Senators Respond to NCBA Requests

Washington, D.C. (October 4, 2002) – In response to critical concerns voiced by the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and others, Senators Dianne Feinstein (CA), Kit Bond (MO), and Chuck Hagel (NE) among others are urging President Bush to use his power to put an immediate end to the shutdown of 29 ports on the West Coast.

In a statement to the Administration, Feinstein writes, “Work should resume at all 29 ports and both sides should return to the bargaining table.  I believe the President should invoke Taft-Hartley to require an 80-day cooling period and a return to work.”

The shutdown of the West Coast ports has inflicted serious damage on the U.S. economy, and America’s agriculture producers are especially vulnerable to this stoppage.  Many U.S. producers are already experiencing financial distress, and loss of export sales from West Coast ports will inflict severe economic harm on the already weak farm economy.

“We applaud these senators for taking the lead and listening to our concerns,” says Jay Truitt, NCBA’s Executive Director of Legislative Affairs. “They and others understand that the impact is growing daily and threatens to jeopardize the livelihood of American farmers and ranchers.” 

West Coast exports are a top market for beef producers.  If exports from the West Coast don’t resume, agricultural commodities meant for export must be absorbed into our domestic market, having a dramatic and negative impact on U.S. farm prices. 

“Our supplies are backing up.  We must immediately resume the export of beef,” says Iowa cattleman and NCBA President Wythe Willey.  “The longer the shutdown, the more our trading partners are forced to look to foreign competitors to provide a reliable supply of high quality beef products.  Once lost, these export customers will be hard to recapture,” says Willey.

“We are pleased with the senators’ actions today, and look forward to immediate action on Congressional resolutions urging the President to invoke the Taft-Hartley Act to bring about an immediate resumption of beef exports,” says Truitt.

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