WASHINGTON, July 30, 2012 – The offices of U.S. Senators John Cornyn, R-Texas, and Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, celebrated “Meat Monday” today as “a reminder to USDA that it’s supposed to advocate for American agriculture, not against it,” said Grassley’s statement.
“The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which oversees our nation’s ranchers and farmers, recently encouraged its employees to boycott meat on Mondays,” according to the Senators’ press announcement.
The move is in response to a post made July 23 in USDA’s “Greening Headquarters Update” for employees by the Office of Operations, a housekeeping agency. The post described plans to make USDA’s cafeteria a model for “healthy” eating. “One simple way to reduce your environmental impact while dining at our cafeterias is to participate in the “Meatless Monday” initiative,” it said.
USDA addressed the gaffe the same day, issuing a statement that “USDA does not endorse Meatless Monday. The statement found on the USDA website was posted without proper clearance and it has been removed.”
However, Senators Cornyn and Grassley used the opportunity to draw contrasts with the Administration to promote “Meat Monday” with barbeque beef brisket, ribs, and sausage from Hill Country BBQ restaurant, according to their offices.
“In some of the toughest times they’ve seen in recent memory, Texas cattle ranchers and farmers deserve an Administration who works with them, not one who undermines them with boneheaded decisions from bureaucrats in Washington,” Cornyn said in a statement.
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