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USDA's downer move embarrasses Texas' Stenholm
WASHINGTON (DTN)--The U.S. Department of Agriculture's decision to ban meat from "downer" or nonambulatory cows from the human food supply has apparently embarrassed House Agriculture Committee ranking member Charles Stenholm, D-TX, who had vigorously argued on the House floor during debate on the FY 04 agriculture appropriations bill that bringing the downed cows to slaughter was vital to testing for bovine spongiform encephalopathy.
The House voted 197 to 202 against an amendment that would have included the ban. "If it is possible to maintain a robust BSE surveillance without the presence of downed cattle at slaughter plants, I am very eager to know why such a change wasn't suggested by USDA before now," Stenholm said in a Dec. 31 statement.
Stenholm is expected to have a tough re-election race this year, particularly in light of a federal court ruling upholding a Texas redistricting plan that changes the boundaries of Texas congressional districts.
Humane Society lobbyist Wayne Pacelle said Jan. 5 he is pleased with the USDA regulations, but noted that the "Downed Animal Protection Act" that passed the Senate and almost passed the House would have included hogs as well as cattle. Pacelle said he does not believe the issue "will be resurrected" in the FY04 omnibus bill pending in the Senate, but said several lawmakers have told him they would still like to codify the ban, which would make it difficult for USDA to reverse it.
Pacelle said since a "downer" cow in Washington state was found to have BSE, he now believes the meat industry groups that lobbied against the ban "were practicing a false economy."
Date: 1/22/04
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