Federal Alert - Stop EATS Act in Farm Bill [Senate Ag Cmte]

Tell Senate Ag Committee to REMOVE Section 12006 from Farm Bill

Stop Federal Preemption of State Livestock and Food Standards

The United States House passed a Federal Farm Bill which includes Section 12006, titled “Ensuring the Free Movement of Livestock-Derived Products in Interstate Commerce”–also known as the EATS Act [Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression]. This provision would create a federal right for producers to market livestock-derived products in interstate commerce and would prohibit states from enforcing certain production standards on livestock or livestock-derived products raised outside their borders.

In plain language, Section 12006 would override state authority and prevent states from setting standards for certain meat and dairy products sold within their own borders.

The Senate Agriculture Committee is now working on its version of the Farm Bill. Please contact committee members and urge them to omit Section 12006 from the House Farm Bill in the Senate version of the Farm Bill.

ACTION TO TAKE

Please call members of the Senate Agriculture Committee and urge them to not include the language of Section 12006 of the House Farm Bill in the Senate version of the Farm Bill. Member phone numbers are included at the end.

You can say:

“Please do not include the language of Section 12006 from the House Farm Bill in the Senate version of the Farm Bill. This provision would undermine states’ rights, local control over food and farming standards, and independent farmers who are trying to meet consumer demand.”

TALKING POINTS

1. Section 12006 undermines states’ rights. States should retain the authority to set standards for food and agricultural products sold within their own borders. Congress should not use the Farm Bill to override state and local decision-making.

2. Section 12006 could harm independent farmers. Many independent farmers have already invested in higher standards to meet consumer demand and state market requirements. This provision would benefit large industrial producers while undercutting smaller farmers who have adapted to serve these markets.

3. Section 12006 accelerates consolidation in agriculture. Large meatpackers and vertically integrated corporations benefit from uniform national rules that favor scale. Smaller and regional producers rely on differentiated markets that allow them to compete.

4. Congress should not overturn state laws or voter-approved standards. Many state food and livestock standards reflect decisions made by state legislatures, local governments, or voters. Those decisions should not be erased by a federal legislation. States must be able to protect food safety, animal health, and consumer choice. States need flexibility to respond to local concerns related to food production, animal health, disease prevention, and consumer expectations.

CONTACT INFORMATION – SENATE AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE

Senator John Boozman (202) 224-4843
Senator Mitch McConnell (202) 224-2541
Senator John Hoeven (202) 224-2551
Senator Joni Ernst (202) 224-3254
Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (202) 224-5054
Senator Roger Marshall (202) 224-4774
Senator Tommy Tuberville (202) 224-4124
Senator Jim Justice (202) 224-3954
Senator Chuck Grassley (202) 224-3744
Senator John Thune (202) 224-2321
Senator Deb Fischer (202) 224-6551
Senator Jerry Moran (202) 224-6521
Senator Amy Klobuchar (202) 224-3244
Senator Michael Bennet (202) 224-5852
Senator Tina Smith (202) 224-5641
Senator Dick Durbin (202) 224-2152
Senator Cory Booker (202) 224-3224
Senator Ben Ray Luján (202) 224-6621
Senator Raphael Warnock (202) 224-3643
Senator Peter Welch (202) 224-4242
Senator John Fetterman (202) 224-4254
Senator Adam Schiff (202) 224-3841
Senator Elissa Slotkin (202) 224-4822