Senators Tester & Rounds introduce CRA to Prohibit Importing Paraguayan Beef

As part of their continued efforts to support American ranchers and ensure the safety of consumers, U.S. Senators Jon Tester, D-Mont., and Mike Rounds, R-S.D., officially filed a Congressional Review Act resolution that would overturn the Biden Administration’s recent decision to lift a long-standing ban on beef imports from Paraguay. 

A Congressional Review Act resolution, or CRA, is an oversight tool Congress may use to overturn final rules issued by federal agencies by a simple majority vote.

“My message to the Biden Administration is simple: cutting corners to resume beef imports from a country with a recent history of foot and mouth disease is bad news for both Montana consumers and producers, and I won’t let it stand,” said Tester. “Montana ranchers produce the best beef in the world, and it’s clear that the USDA doesn’t have the data to show that Paraguay meets the same animal health standards. That’s why I’m teaming up with Senator Rounds to overturn this decision from the Biden Administration that is giving a raw deal to American ranchers and could have dangerous impacts on our food supply.”

“South Dakota farmers and ranchers work tirelessly to produce the safest, highest quality and most affordable beef in the world,” said Rounds. “Paraguay, on the other hand, has historically struggled to contain outbreaks of foot and mouth disease. Consumers across America should be able to confidently feed their families beef that they know has met the rigorous standards required in the United States. I’m pleased to be filing this CRA with Sen. Tester to overturn this rule that harms American producers and consumers.”

Tester and Rounds’ bipartisan resolution is supported by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, United States Cattlemen’s Association, R-CALF USA, Livestock Marketing Association, National Farmers Union, Montana Farmers Union, Montana Stockgrowers Association, and the Montana Farm Bureau Federation.

“USDA’s decision to allow Paraguayan beef imports into the U.S. creates an unnecessary risk to the health and safety of the U.S. cattle herd. U.S. cattle producers are held to the highest food safety and animal health standards in the world and any trade partner must be able to demonstrate they can meet those same standards,” said Kent Bacus, executive director of Government Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association. “Given Paraguay’s long history of foot-and-mouth disease outbreaks, it is simply too risky to allow Paraguayan imports without recent site visits to confirm Paraguay’s safety claims. U.S. cattle producers are thankful for the leadership of Sens. Jon Tester and Mike Rounds for applying the Congressional Review Act to hold USDA accountable and protect our nation’s cattle herd.”

“The last time U.S. government officials stepped foot in a Paraguayan meat processing facility was in 2014. That nearly 10-year gap since the last site visit does not inspire confidence in Paraguay’s animal health and food safety protocols,” said Justin Tupper, president of U.S. Cattlemen’s Association. “Further, in its regulatory impact analysis, USDA fully admits that there is a real possibility we could import beef from an animal infected by foot-and-mouth disease. An outbreak of FMD in the United States would be devastating for both producers and consumers, causing lasting financial losses between $33 and $93 billion. We thank Sens. Tester and Rounds.”

“We applaud Sen. Tester and Sen. Rounds for protecting the integrity of America’s beef supply,” said Bill Bullard, CEO of R-CALF USA. “The USDA’s reliance on outdated inspections of Paraguayan food safety protocols is unacceptable. We urge swift passage of this critical measure.”

“LMA greatly appreciates Sen. Tester and Rounds standing up for the health of the U.S. cattle industry,” said Mark Barnett, president of Livestock Marketing Association. “The irresponsible decision to allow fresh Paraguay beef imports based on outdated site visits and inadequate data is an unacceptable risk for hardworking beef producers in this country.”

“Importing beef from Paraguay risks undermining consumer trust in the safety and quality of domestic beef,” said Rob Larew, president of National Farmers Union. “Given the unresolved concerns about Paraguay’s quality standards and regulatory system, Sens. Tester and Rounds’ leadership in pushing to reinstate the ban is crucial.”

“Here in Montana we hold our beef to a higher standard, and Sen. Tester will stand up to anyone that tries to jeopardize the hard work of our ranchers,” said Walter Schweitzer, president of the Montana Farmers Union. “With plenty of questions surrounding animal safety and standards in Paraguay, it’s clear that reversing a ban on Paraguayan beef is the wrong move for producers and consumers in Montana. Thank you Sen. Tester for looking out for our ranchers and standing up for Montana.”

“American cattle ranchers work diligently to grow and deliver the most safe, healthy, sustainably produced beef to the world,” said John Grande, president of the Montana Stockgrowers Association. “Montana Stockgrowers Association applauds Sens. Tester and Rounds on their work to protect the American beef industry and for their effort to stop unscientific rulemaking on beef imports from Uruguay.”

“We appreciate Sen. Tester and Sen. Rounds’ efforts to protect the American beef supply and urge swift passage of this CRA,” said Cyndi Johnson, president of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation. “Until it can be absolutely proven that there is no risk of an infectious animal disease outbreak in the U.S. domestic animal population caused by these imports, they must be halted.” 

Tester and Rounds have led the charge to support American ranchers. In December, Tester and Rounds first announced their plan to file a CRA to overturn the Biden Administration’s decision. The senators also introduced bipartisan legislation to suspend beef imports from Paraguay in response to animal health concerns. Their bipartisan bill would also require the establishment of a working group to evaluate the threat to food safety and animal health posed by Paraguayan beef. Tester and Rounds have called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to collect more up-to-date data before resuming beef imports from a country like Paraguay with a recent history of foot and mouth disease. Paraguay last reported cases of foot and mouth disease in 2012. The USDA’s decision to resume Paraguayan imports relies on an analysis completed in 2018, and American inspectors have not conducted a site visit to Paraguay since 2014.

Last year, Tester and Rounds introduced bipartisan legislation to suspend Brazilian beef imports to the U.S. until experts can conduct a systemic review of the commodity’s impact on food safety and animal health.