• USCA urges a vigorous defense of country of origin labeling (COOL) law at the World Trade Organization (WTO).  USCA has filed two additional rounds of comments in support of COOL.  USCA believes that COOL is completely WTO compliant and gives consumers country of origin information in an efficient manner.

• USCA supports strong animal health and food safety in the U.S.  USCA opposes regionalization of foreign countries with animal disease problems if such regionalization, through the importation of cattle or beef into the U.S., will weaken animal health or food safety in the United States.

• USCA supports the USDA’s efforts to investigate and enforce antitrust laws ensuring fair market competition.  We believe Congress must increase market transparency by addressing captive supply contracts, price reporting, and packer ownership of cattle.  USCA supports USDA’s efforts to enhance competition, access, and opportunities for producers, while enhancing value based market structure and encouraging branded programs. 

• USCA supports the Beef Checkoff.  USCA supports efforts to allow competitive contracting and amending the act to allow the promotion of beef born and raised exclusively in the US. 

• USCA is currently reviewing the recently released USDA Animal Disease Traceability proposed rule. USCA worked with the Cattle ID Group and USDA to develop an animal disease trace back system that is adequately funded and meets the needs of animal health officials at the state and tribal level without burdening producers with additional costs or subjecting them to an unworkable system. 

• USCA supports sustainable land and water use.  USCA opposes the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) plans to implement its Total Maximum Daily Load rule for the Chesapeake Bay and its numeric nutrient criteria rule for the state of Florida. USCA opposes the “Draft Guidance on Identifying Waters Protected by the Clean Water Act” released by EPA. The guidelines’ broad scope will leave ranchers across the country vulnerable to increased regulations and additional permitting costs.

• USCA opposes the Department of Labor’s proposed changes to The Fair Labor Standards Act.

• USCA is evaluating the Trans-Pacific Partnership Free Trade Agreement and will be reviewing the parameters involved with the possible inclusion of such countries as Canada and Mexico within the agreement

• USCA supports the inclusion of a Livestock Title within the 2012 Farm Bill.  USCA supports including the permanent disaster program.  USCA supports certain conservation programs within the 2012 Farm Bill such as the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQUIP).

• USCA supports the freedom to utilize valuable and proven medicines that ranchers rely on to keep herds healthy.  USCA supports the responsible use of antibiotics
   
• USCA supports the humane treatment of horses and implementing a plan that involves the processing of horses in the U.S.
  
  
• USCA supports estate tax relief and the permanent reform of the estate and gift tax provisions of the Internal Revenue Code.

     Current Legislation

• USCA supports H.R. 1996 /S. 1061 –The Government Litigation Savings Act which seeks to define the scope of  the Equal Access to Justice Act and bring it back in line with its original congressional intent
• USCA supports H.R. 2018 – The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act would re-establish the state-federal relationship within the CWA by addressing the EPA’s ongoing  regulatory overreach
• USCA supports H.R. 2959 / S. 1561: The Charitable Agricultural Research Act would expand the tax code to allow for private donors to allocate specific funds on a tax-deductible basis to agriculture research
• USCA supports H.R. 4153: The Chesapeake Bay Program Reauthorization and Improvement Act-recognizes an advisory committee to retain oversight of the watershed and sole authority to implement any regulations
• USCA supports H.R. 4157/ S. 2221: The Preserving America’s Family Farms Act would keep the Department of Labor from issuing their proposed rule concerning adjusting the age and guiding criteria in regards to youth labor on agriculture operations
• USCA supports S. 2274: The Foundation for Food and Agriculture Research Act would establish a nonprofit corporation that would allow for specific allocation of private donations to be directed to agriculture programs