspectors have tested fewer than 30,000 of the roughly 300 million animals slaughtered in the last nine years. We need to do more inspections of cattle that are exhibiting signs of a neurological disease, adult cattle dying on farms, and non-ambulatory cattle. We must do more inspections not only in the meatpacking side but more coverage to ensure that the 1997 feed ban on ground bone meal is not being violated, as this is a common way that BSE gets into the system. John Kerry called on the Bush Administration to increase the testing and inspections overall and enhance the BSE surveillance program so that all suspect animals - particularly downed animals - are analyzed.

(3) NATIONAL TRACKING SYSTEM TO MAKE DISEASED LIVESTOCK EASIER TO TRACK AND CONTAIN: The investigation of the Washington cow could take weeks or months -- and we may never be able to answer all of the relevant questions. For example, officials are not even able to identify the birth herd or the feed suppliers at this point in time. The difficulty the USDA is having in answering these questions underscores the urgent need for a national system for tracking animals from birth to slaughter.

Calling on Bush to Implement a National Tracking System Immediately. John Kerry is calling on President Bush and the USDA to implement an aggressive timeline for establishing a national ear-tagging system that would make diseased livestock and meat easier to track and contain. If we had a system in place to monitor where these cows came from and what they ate, this investigation would take hours not weeks and we would quickly have the information to determine if it was an isolated case or more widespread. This is critical not only to human health and public health but it will also help minimize any economic impacts.

(4) A BAN ON SELLING BRAINS, VERTEBRAE OR MEAT ATTACHED TO THEM: BSE is spread by contact with brain or other nervous-system tissue from an infected cow. Contact can be from eating food or food by-products that have been contaminated with nervous tissue, or from instruments that have contacted diseased nervous tissue. Similar to changes made in Britain to control mad cow disease, this policy will go the necessary step further to protect human and animal health.

(5) FEDERAL AID FOR THE AMERICAN BEEF INDUSTRY: The first confirmed mad cow case in the United States brings with it tremendous economic impacts. Nearly two dozen countries have now banned imports of U.S. beef, an industry worth $3.4 billion annually. John Kerry called on the Bush Administration to work with the international community to ensure confidence in American beef and make beef export a top priority in their trade agenda. He also believes the federal government needs to commit to providing domestic aid to help the industry survive these tough times. Although the full economic impacts cannot yet be quantified, large and small farmers alike will be impacted. John Kerry advocates fair and equitable assistance to those who are hurt by this current crisis. This includes reimbursing farmers for any cows that must be slaughtered as a result of this ongoing investigation.


http://blog.johnkerry.com/blog/archives/000936.html#more

I know this issue isnt big but :thumbsup: to the senator, good for him. I am impressed and pleased and thank you for telling me something I didnt know that Bush is heavily involved with the beef industry.

I want transparency in any testing of the US food supply.

This administration lies routinely and must therefore take extraordinary measures to achieve even moderate credibility.

A wifi iPaq could track every cow in the country with the right software. We have relatively simple, relatively cheap technology ready for applications. There is no excuse for not using it.

thanks for posting. :)

:-) Someone has to come up with something for this!

kerry gives a well detailed and informed solution to the problem. unlike the loser in the white house.