SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 1616

      A  Concurrent Resolution urging Congress to remove or restrict the use of trade sanctions as they apply to agricul-
      tural products, and to work for the reduction or elimination of trade barriers and sanctions imposed by other countries
      against agricultural products; urging the secretary of the United States department of agriculture to provide greater
      opportunities to the farmers of the United States by taking greater advantage of the export enhancement program;
      urging Congress to require country of origin labeling on foreign meat and dairy products raised and produced in
      other countries; urging Congress to investigate the need for mandatory price reporting by packers in the livestock
      industry; and urging Congress, the justice department and the packers and stockyard division of the United States
      department of agriculture to investigate market concentration and pending mergers in the livestock and grain industry.


     
      WHEREAS, Economic sanctions hinder the export of agricultural products, exacerbating the
transportation of such products and possibly lowering the price received by the Kansas farmer
for such agricultural products; and

      WHEREAS, The export of agricultural commodities has provided the United States the only
positive return on its balance of trade; and

      WHEREAS, The only way to ensure that a positive return on the balance of trade continues
is to allow international markets to remain open; and

      WHEREAS, The use of unilateral economic sanctions rarely achieves its goal, but cause sub-
stantial harm to the producers of products; and

      WHEREAS, Not only do the sanctions imposed by the United States cause lost market op-
portunities for the Kansas farmer, but so do the unfair trade barriers and sanctions imposed on
agricultural products by other countries; and

      WHEREAS, The storage of grain on the ground in Kansas is just one example of the adverse
affects sanctions have on agricultural products: NOW, THEREFORE,

      Be it resolved by the Senate of the State of Kansas, the House of Representatives concurring
therein: That Congress remove or restrict the use of trade sanctions as they apply to agricultural
products and that Congress ensure that the use of trade sanctions will result in meaningful results;

      WHEREAS, The export enhancement program is one tool which can expand foreign market
opportunities; and

      WHEREAS, If the Kansas farmer is to have the opportunity to prosper and grow, the agri-
cultural products produced by the farmer must be able to reach foreign markets; and

      WHEREAS, The stockpiling of grain is just one example of where the lack of access to foreign
markets hurts not only the Kansas farmer but all American farmers and the economy of the
United States in general: NOW, THEREFORE,

      Be it resolved: That the secretary of the United States department of agriculture is urged to
take greater advantage of the export enhancement program; and

      Be it further resolved: That Congress work for the reduction and elimination of trade barriers
and sanctions imposed by other countries against agricultural products; and

      WHEREAS, Foreign meat and dairy products must be raised or produced under the same
regulatory standards to ensure consumer health and safety as meat and dairy products raised and
produced in the United States; and

      WHEREAS, Numerous cattle producers have testified before the Kansas Legislature that this
issue needs to be investigated and decided in Congress: NOW, THEREFORE,

      Be it resolved: That Congress pass laws that require country of origin labeling on foreign meat
and dairy products with such labeling on the final consumer product; and

      WHEREAS, Pork and beef associations presented resolutions and testimony on the need and
value of mandatory price reporting; and

      WHEREAS, Discriminatory pricing and retaliatory actions are unacceptable in an open market
system; and

      WHEREAS,  Pork and beef associations also support a marketing system free from unneces-
sary government regulations; and

      WHEREAS,  Producers should consider participating in marketing alliances, cooperatives and
other innovative methods of marketing livestock in order to focus on changing consumer demands
and to regain market share; and

      WHEREAS,  Pork and beef associations support a system free of government restrictions on
livestock ownership, unless such livestock ownership restricts free and competitive markets or is
a violation of antitrust laws: NOW, THEREFORE,

      Be it resolved: That Congress continue to investigate mandatory price reporting in the livestock
industry and, if warranted, pass appropriate legislation that will assure a free and open market
for our independent farmers and ranchers; and

      WHEREAS, Concentration of segments of the beef and pork industries is occurring; and

      WHEREAS, Such concentration must not result in lower commodity prices for Kansas farmers
and ranchers and higher food prices for American consumers; and

      WHEREAS, Pending mergers of grain companies could result in disproportionate control of
the grain market; and

      WHEREAS, Renewed investigative efforts, including enforcement of the antitrust laws, must
be generated by the justice department and the packers and stockyards division of the United
States department of agriculture to ensure the competitive market structure: NOW, THERE-
FORE,

      Be it resolved: That the justice department and the packers and stockyard division of the United
States department of agriculture enforce the antitrust laws in the livestock and grain industry;
and

      Be it further resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send enrolled copies of this
resolution to the President of the United States, the Vice-President of the United States, Majority
Leader and Minority Leader of the United States Senate, the Speaker, Majority Leader and
Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, the Secretary of the United
States Department of Agriculture, the Attorney General of the United States and to each member
of the Kansas Congressional Delegation.

I hereby certify that the above Concurrent Resolution

originated in the Senate, and was adopted by that body

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Senate concurred in

House amendments __________________________

__________________________________

President of the Senate.

__________________________________

Secretary of the Senate.

Adopted by the House

      as amended __________________________

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Speaker of the House.

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Chief Clerk of the House.