Public accountability equals public credibility and the proposed animal identification system described by Secretary Johanns today has none of either. It would be shocking and irresponsible to use public money, money paid as taxes by all Americans, to support a program that was designed solely to address the concerns of cattlemen and structured to deny public officials access to information collected using public funds. As currently structured, neither state nor federal officials will know on an ongoing basis whether information is being collected effectively and recorded honestly.

NAIS was designed by the cattlemen, for the cattlemen. It satisfies the needs and demands of the people who raise cattle. The millions of American and Japanese consumers who buy beef to feed their families should not be deluded into thinking this program helps control animal disease or make their food safer.