United States Cattlemen Association leaders are working to defend Country of Origin Labeling against Congressional attempts to repeal the law. The House Ag Committee has already approved a repeal measure and sent it to the floor. U.S. Cattlemen’s President and South Dakota producer Danni Beer says they know they have a fight in the House but are hoping to convince Representatives as well as Senators to keep COOL intact.

U.S. Cattlemen’s Director Emeritus Leo McDonnel who lobbied last week in Washington DC for COOL says his group’s members are telling elected officials that it’s going to be difficult for Canada and Mexico to retaliate against COOL because they’re not able to prove damages.

McDonnel also says neither Canada nor Mexico can prove trade distortion has occurred because of COOL.

Both Beer and McDonnel urge their members to keep engaged on the issue and to keep pushing members of Congress not to abandon the labeling law.