releases: https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=f6eb9965-edf3-4be8-849a-b71df9f067f5
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| https://www.heitkamp.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/press-releases?ID=f6eb9965-edf3-4be8-849a-b71df9f067f5 | Heitkamp Calls on U.S. Trade Rep. to Defend Country of Origin Labeling Law | 2014-11-26 | 2014 | 2014-11 | Democrat | House | ND | Heidi Heitkamp | H001069 | www.heitkamp.senate.gov | legacy | BISMARCK, N.D. U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp called on the top official dealing with trade between the U.S. and other countries to defend U.S. law and appeal a recent decision by the World Trade Organization (WTO) which would harm U.S. consumers ability to know where their food comes from. Heitkamp, a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, pressed United States Trade Representative (USTR) Michael Froman and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack to support current U.S. law which requires American retailers to clearly label where meat wasraised and processed. She also called on them to push back against a WTO compliance panels October 2014 decision regarding Country of Origin Labeling (COOL). While last months WTO ruling reaffirmed U.S. authority to require meat labeling, the ruling also stated that U.S. law discriminates against imported meat and livestock, and doesnt meet WTO standards. Froman has until this Friday, November 28, 2014, to formally appeal the WTO decision. Our nations ranchers and livestock industry are important to not only our economy, but also to families and communities all across the country, said Heitkamp. And laws such as Country of Origin Labeling which was passed by Congress and supported by the American people let consumers know exactly where the meat theyre about to put on their dinner table for their families comes from. Folks across this country have made it clear that they want and deserve this information, and I will keep pushing to protect this bipartisan law from attempts to weaken it now and in the future. Heitkamp was joined in her efforts urging appeal of the WTO ruling by U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Tim Johnson (D-SD). To view a copy of their letter, click here. Heitkamp beat back efforts to repeal COOL when she helped write, negotiate, and pass into law the 2014 Farm Bill, and has worked to promote its implementation. Last month, Heitkamp joined a group of bipartisan Senators urging the Senate Appropriations Committee to reject efforts to weaken or suspend COOL in any future appropriations bills or continuing resolutions. In February 2013, Heitkamp helped lead a bipartisan group of Senators in calling on USTR and USDA to make sure updated COOL rules still enabled consumers to know the origin of their food. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |