FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2018
107 Farm Groups Urge Congress to Reject H.R. 4879/3599 in the 2018 Farm Bill
Washington, D.C. – Today, a coalition including Family Farm Action, Organization for Competitive Markets, National Dairy Producers Organization and Farm Aid submitted a letter to members of the Senate Agriculture Committee urging them to reject Rep. Steve King’s effort to include his radical legislation in the 2018 Farm Bill.
King’s legislation would wipe out most state and local laws regarding the production or manufacture of agricultural products, only to benefit a few corporate agribusiness interests.
Stop King’s Attack Campaign Manager, Jake Davis, said “These organizations represent a diverse community of farmers and consumers all concerned about protecting our rights. From coast to coast farmers are fighting back against Representative King’s attack on our rural communities.”
The letter states, “Farming practices and environmental conditions vary widely throughout the United States and largely are governed by those at the local level who best understand their community. H.R. 4879/3599 seeks to mandate a one-size-fits-all approach by establishing a race to the bottom on any standard of production or manufacture of agricultural products.”
King’s legislation, called the “Protect Interstate Commerce Act,” violates the 10th Amendment and would more aptly be called the “States’ Rights Elimination Act.” It negates laws governing pesticide application, farm labor, consumer protections like BPA free baby food containers and farm safeguards such as the transport of commodities like diseased firewood, to name a few.
Farmers and ranchers will not stand idly by as Representative King attacks their rights. The letter to Congress concludes, “We urge you to side with farmers, small businesses, consumers, and local governments over corporate agribusiness interests by rejecting H.R. 4879/3599’s attempt to override the right of citizens to maintain control of food and farming locally.”
For more information, visit www.stopkingsattack.com.
Media Contacts:
Angela Huffman, 614-390-7552, ahuffman@competitivemarkets.com
Chelsea Davis, 573-808-2559, chelsea@farmaction.us
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Family Farm Action is a coalition of family-farmers and advocates building the “political muscle” to fight for farmers and rural communities.
Organization for Competitive Markets is a membership-based research and advocacy organization working for open and competitive markets and fair trade in America’s food and agricultural sectors.
