In October, over 200 farmers from across the nation came together on Capitol Hill in support of California’s Proposition 12 and in opposition to the EATS Act and any legislative language like it.
The farmers held an impactful press conference at the National Press Building, engaged in a tractor and truck rally on the Hill, and attended over a hundred congressional meetings with an important message: The EATS Act, and any legislative language like it, hurts family farmers.
What is the EATS Act?
First introduced as the “Steve King Amendment”—named after the controversial former Iowa Republican Congressman—the bill was renamed the Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act. This Congress, after advocates successfully exposed the bill as problematic, rebranded the EATS Act to the Save Our Bacon Act in the House and the Food Security and Farm Protection Act in the Senate. Despite the shifting titles, the intent remains unchanged: to prevent states from adopting or enforcing commonsense protections for animals and consumers.
The EATS Act, regardless of what it’s called, would undo protections voted into place by California voters, such as Prop 12—a groundbreaking bill that reduces suffering for farmed animals by banning gestation crates for mother pigs, veal crates for calves, and cages for hens.
This dangerous legislation would eliminate state laws aimed at improving the treatment of animals and strengthening sustainable farming practices.
The EATS Act represents the most sweeping attempt to block states from setting meaningful standards for the treatment of farmed animals, food safety, and environmental stewardship. It faces strong opposition from a wide range of stakeholders, including organizations for animal protection, family farmers, public health, and environmental sustainability.
Family Farmers Oppose the EATS Act and Legislative Language Like It
On October 8 and 9, over 200 farmers showed up in Washington, DC, to send the message that they support Prop 12 and oppose any legislation that would undo it. They attended a major press conference to get the word out and had over a hundred meetings with congressional offices to share their views on the issue. They used their voices in support of state laws mandating agricultural operations.
Rallying for Prop 12
In addition to the press conference and congressional meetings, these brave farmers took their tractors and trucks to the streets. They drove around Capitol Hill, complete with real gestation crates, to ensure their message to Congress was clear: The federal government has no business overturning state laws voted into law by the American public. To see these farmers in action, and in solidarity with their message, check out this short video recapping the monumental event.
