This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.

In May, California's Proposition 12, the strongest animal protection law in the country, was upheld by the Supreme Court. As a prompt and potentially devastating response to the passing of this law, the animal agriculture industry (driven mainly by the pork industry) is pushing back by calling for federal legislation in the Farm Bill which would not only undo Proposition 12, but it would control the regulation of state sales, thereby stripping away animal welfare and other mandates. We can't let these provisions in the Farm Bill pass!

The 2023 Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act (H.R 4999/ S.2619) sponsored by Kansas senator Roger Marshall and introduced to the House by Iowa representative Ashley Hinson, is an updated version of the 2021 EATS Act that failed to pass.

The new version of the Farm Bill contains language with the same aim of the EATS Act, to prevent states and local jurisdictions from regulating the production and distribution of their agricultural products in regard to interstate commerce. It is designed to wipe out any state laws that ban the confinement of egg-laying hens, mother pigs, and “veal” calves.

The EATS Act was written to directly combat anti-animal cruelty agricultural legislation like Prop 12 and Massachusetts Question 3. Not only would it undermine individual states' abilities to enact laws affecting agricultural practices, but it would also likely destroy many other animal welfare protections, such as those aimed at puppy mills, the killing of animals for the wildlife trade, and cruel procedures performed on animals for cosmetics testing.

The last time the Farm Bill was up, in 2018, the King Act (which was basically an earlier version of the EATS Act) was introduced by former Rep. Steve King and it also was intended to block states from passing laws related to the sale of products within their own borders. Thankfully, it generated overwhelming bipartisan opposition. The Farm Bill is an omnibus, multi-year law that governs an array of agricultural and food programs, and it is up again this year.

Though the EATS Act has failed in the past, the opposition to the passing of Prop 12 could help push it forward. Most legislation for animals could be wiped out by this one bill and make it extremely difficult to pass future legislation for animals.

Some lawmakers from “pork-producing” states want to prevent individual states from being able to regulate agricultural products, but the passage of Prop 12 demonstrates that a growing number of U.S. citizens desire improved conditions for farmed animals.

Letter to Decision Maker(s) for reference:

Subject: Oppose the Dangerous Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act

As an informed and hopeful constituent and one of over 250,000 In Defense of Animals supporters, I respectfully urge you to oppose provisions in the new Farm Bill that uses language similar to the Exposing Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act (S. 2619/HR 4999). This is a regressive bill that will undo decades of protections for farmed and other animals and cause them to endure even more suffering to profit from animal agricultural interests. Not only could it override laws in multiple states that are designed to protect farmed animals, but those related to food safety and the environment. 

The EATS Act would reinforce the immense suffering endured by farmed animals and also would silence legislators and their constituents to instead unfairly prioritize animal agriculture over even the most basic humane treatment. It would eliminate the possibility of state or locally enforced protections in the future. This dangerous bill aims to override California’s Proposition 12, which implements space requirements for “veal” calves, mother pigs, and egg-laying hens, and bans the sale of products from animals who are confined to areas below those requirements. 

The EATS Act would have devastating consequences for animals, and the environment, as well as human health. I urge you to vote NO on this dangerous legislation. 

Thank you for your attention to this crucial matter.

Sincerely,

Signed

This alert is no longer active, but here for reference. Animals still need your help.