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The Farm Bill Affects Us All
A Farm Bill must be passed this year in order to reauthorize essential programs upon which the agriculture sector heavily depends. During a markup of this important piece of legislation, the House Agriculture Committee voted to include a disastrous amendment offered by Representative Steve King (IA). The full House will likely vote on this legislation the week of May 14. The King Amendment is a vicious attack on hundreds - even thousands - of state and local laws protecting animals and consumers. It is a major threat to people and animals nationwide.
- The King Amendment prohibits states and localities from setting any “standard or condition” upon agricultural products produced out-of-state; this blocks states from setting even basic standards for products sold within their borders, including how animals are raised.
- The King Amendment restricts a state's ability to set regulations protecting its citizens and agricultural sectors - states would be prohibited from applying their standards to out-of-state producers no matter how hazardous the product, or unacceptable the production process.
- As there is currently no federal ban on the slaughter of horses for human consumption, and not every state has prohibited this inhumane practice, states like California, Illinois and Texas would have their bans overturned by the King Amendment.
- The Amendment is so broadly written and far reaching that it could nullify thousands of state and local measures regarding food safety, animal welfare, environmental protection, labor standards, promotion of local agriculture, and more.
- Harvard Law School concluded that it “would fundamentally transform the balance of regulatory authority between the states and the federal government by eliminating virtually all state legislative police powers with respect to any agricultural product entering a state for sale.”
The King Amendment could overturn state laws on issues including:
- Animal welfare concerns such as puppy mills, horse slaughter, dog meat, and factory farms
- Taxes
- Child labor
- Diseased livestock
- Alcohol
- Manure application on fields
- Seed standards
- Labeling of farm-raised fish, maple syrup, raw milk, and other products
- Expiration and "sell-by" date requirements
- Exposure to dangerous pesticides
- BPA in infant food containers
The list above is by no means all-inclusive. Virtually any state or local law adopted with regard to agriculture could be wiped out by the King Amendment.
States have historically possessed broad powers to protect the health, safety, and welfare of their citizens by regulating the sale of goods and services within their borders. The courts have affirmed the states’ rights to pass laws to protect their citizens and to reflect the public will on a wide range of concerns. By denying states these powers, the King Amendment tramples upon the fundamental principles that have guided our nation since its founding.
Take Action – it’s easy!
Call your U.S. Representative. Find his/her contact information here. Here’s all you have to say:
“My name is (X) and I am a voting constituent in (city). I am calling to urge (your representative) to publicly oppose Rep. Steve King's amendment to the Farm Bill when it comes up for a vote on the floor of the House. This amendment threatens state’s rights to protect animals, food safety and many other public goods, and it must be stopped. Thank you.
After your call, please send a follow up message. Here’s a draft message:
As your constituent, I respectfully urge you to strongly oppose Rep. Steve King's amendment to the Farm Bill. The King Amendment is an attack on duly enacted state and local measures protecting animals and consumers and could undermine hundreds of state and local laws covering everything from food safety to child labor to animal welfare. It presents a major threat to people and animals nationwide. States have historically possessed broad powers to protect the health, safety and welfare of their citizens by regulating the sale of goods and services within their borders. The courts have weighed in on these issues and affirmed the rights of states to pass laws to protect their citizens and to reflect the public will on a wide range of concerns. Please publicly oppose the inclusion of this amendment in the Farm Bill, as well as any similar attack on duly-enacted state and local measures. Thank you for your attention to this important issue.
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