Speech #910087599

In addition the standard of living of wage earners was affected. There were protest meetings in my State to call attention to the serious problem. It was on the basis of that experience that the existing quota law was passed in 1964. I would like to call attention to the fact that these quota laws do not stop the importation of beef but produce a sharing of the market with other countries. What we are talking about is not an attempt to stop beef importation but rather regulation so it will not disrupt the local industry. Now we may be faced again with a similar situation. It has been widely reported that various foreign countries have been pressing our Government for a relaxation of the restrictions on their shipments. Such an action could be taken only by waiving the provisions of the quota law. There is no justification whatever for considering such a step. The existing quota law is not an embargofar from it. It permits imports to continue on the basis of past experience. with permission also for each foreign country to share in the growth of our market. In other words. the law permits imports to increase year by year. at the same rate as our own domestic production increases.