HOUSE JOINT MEMORIAL 103

47th legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - first session, 2005

INTRODUCED BY

Candy Spence Ezzell

A JOINT MEMORIAL

REQUESTING THE MEMBERS OF THE NEW MEXICO CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION TO ENCOURAGE THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE NOT TO REOPEN THE UNITED STATES BORDER TO IMPORTS OF CANADIAN CATTLE UNTIL THERE ARE PROTECTIONS IN PLACE FOR AMERICANS.

     WHEREAS, maintaining a safe and healthy food supply for Americans should be the first priority of the United States department of agriculture; and

     WHEREAS, a primary component in that mission should be meeting the needs of food producers in our nation so that they can continue to produce that safe, healthy food; and

     WHEREAS, the United States department of agriculture announced its intention to reopen the Canadian border to live cattle and additional beef products despite the existence of four cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy, also known as mad cow disease, in Canadian-born cattle; and

     WHEREAS, livestock producers in New Mexico and across the nation have taken a strong stand regarding reopening the border;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the New Mexico congressional delegation be requested to encourage the United States department of agriculture not to reopen the border with Canada for imports of Canadian cattle and to adopt the positions advocated by the national cattlemen's beef association, including:

          A. a ban on imports unless there are protections in place to guard against bovine spongiform encephalopathy and agreements in place to minimize American market disruption and to reestablish United States beef and beef byproduct exports with Japan, Korea and Mexico;

          B. a ban on Canadian live cattle of more than thirty months of age, a ban on beef and beef by-products from Canadian cattle of more than thirty months of age and a ban on unspayed Canadian heifers of any age;

          C. a requirement that Canadian cattle be labeled with an ear tag marked "CAN" and shipped in a sealed truck;

          D. a prohibition on the use of fetal bovine serum from heifers imported for immediate slaughter; and

          E. a prohibition on use of United States department of agriculture grades and stamps for imported beef products; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the members of the New Mexico congressional delegation.

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