NEWSROOM

Washington, D.C.- U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer today called on Agriculture Secretary Anne Veneman to use her emergency powers to begin the testing of all slaughtered cattle destined for the food supply for the presence of mad cow disease.

In a letter to Veneman, Boxer wrote, "We are confronting a crucial moment in the way we handle the Mad Cow Disease crisis. We can confront it with major steps, or we can address it with half measures that will leave us short of full protection of our food supply."

Boxer asked Veneman to immediately create a testing program that would last six months, or until a thorough analysis is completed on the impact of the discovery of the tainted herd from Canada, as well as other potential problems.

Boxer also wrote, "Some say that Japan's program of testing all cattle that enter the food supply is the best way; others argue that the United Kingdom's system is just as protective. I was stunned to learn from my staff who attended your department's briefing today that you are implementing neither of these testing regimens."

Boxer said the cost of the testing program should be borne by the USDA since nothing in USDA law prohibited the sick animal from being brought into the country.

There are many legislative proposals being introduced, including one by Congressman George Miller, which would require universal testing for mad cow diseases. Senator Boxer noted that she welcomes these legislative proposals, but history has shown that they sometimes take a very long time to pass, whereas the Secretary of Agriculture can strengthen the testing system on her own, without waiting for the law to change, if there is a need to protect the public. Attached please find a copy of Senator Boxer's letter to Secretary Veneman.

January 8, 2004

The Honorable Ann M. Veneman
Secretary
United States Department of Agriculture
1400 Independence Avenue, SW
Washington, D.C. 20250

Dear Madam Secretary:

We are confronting a crucial moment in the way we handle the Mad Cow Disease (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy - BSE) crisis. We can confront it with major steps, or we can address it with half measures that will leave us short of full protection of our food supply.

Obviously, we are not the first country to face the threat of Mad Cow Disease. In that sense, the United States has a road-map of how to best protect its food supply.

Some say that Japan's program of testing all cattle that enter the food supply is the best way; others argue that the United Kingdom's system is just as protective. I was stunned to learn from my staff who attended your department's briefing today that you are implementing neither of these testing regimens.

Our country has the safest food products in the world. Therefore, why we would not be using the best practices to protect people from the dreadful results of Mad Cow Disease is beyond my ability to understand. Now is the time to act to put into place the best practices in the world in order to ensure that our food supply will not be tainted by meat from infected cows.

I ask that you immediately test for Mad Cow Disease all animals destined for the food supply. I ask that this to be done for at least six months or until a thorough analysis is made of extent of the Mad Cow problem we are facing.

I recommend that you conduct this comprehensive testing under your emergency powers and that any money used to implement this testing program be drawn from the U.S. Treasury, and that such expense not be borne by cattlemen, who followed the required protocols of the time.

Madame Secretary, such a comprehensive plan will reinforce immediately our country's commitment to eliminate the threat to our people from Mad Cow Disease. In my opinion, it is also the best way to help the cattle industry.

Please respond immediately to this letter.

Sincerely,

Barbara Boxer
United States Senator