Obey Move to Prevent USDA from Privatizing National Animal ID Program Blocked

Obey move to prevent USDA from PRIVATIZING national animal id program blocked

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Seventh District Congressman Dave Obey blasted the House Republican majority for voting to put public health and safety at risk by turning over responsibility for tracking animal diseases to private industry organizations such as the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.

"There's been a growing consensus among livestock industry organizations, the US Department of Agriculture, state veterinarians, and state departments of agriculture that the public interest demands that we be able to trace back within 48 hours any diseased animal in the country," said Obey, the senior Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee. "It makes no sense to turn over the responsibility for that tracking to the very people who may have a financial interest in covering up diseased animals, yet in a major flip-flop, that is what USDA is now proposing to do."

During the House/Senate conference negotiations of the FY2006 Agricultural Appropriations Bill, Obey offered an amendment that would have prevented the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) from privatizing the National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

However, in a straight party-line vote, the House Republican conferees defeated the Obey amendment. "They voted based on strict ideology," said Obey, "they are so anti-government they can't even recognize that the government is charged with protecting public health, not the cattlemen."

http://obey.house.gov/HoR/WI07/Newsroom/Press+Releases/Obey+move+to+prevent+USDA+from+Privatizing+animal+id+blocked.htm