Pending Federal Legislation
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Farm Animal
CAFO Tax Credit Act, Senate Bill 285
Senator Chuck Hagel is doing the work of his lobbyist pals. In response to relatively minor Environmental Protection Agency regulations intended to reduce the environmental devastation caused by factory farms (CAFOs), the CAFOs best pal, Senator Chuck Hagel introduced legislation to give the CAFOs a tax credit. Factory farms or Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations are hideous examples of the worst of American business. Thousands of animals are confined in excruciatingly small spaces, many cannot even turn around. The animals suffer horribly. Neighboring humans suffer also. Thousands and thousands of animals mean thousands and thousands gallons of liquid waste and thousands and thousands of pounds of manure. Runoff from CAFOs contaminate rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and aquifers with bacterial and organic pathogens. Noxious fumes and millions of flies contaminate the air. The industry that harms animals and humans alike seems to be entitled to protections given to no other American business. Stop the special tax credits Senator Hagel is trying to give CAFOs by contacting your United States Senator and asking them to vote against the CAFO Tax Credit Act, S. 385. ________________________________________________________________________ Downed Animal Protection and Food Safety Act (H.R. 661, S. 394) Specifically the Downed Animal Protection and Food Safety Act would require a food animal (cows, goats, horses, sheep, mules and swine) be humanely euthanized if the animal is downed. Also, conscious downed animals would not be moved and would be humanely euthanized. This is important legislation that lessens animal suffering and protects the human food supply. Please contact your Representatives and Senators and ask them to support this important legislation. For more information visit: Farm Sanctuary; www.nodowners.org Cloned Animals Labeling Act (H.R. 1396, S. 536) Americans do not want to eat cloned food, but lobbyists have another idea, which should make all of you worry. The federal government is very close to allowing the sale of cloned beef for human consumption. Cloning is not only morally controversial, but also is scientifically unproven. Worse, there are many “mistakes” born of the cloning process. The mistakes are born deformed or maimed, suffering until they are euthanized. The Cloned Animals Labeling Act would prevent cloned animals from receiving an “organic” label under federal law. Contact your Congressman and Senators and ask them to take a first step towards protecting the public from unproven cloned meat. For more information visit: Farm Sanctuary The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (S. 311) In 2005 nearly 100,000 American horses were slaughtered for human consumption in Mexican and Canadian slaughterhouses. The number of horses sold to and slaughtered by foreign operations is expected to sky rocket due to the closing of all three American slaughterhouses that sold horse meat for human consumption. Horses transported for slaughter endure horrible suffering. They are packed into overcrowded trailers, standing for hours. When they arrive at the slaughterhouse, they smell the blood and immediately try to flee. They injure themselves in their attempts to get away from the blood and gore. Horses are not always killed with the first device, a captive blot pistol, but instead flounder in agony. Horses deserve better and thankfully, we humans can do much better for our hooved friends. The American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act will stop transport of horses to foreign slaughterhouses. After committee approval, this Act is awaiting action by the full Senate. It is vital that you contact your Senators and Representative and ask that they support the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act. For more information visit: Humane Society of the United States Farm Animal Stewardship Protection Act (H.R. 1726) There are limited regulations governing the treatment of animals during transportation to slaughterhouses and slaughter once there. There are no federal regulations guiding farmers about the treatment of animals during their lives. The lack of oversight has led to the proliferation of factory farming practices, where the quality of the animal’s life is not considered. Animals raised for food suffer horrendously during their lives. The “Farm Animal Stewardship Protection Act” would require the USDA purchase food for its school lunch programs only from farms that meet minimum care standards, such as providing enough space for an animal to turn around. Contact your Representative and Senators and ask that they support the Farm Animal Stewardship Protection Act.
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Labeling Cloned Milk
House Bill 5614 provides that milk from cloned goats, pigs and cattle shall be labeled as cloned.
This legislation will allow Michigan consumers to choose whether to drink milk from cloned animals. The federal government has not completed its regulations regarding cloned food and milk, however, it is believed that the regulators are going to side with the industry and not require labeling. The industry fears that consumers will not purchase food and milk from cloned animals.
Contact your state representative and let him/her know that you support HB 5614.
Labeling Cloned Meat
House Bill 5611 states: “If otherwise allowed by law, cloned meat may be sold if clearly labeled as cloned meat.”
It's anticipated that cloning will soon be an accepted practice in the farming industry. Cloned animals will be used as breeding stock for new generations of food animals, soon to be populating factory farms. The FDA claims cloned animals pose no health risks to humans. It's currently the position of meat industry that cloned not appear on labels. The USDA and FDA, being captured by the meat industry, are expected to prohibit any requirement that cloning be noted on labeling.
This Michigan legislation, if passed, would allow consumers to make an informed choice by requiring that cloned meat sold in Michigan be labeled CLONED.
Contact your representative and let him/her know that you support this legislation.
_______________________________________________________________________ Factory Farm Moratorium Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFOs) are large scale feed lots. Thousands and thousands of animals are confined in small quarters. Often there isn't even room for an animal to turn around. The animals suffer from stress and dismay, become ill with viruses and infected with bacteria. CAFOs are nothing more than industrialized torture for the confined animals. Humans living near CAFOs do not fare much better. CAFOs produce thousands of gallons of liquid waste and thousands of pounds of manure. Neighbors from miles away can smell the operation. The waste not only pollutes the air, but it also contaminates the water. Run-off enters streams, rivers, lakes, and aquifers. Animal cruelty and environmental devastation led Michigan Representative Raymond Bashram and Michigan State Senator Mark Meadows to sponsor HB 4467 and SB 444 which establish a 5 year moratorium during which no new CAFOs will be opened in the State of Contact your Michigan State Senator and Michigan Representative and let them know you support the CAFO moratorium. Farm Sanctuary and www.factoryfarming.com are great resources about factory farming.