On Tuesday, January 20, 2004, approximately 40 R-CALF USA members from 12 states teamed up with members of National Farmers Union, Consumer Federation of America, Florida Fruits and Vegetables Growers Association, Public Citizen, the Florida Tomato Exchange, the Intertribal Agriculture Council, and many of R-CALF USA’s affiliated organizations including the New Mexico Cattle Growers Assoc., Independent Cattlemen’s Assoc. of Texas, Kansas Cattlemen’s Assoc., and the South Dakota Stockgrowers Assoc. to preserve country of origin labeling (COOL) in the Senate. With over 100 producers, we met with all 100 Senate offices before this afternoon’s vote. We encouraged the Senators to vote NO on cloture, as cloture would have limited debate on the omnibus appropriations package, thereby preventing the removal of the anti-COOL language contained therein.

At approximately 3:30 p.m. EST the U.S. Senate, in response to our request, voted NO on cloture. Our Senators can now remove the anti-COOL language. (Voting record will be posted ASAP)

We have won a huge battle. There is incredible pressure to push this bill through the Senate as quickly as possible. Our opposition, including the NCBA, was marching the halls today urging at YES vote. We overcame that thanks to your calls, letters, faxes, e-mails, and visits.