2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 120
BY SENATORS MILKOVICH, ALARIO, ALLAIN, CARTER, COLOMB, CORTEZ,
DONAHUE, ERDEY, GATTI, HEWITT, JOHNS, LAMBERT, LONG,
LUNEAU, MARTINY, MIZELL, MORRELL, MORRISH, PEACOCK,
PERRY, RISER, GARY SMITH, JOHN SMITH, THOMPSON,
WALSWORTH, WARD AND WHITE
A RESOLUTION
To memorialize the Congress of the United States to take such actions as are necessary to
support the domestic beef industry.
WHEREAS, the value of the domestic beef industry is a vital and integral part of the
United States economy; and
WHEREAS, the 2016 economic impact was approximately sixty-seven billion
dollars in farm cash receipts for cattle and calves; and
WHEREAS, there are over nine hundred thousand total cattle and calf operations in
the United States of which ninety-one percent are family owned or individually operated,
and eleven percent are operated by women; and
WHEREAS, domestic beef production in 2017 is estimated to be approximately
twenty-five billion eight hundred million pounds; and
WHEREAS, the amount of beef consumed in the United States in 2016 was
approximately twenty-five billion six hundred million pounds; and
WHEREAS, it is essential to the success of the domestic beef industry to increase
international trade to key export markets; and
WHEREAS, the promotion of policies which highlight the quality, safety,
sustainability, and nutritional value of domestic beef will drive growth in domestic beef
exports; and
WHEREAS, it is in the nation's best interest to protect against legislative policies or
agency regulations that have a negative impact on the economic health of the domestic beef
industry; and
WHEREAS, minor changes in future domestic beef import or export levels can
significantly change the net beef supply and beef prices; and
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WHEREAS, important steps to supporting the domestic beef industry include
developing a comprehensive national strategy for including beef in future dietary guidelines
and investing in necessary research to improve productivity and efficiency; and
WHEREAS, it is critical to the success of the domestic beef industry to identify
barriers and develop strategies to attract and enable the next generation of farmers into the
domestic beef industry; and
WHEREAS, terrorist attacks have heightened the nation's awareness of agriterrorism
and placed a renewed focus on ensuring the protection of the nation's critical infrastructures,
including the domestic beef food supply; and
WHEREAS, an intentional contamination of the domestic beef food supply could
harm millions of people and cripple our vast agriculture system; and
WHEREAS, it is critical to preserve the United States domestic beef supply and
prevent reliance on foreign nations for food; and
WHEREAS, it will be necessary to develop a variety of federal actions to support the
domestic beef industry including proposals which encourage domestic beef production,
improve consumer demand, protect our nation's critical infrastructure, attract new farmers,
improve the business climate, and increase trade to export markets.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
memorializes the Congress of the United States to take such actions as are necessary to
support the domestic beef industry.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Congress of the United States is strongly
encouraged to adopt import and export policies that will protect the economic survival and
prosperity of the domestic beef industry in Louisiana and America and the nation's food
supply.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution shall be transmitted
to the secretary of the United States Senate, the clerk of the United States House of
Representatives, and each member of the Louisiana delegation to the United States
Congress.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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