Senators to Colleagues: Don’t ‘Pre-Emptively Weaken’ COOL

Over the summer, more than 100 members of Congress called for repeal of country-of-origin labeling (COOL) if the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled against the U.S. in its trade dispute with Canada and Mexico.  This week, 32 senators wrote to the leaders of the Appropriations Committee, asking that they not deal with the labeling rule before the trade dispute resolution has run its course.  “As the Senate debates how to provide funding for the federal government for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2015, we urge you to reject efforts to weaken or suspend [COOL] through any continuing resolution or omnibus appropriations bill,” wrote the signatories, who include Senators Jon Tester (D-MT) and Mike Enzi (R-WY).  The WTO decision is unlikely to be clear-cut, the letter stated, and the committee should not allow rumors about a possible outcome to “pre-emptively weaken” COOL.  “Consumers have the right to know where their food comes from and farmers should be able to market their livestock as born and raised in America,” the senators wrote.