A two-fer from Consumer’s Union:

Help prevent the spread of mad cow disease!

Don’t let USDA weaken its mad cow regulations to allow imports of older Canadian cattle into the US. USDA proposes to permit cows up to the age of 7 years (any cow born after March, 1999) to be imported from Canada. Currently, only young cows (age 2.5 years or younger) can come over the border. Older cows are far more likely to exhibit mad cow disease than younger ones. USDA is also proposing to allow imports of cattle blood and intestines from Canada—parts that could carry the infectious agent.

In 2006, a program to test only 1% of all Canadian cows slaughtered identified five cases of mad cow disease. Three of the five 2006 Canadian mad cow cases were born after March, 1999—the date USDA claims guarantees safety.

The USDA should test all cattle over 20 months of age and require such testing for any animals shipped to the US from countries with mad cow disease. Until this safeguard is in place, urge USDA not to weaken import regulations on Canadian cattle.

Energy bill passes House and Moves to the Senate!

Congress heard your concerns and the House of Representatives passed energy legislation that would increase our investments in renewable energy and put us on a path towards a secure energy future. HR 6, The Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act, now moves to the Senate.

The oil industry is fighting hard to defeat the bill. Take a moment and send your Senator an email urging him or her to move quickly on legislation that repeals tax breaks to the oil industry and invests the savings in clean energy technology.

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Tagged: animals animal rights animal welfare environment environmental environmentalism environmentalist action alerts consumers union mad cow canada cow beef public health global warming climate change usda congress 110th congress The Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation Act