Emanuel Questions Administration Policy on Canadian Cattle, Drug Imports

Press Release

Emanuel Questions Administration Policy on Canadian Cattle, Drug Imports
Asks Agriculture and Health Secretaries: "If Cattle Tainted with Mad Cow are OK, Why Aren't Safe Drugs?"

Today, U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) sent the following letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Ann M. Veneman and U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Tommy G. Thompson, questioning the Bush Administration's decision to reopen the U.S. market to Canadian cattle despite the discovery of three Canadian cows infected with mad cow disease, while the Administration continues to claim that U.S. imports of Canadian drugs are unsafe. The letter also points to the timing of the U.S. announcement to open the beef market, which occurred right after the Canadian government announced a possible crackdown on drug exports.

Following is the text of the letter:

The Honorable Ann M. Veneman The Honorable Tommy G. Thompson
Secretary Secretary
Department of Agriculture Department of HHS
1400 Independence Avenue, S.W. 200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
Washington, D.C. 20250 Washington, D.C. 20201

Dear Secretary Veneman and Secretary Thompson:

I am puzzled by your Departments' recent conclusions about the relative safety of prescription drugs and cattle imported from Canada.

Despite three Canadian cows infected with mad cow disease, the Department of Agriculture appears ready to reopen American markets to Canadian cattle in March.

Curiously, three known cases of mad cow disease are insufficient evidence to halt the opening of the U.S. market to Canadian cattle. But the fact that none of the millions of Americans who purchase prescription drugs from Canada have been harmed is not enough evidence for the Administration to support the importation of prescription drugs.

If this is an issue of safety, why are we allowing tainted beef into the country while at the same time prohibiting Americans' access to the same safe prescription drugs available here in the United States at reduced prices? How can we justify opening our markets to a beef supply that we know is contaminated with mad cow disease while simultaneously insisting, without any evidence, that Canadian drugs are unsafe? These decisions indicate that the policy of this Administration is that the importation of tainted beef is acceptable while the importation of safe drugs is not.

Finally, the timing of the recent announcements on Canadian imports also raises questions. According to Canadian Health Minister Ujjal Dosanjh, President Bush and Prime Minister Martin spoke privately about drug imports during Bush's visit to Canada on November 30. The U.S. announced that they would end the beef ban one month later, on December 29, the very same day that the possibility of Canada banning drug exports was widely reported.

I am interested in hearing from you on how the Administration can simultaneously maintain policies opposing Canadian drug imports and allowing the importation of Canadian cattle.

Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Source