Bill Text: MO HCR48 | 2012 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Opposes the passage of the Egg Products Inspection Act of 2012, H.R. 3798, which would nullify existing state law and deny states the ability to enact laws to regulate egg factory production
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-04-18 - Referred: Agriculture Policy (H) [HCR48 Detail]
Download: Missouri-2012-HCR48-Introduced.html
SECOND REGULAR SESSION
House Concurrent Resolution No. 48
96TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY
INTRODUCED BY REPRESENTATIVES HOUGHTON (Sponsor) AND SCHATZ (Co-sponsor).
WHEREAS, the Egg Products Inspection Act of 2012, H.R. 3798, was introduced January 23, 2012. The bill would mandate all commercial egg producers to transition from conventional cage housing to colony cages by the end of 2029; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 3798 would codify an agreement reached in 2011 between United Egg Producers (UEP) and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) which would nullify existing state laws and deny state legislatures the ability to enact laws to regulate egg production facilities; and
WHEREAS, the UEP/HSUS agreement calls for an end to HSUS-led ballot initiatives specifying hen space and housing types, HSUS undercover investigations, HSUS campaigns to intimidate customers, and lawsuits between HSUS and UEP; and
WHEREAS, while the legislation is supported by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Farm Sanctuary and other animal rights groups, the National Consumers League, H.R. 3798 also has considerable opposition; and
WHEREAS, mainstream agricultural groups, including the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC), the National Chicken Council, the National Turkey Federation, and the National Milk Producers Federation, all cited primarily their belief that the bill sets a "dangerous precedent" for federal legislation in the future that would specify how other livestock should be housed and produced; and
WHEREAS, these opposition groups believe that H.R. 3798 would create government-imposed standards for egg production that are based on the political goals of HSUS, which seeks to eventually shut down animal agriculture by government mandate; and
WHEREAS, as science has improved animal care, farmers and ranchers have steadily and voluntarily adopted improvements to enhance the health, well-being, and productivity of their animals and the viability of their operations; and
WHEREAS, the United States food supply is too important for scientifically proven production standards to be outlaws for political reasons; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 3798 would take away producers' freedom to operate in ways that are best for their animals, increase food prices, devastate niche and small producers by requiring them to label each individual egg, and redirect resources away from enhancing food safety; and
WHEREAS, any legislation that would result in mandated animal care standards based largely on the political goals of an animal rights group that seeks to eventually shut down animal agriculture by government mandate raises serious concerns about the ability of a radical animal rights group to legitimize a policy package that will undoubtedly be used to coerce other livestock producers; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 3798 ignores the science supporting the consensus among mainstream agricultural veterinarians, animal scientists, and livestock producers regarding scientifically proven production standards; and
WHEREAS, heavy-handed government mandates based primarily on the extreme political agenda of animal rights activists who have no regard for science-based animal husbandry or for the hard-working families that provide our citizens with wholesome food from well-cared for livestock; and
WHEREAS, the State of Missouri is one of the leading states in the number of farms, crop production, and livestock products in the nation, ranking second only to Texas in the number of farms and beef livestock production; and
WHEREAS, Missouri's agricultural sectors directly contribute over $12 billion to the state, with the total economic impact of agricultural sectors exceeding $31 billion, and employ approximately 250,000 people; and
WHEREAS, Missouri livestock and livestock products are responsible for over half of Missouri's agricultural production; and
WHEREAS, any federal legislation which would nullify existing state laws and deny state legislatures the ability to enact laws specific to their own needs is an unacceptable intrusion into the ability of states to meet the needs of their citizenry; and
WHEREAS, H.R. 3798 could set the model for a one-size-fits-all approach to livestock production, which does not account for the diverse settings in all 50 states:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the members of the House of Representatives of the Ninety-sixth General Assembly, Second Regular Session, the Senate concurring therein, hereby strongly oppose the passage of the Egg Products Inspection Act of 2012, H.R. 3798, which would nullify existing state laws and deny state legislatures the ability to enact laws to regulate egg factory conditions; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Missouri General Assembly urges our Congressional delegation to oppose the passage of this federal legislation which could significantly harm Missouri's livestock industry by setting a dangerous precedent for federal legislation in the future that would specify how other livestock should be housed and produced; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Chief Clerk of the Missouri House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate and United States House of Representatives, and each member of the Missouri Congressional delegation.
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