Mandatory country of origin labeling scored a win but it was short-lived as the farm bill failed to advance.
The Senate Ag Committee voted 17-6 to amend the package to include mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL). All 11 Democrats voted yes along with Senators Hoeven, Ernst, Hyde-Smith, Grassley, Thune, and Fischer.
The farm bill itself appeard to clear the committee on a 12-11 party line vote, however there was confusion as Sen. Mitch McConnell was asbent and it was clarified the full farm bill did not advance out of the committee.
Senator Deb Fischer says the Senate last put members on record on COOL years ago, when there was a move to repeal it. Fischer says at that time, she supported country of origin labeling.
“We’ve only had, one opportunity since I’ve been in the Senate to be put on record when it comes to MCOOL. And that was many years ago when there was a move on to repeal that. I supported the country of origin labeling there,” Fischer told the Rural Radio Network prior to the committee hearing.
The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association opposes MCOOL on the grounds the group supports voluntary programs not new government mandates while groups like R-CALF say MCOOL is a common sense reform to support the American producer.
MCOOL was offered as an amendment by Sen. John Thune and then passed with bipartisan support. The total package appeared to pass but was later confirmed to have failed, leaving questions about the future not only of MCOOL, but E15 and other provisions.