Rep. Vargas Keeps Cattle Industry in Imperial County a Priority
WASHINGTON, DC (April 30, 2014) –Earlier this year, Rep. Juan Vargas (CA-51) sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Committee on Agriculture’s Subcommittee on Livestock, Rural Development and Credit requesting a hearing to examine the impact of country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on cattle producers in the Western States, especially California. Today, Rep. Vargas released the following statement after the Subcommittee held the hearing.
“I am very pleased that the Subcommittee on Livestock honored my request and held a hearing to discuss the detrimental impacts that the COOL regulations are having on the cattle processing regions in California. The new COOL regulations are not only causing a cattle shortage in California and threatening the state’s cattle industry, but directly contributed to the impending closure of National Beef’s processing plant in Brawley.
“The COOL regulations are very damaging to my district, eliminating jobs, and ultimately putting families in the Valley under additional financial hardship.
“This issue is a priority to me. I look forward to working with the members of the Subcommittee to effectively address the harmful COOL regulations.”
Vargas represents California’s 51st Congressional District which includes the southern portion of San Diego County, all of Imperial County and California’s entire US/Mexico border. Vargas is currently serving his first term in Congress. He represented the 40th California State Senate District from 2010-2012, the 79th California State Assembly District from 2000 – 2006 and served on the San Diego City Council from 1993 – 2000.