They say that the proposed legislation is federal overreach and would overrule multiple state laws regulating food safety.
House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson of Pennsylvania and and Ranking Member David Scott of Georgia received a letter from a group of 171 members of the House of Representatives urging the members of the committee to not include the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act in the upcoming farm legislative package. Congress must pass the farm bill every five years, which renews farm and food programs. The deadline to pass the next farm bill is September 30.
The bipartisan group, led by Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania and Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, wrote, “The EATS Act could harm America’s small farmers, threaten numerous state laws, and infringe on the fundamental rights of states to establish laws and regulations within their borders.”
“We believe that Congress should not usurp the power of states to regulate food and agricultural products,” the letter continued. “The federal government should play a complementary role to the states on agriculture policy, rather than rendering them powerless.”
As the Lord Leads, Pray with Us…
- For wisdom for Chairman Thompson and members of the House Agriculture Committee as they consider the EATS Act inclusion in the farm bill.
- For members of the House of Representatives as they negotiate what should be included in the five-year legislation.
Sources: Reuters, Food Safety News
