Plot to Cut Protections Must be Stopped!

Dear Humanitarian:

The Society for Animal Protective Legislation (SAPL), a division of the Animal Welfare Institute, has joined with 40 consumer, environmental, farmer and animal welfare groups in opposing a dangerous, sweeping provision in the 2007 Farm Bill (H.R. 2419). The Livestock, Dairy and Poultry Subcommittee surreptitiously inserted Section 123 into the House of Representatives bill several weeks ago.

In essence, Section 123 declares federal supremacy by denying states and localities the ability to implement stronger protections for both consumers and animals. For example, it would mandate states to lift their bans on horse slaughter, the brutal production of foie gras, and the sale of bioengineered food. It would also prevent the passage of any laws that prohibit the commercial use of USDA-inspected products – for instance, preventing a local health inspector at a supermarket from condemning rodent-contaminated meat or poultry that has begun to go bad.

Frankly, at a time when we have seen repeated food safety failures at the Food and Drug Administration and the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), the United States needs more food safety protection—not less. In addition, when citizens and their state legislatures decide that a practice is so inhumane that it must not occur within their state’s borders, the federal government should not be able to trump their will.  Section 123 must be stricken from the Farm Bill to prevent the removal of critical state and local authority to ensure food safety, fight against animal cruelty, and protect the environment.

What you can do:

The full committee is scheduled to hold its mark up of the Farm Bill in July. Please contact your US Representative and both US Senators TODAY, urging them to oppose Section 123 of the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) as it is currently introduced in the House of Representatives.  Agribusiness and special interests should not be allowed to undermine animal welfare, environmental and public health protections.

To find your Members of Congress, please visit www.compassionindex.org/search.htm, or call the Capitol Hill operator at (202) 224-3121 and request to be connected to their offices. For more information about animal legislation and to sign up for SAPL eAlerts, please visit www.saplonline.org.  If you have any questions or need further information, you can call us at 703-836-4300.

Additionally, please share this “Dear Humanitarian” alert with family, friends and co-workers, and encourage them to contact their Members of Congress, too.  As always, thank you very much for your help!

Sincerely,

Cathy Liss
Legislative Director
www.saplonline.org
www.compassionindex.org

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