March 29, 2001

Ann M. Veneman

U.S. Agriculture Secretary

14 St. & Independence Ave. SW

Washington, DC 20250

Dear Secretary Veneman:

Montana livestock producers’ concerns regarding foreign animal diseases have heightened due to recent foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreaks in Europe and Argentina. If an FMD or another foreign animal disease outbreak were to occur in Montana or the United States, it would have a devastating economic impact on the livestock industry.

I join Montana livestock producers in urging you to take every practical precaution available to prevent the introduction of foreign animal diseases into this country.

Surveillance at ports of entry for livestock and travelers should be increased and/or intensified. Baggage should be inspected, including carry-on and checked baggage, of all travelers from countries of confirmed FMD outbreaks. Additionally, travelers should be questioned as to their complete travel itinerary

An Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) inspection team should validate and verify that equal disease surveillance, control and prohibitions are enforced in foreign countries, as well as intensify efforts at our ports of entry to prevent the introduction of foreign animal diseases. The Argentina FMD outbreak should be taken as an example of why APHIS needs to perform an unrestricted inspection in the country requesting permission to import livestock and/or meat products into the United States.

The livestock industry is the number one industry in Montana. The excellent health and well being of the livestock of Montana is essential to Montana’s economy. Montana urges that under your direction, APHIS use all practical livestock disease prevention practices, means and measures to protect the health and well being of the livestock and the public.

Sincerely,

JUDY MARTZ

Governor