“In Kansas we have lost our patience,” Moran said in his speech. “Whether you are a farmer or rancher, a beef processor or retailer, the loss of this market is having a detrimental effect on our rural communities and our agriculture economy. This two-year delay has now totaled almost $3.4 billion in losses.”

A single case of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in a Canadian-born animal prompted Japan to close its border to U.S. beef in December 2003. Only two cases of BSE have appeared in the U.S. since that time, compared to 20 cases of BSE in Japan. Despite the tireless efforts of U.S. officials to improve the safety of American beef and reopen this export market, the government of Japan continues to unjustifiably delay the process with no scientific evidence to support its actions.

Moran introduced a resolution in March calling for sanctions to be used against Japan if it fails to abide by its October 2004 agreement to reopen its border. More than 80 of Moran’s colleagues have joined the effort by cosponsoring Moran’s resolution. In addition, Moran has met with President Bush and U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman to discuss this issue, as well as leading more than 100 Members of Congress in asking President Bush to make restoring market access for U.S. beef to Japan his highest economic priority. Moran’s testimony before the Ways and Means Committee and his speech on the House floor are additional steps in bringing the resolution to a vote in the House.    

“Japan cannot have it both ways,” Moran reiterated in his speech. “They cannot benefit from exports to the U.S. while denying our imports. Patience is a virtue no longer.”

Moran is a senior member of the House Agriculture Committee.    

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