Americans for Country of Origin Labeling
An alliance of food producers and consumer advocates

November 16, 2004

The Honorable Ted Stevens                                The Honorable Robert Byrd

Chairman                                                                Ranking Member

Committee on Appropriations                              Committee on Appropriations

U.S. Senate                                                            U.S. Senate

Washington, DC  20510                                       Washington, DC  20510

The Honorable Bill Young                                      The Honorable David Obey

Chairman                                                                 Ranking Member

Committee on Appropriations                               Committee on Appropriations

U.S. House of Representatives                             U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC  20515                                         Washington, DC  20515

Dear Mr. Chairmen and Ranking Members:

As final work is completed to wrap up the fiscal year 2005 appropriations process, we strongly urge you to oppose any amendment to weaken or repeal mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL). Recent rumors have revealed that opponents of mandatory COOL believe an omnibus bill will provide them with the opportunity to repeal the law and replace it with a voluntary program.

American consumers and producers have time and again voiced their united support for mandatory COOL.  Those involved with the production of meat, fruits, vegetables, peanuts and seafood remain committed to mandatory COOL as do more than 80 percent of consumers. Replacing the 2002 Farm Bill mandatory COOL program with a voluntary program does not and will not provide consumers the benefit of knowing from where their food comes, nor does it allow U.S. producers a new marketing opportunity.

Again, the more than 50 million members we collectively represent urge you to oppose any attempt to replace mandatory COOL with a voluntary program within the FY2005 omnibus appropriations bill.

Sincerely,

ACOL Organizations

Alabama Farmers Federation

Alaska Farmers Union

American Agriculture Movement

American Corn Growers Association

American Corn Growers Association (Nebraska)

American Grassfed Association

American Meat Goat Association

Arkansas Farmers Union

California Dairy Campaign

California Farmers Union

Cattle Producers of Washington

Center for Rural Affairs (Nebraska)

Citizen’s Action Coalition

CJD Foundation

Community Alliance with Family Farmers

Consumer Federation of America

Consumer Federation of California

Dakota Resource Council (North Dakota)

Dakota Rural Action (South Dakota)

Family Farm Defenders

Florida Farmers, Inc.

Florida Tomato Exchange

Grant County Cattlemen’s Association (Washington)

Idaho Rural Council

Illinois Farmers Union

Independent Cattlemen's Association of Texas

Indiana Campaign for Economic Justice

Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy

Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement

Iowa Farmers Union

Kansas Cattlemen's Association

Kansas Farmers Union

Kansas Hereford Association

Kansas National Farmers Organization

Kit Carson County Cattlemen's Association (Colorado)

Livestock Marketing Association

Michigan Farmers Union

Minnesota Farmers Union

Missouri American Agriculture Movement, Inc

Missouri Farmers Union

Missouri Rural Crisis Center

Missouri Stockgrower's Association

Montana Farmers Union

Montana Cattlemen’s Association

National Association of Counties

National Association of Farmer Elected Committees

National Campaign for Sustainable Agriculture

National Catholic Rural Life Conference

National Consumers League

National Environmental Trust

National Environmental Trust, Marine Program

National Family Farm Coalition

National Farmers Organization

National Farmers Union

Nebraska Farmers Union

Nebraska Grange

Nebraska Livestock Marketing Association

Nebraska Women Involved in Farm Economics

Nevada Live Stock Association

New Mexico Cattle Growers' Association

North Carolina Contract Poultry Growers Association

North Dakota Farmers Union

North Dakota Livestock Marketing Association

Northern Plains Resource Council

Ohio Farmers Union

Oregon Livestock Producer Association

Organization for Competitive Markets

Organized Seafood Association of Alabama, Inc.

Pennsylvania Farmers Union

Perkins County Livestock Improvement Association (South Dakota)

Platte County Farm Bureau (Nebraska)

Powder River Basin Resource Council (Wyoming)

Public Citizen

R-CALF United Stockgrowers of America

Rocky Mountain Farmers Union

Rural Vermont

Social Concerns/Rural Life Office of the Catholic Diocese of Jefferson City

South Dakota Farmers Union

South Dakota Stockgrowers Association

Southeast Wyoming Cattle Feeders Association

Southern Colorado Livestock Association

Southern Research and Development Corporation

Southern Shrimp Alliance

Southwestern Colorado Livestock Association

Soybean Producers of America

Spokane County Cattle Producers (Washington)

Steven’s Country Cattlemen’s Association (Washington)

Sustainable Agriculture Coalition

Utah Farmers Union 

Washington Farmers Union

Western Colorado Congress

Western Organization of Resource Councils

Western Sustainable Agriculture Working Group

Wisconsin Farmers Union

Women Involved in Farm Economics