America’s largest animal rights organization, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), is working to establish broad new federal mandates on the cages used by egg farmers to house their chickens.
Put simply, HSUS wants control over America’s Egg industry
According to recent reports by AgriNews , HSUS’s efforts to poison the 2013 Farm Bill by tacking on their proposed federal “Egg Bill” amendment, have been set back. Last year, HSUS made a similar push for the adoption of their “Egg Bill” amendment to be added to the 2012 Farm Bill. Agriculture experts spoke out about the disastrous effects the “Egg Bill” amendment would have on not just America’s egg industry, but all of American agriculture.
Today’s egg producers utilize scientifically developed cages proven to care for chickens and protect them from disease and predators, while preventing cannibalism and smothering. The cages used today ensure we have a safe food supply that we can trust. Last year, Iowa Congressman Steve King put his political career on the line to defend America’s farmers and ranchers, leading the effort to block HSUS’s attempt to regulate the entire egg industry and attach their “Egg Bill” amendment to the 2012 Farm Bill.
We all know what happens when you wake a sleeping bear. But, what happens when you get in the way of HSUS’s radical agenda? Keep in mind, It’s only a ‘drop in the bucket’ for HSUS to spend nearly $750,000. And that’s exactly what they did in the 2012 Election. After Congressman King successfully blocked HSUS’s efforts to force new federal mandates on America’s egg farmers, HSUS retaliated by writing large checks, aiming to defeat Congressman King’s reelection effort. When the dust settled, Congressman King retained his seat in office and HSUS was out $750,000. But HSUS refused to give up on their federal egg standard legislation.
On April 25th of this year, HSUS announced the reintroduction of the ‘Egg Bill’ amendment, and reports soon began confirming HSUS’s intentions to attach it as an amendment to the 2013 Farm Bill. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the American Farm Bureau Federation, and the National Pork Producers Council have fought to raise awareness of the dangers and implications for the rest of animal agriculture that are associated with this legislation, and it seems as though HSUS’s chances of success are fading, again.
When the NCBA caught wind of HSUS’s back room conversations and plan to attach it to the 2013 Farm Bill, they stood up, “We are adamantly opposed to anything that is a production mandate. We are opposed to Congress, in any way, mandating the way that animals are raised” said Chase Adams, Director of Communications for NCBA. The NCBA has since reported that the ‘Egg Bill’ amendment has been tabled for now and placed on hold for a later date. Colin Woodall, Vice President of Governmental Affairs for the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, stated, “What we understand right now is the language is not included – they took it out,” while Adams warned, “This is not the end of it.”
You can bet HSUS won’t quit or settle for anything that falls short of their end goal. They’ll be back, pushing for more federal mandates and control over animal agriculture in America, whether its this year or the next.
Hopefully, more of our elected leaders like Congressman Steve King will stand up to defend our freedoms and our food supply despite HSUS’s relentless efforts.
It’s worth the fight, because it’s becoming increasingly clear that it’s a fight that can be won.
