IA Action Alert – 2/16 Senate Committee Vote on Raw Milk Sales SSB 3126

Subject: IA Action Alert – 2/16 Senate Committee Vote on Raw Milk Sales SSB 3126

Tell Committee Members to Vote YES for SSB 3126

Support Legal Raw Milk Sales in Iowa

Senate Study Bill 3126 (SSB 3126) is before the full Senate Commerce Committee and is scheduled for a hearing on Wednesday, February 16 at 11:00am in Room 116 of the General Assembly Building. SSB 3126 would allow the sale of raw milk and raw milk products from dairy farms direct to consumers on the farm or through delivery. There is a labeling requirement, and those purchasing raw milk and raw milk products may not resell those foods. Farmers operating under the bill are exempt from regulation by the Iowa Department of Land Stewardship including any licensing, permitting or inspection requirements.

There are currently 44 states that allow the sale or distribution of raw milk; 38 states allow the sale or distribution for human consumption with another six states allowing the sale for animal consumption. Iowa is clearly an outlier; state law currently prohibits any sale or distribution of raw milk. All states bordering Iowa allow the sale of raw milk.

Your support for SSB 3126 is critical. Lobbyists for the dairy industry and the health sector testified against the bill in the subcommittee hearing. Please do what you can to end raw milk prohibition in Iowa.

ACTION TO TAKE

Call and/or email members of the Senate Commerce Committee asking them to vote YES on SSB 3126. Calls are best. It is especially important to do this if you are a constituent of a committee member. Consider including in your message any of the Talking Points below.

You may copy/paste this block of email addresses for the full committee:

tony.bisignano@legis.iowa.gov; amy.sinclair@legis.iowa.gov; jason.schultz@legis.iowa.gov; carrie.koelker@legis.iowa.gov; eric.giddens@legis.iowa.gov; waylon.brown@legis.iowa.gov;
jake.chapman@legis.iowa.gov; tim.goodwin@legis.iowa.gov; craig.johnson@legis.iowa.gov; mike.klimesh@legis.iowa.gov; jim.lykam@legis.iowa.gov; liz.mathis@legis.iowa.gov;
zach.nunn@legis.iowa.gov; janet.petersen@legis.iowa.gov; herman.quirmbach@legis.iowa.gov; roby.smith@legis.iowa.gov; craig.williams@legis.iowa.gov

TALKING POINTS

1. Raw milk has a good track record for safety. According to at least one study, the number of illnesses attributed to raw milk consumption has declined as demand for the product has increased.

2. Passage of SSB 3126 will keep more of the food dollar in the state economy. With the sale of raw milk being legal in all of Iowa’s bordering states, there are lost revenues.

3. Passage of SSB 3126 would enable family farmers to make a better living. Raw milk in other states is often the product that first draws the consumer to set foot on the farm leading to sales of other foods such as meat, poultry, eggs, and produce.

4. The bill supports consumer choice. The consumption of all raw milk products is legal in Iowa. Instead of having to cross state lines to exercise their legal right, shouldn’t Iowans have access to those products from Iowa farmers?

WAPF will be sending out further alerts on SSB 3126 as events warrant.

COMMITTEE CONTACTS

Senators on the Senate Commerce Committee are listed below. The Capitol phone number 515-281-3371 is shown on the website for every committee member; so, any other number is listed instead.

Jason Schultz (R, District 9), Chair & bill sponsor

Cell 712-269-2178

jason.schultz@legis.iowa.gov

Carrie Koelker (R, District 29), Vice Chair

Cell 563-590-5975

carrie.koelker@legis.iowa.gov

Eric Giddens (D, District 30), Ranking Member

Cell 319-230-0578

eric.giddens@legis.iowa.gov

Tony Bisignano (D – District 17)

Cell 515-371-5990

tony.bisignano@legis.iowa.gov