Victory on the Farm Bill, but more to come

On Friday, the House voted to approve the 2007 Farm Bill. The final language of the bill did NOT include NAIS, so we won this round!!! The Agriculture Committee and Representatives received many phone calls and faxes from people opposed to NAIS, and they responded by taking out the language that linked NAIS to Country of Origin Labeling. THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to call and write.

This is a great step forward. But there are still several battles coming up. The House will probably vote on the Agriculture Appropriations Bill early this week. The Appropriations Committee Report includes:

• No new funding for NAIS until USDA provides a "complete and detailed strategic plan for the program, including tangible outcomes, measurable goals, specific milestones, and necessary resources for the entire program."
• $1.98 million for a cooperative agreement with the Wisconsin Livestock Identification Consortium, which supports NAIS
• $594,000 for the Farm Animal Identification and Records (FAIR) program

The lack of new funding specifically for NAIS is a good step! But it doesn't look like Congress has really gotten the message that we want funding for NAIS stopped, and having a detailed USDA plan will not change that fact. And funding the Wisconsin Consortium and FAIR programs will continue to push the program ahead with federal funding.

No amendments have been filed yet, but it is possible that an amendment will be offered to completely strip NAIS funding. It's also possible that the other side will get an amendment introduced to add unconditional funding back in.

The Senate Agriculture Appropriations bill has also been reported out of Committee, with a recommendation for continued funding for NAIS, but less funding than in previous years. No date has been set yet for the Senate vote.

If you haven't called your Congressman and Senators about NAIS recently, do it now! Or call the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121 or toll-free 877-851-6437.

Key Message: I am opposed to the National Animal Identification System. I do not want NAIS in any bill, and that includes funding for NAIS.

Ask to speak to the staffer who handles agricultural issues, and tell them a little bit about yourself and why you are against NAIS. Keep it short, and offer to follow-up with more information. Then send an email to libertyark@freedom.org, telling us who you spoke with (both the name of the Representative/Senator and the name of the staffer), and we will follow up with them.

We need to step up our efforts to educate our legislators. A member of the Liberty Ark Steering Committee, Judith McGeary, spent last week in DC meeting with Senators' and Representatives' staff and directly with some Representatives. Their awareness of NAIS spans the full spectrum, from people who are very familiar with it to those who had no idea that USDA has been implementing NAIS using Congressional funding! We've come a long way in the last year, but we still have a long way to go!!

We need to keep educating both the public and our legislators. Go to the Citizens Action page and download flyers and informational materials to put out at feed stores, auction barns, and local food coops. Encourage your friends and neighbors to become active in fighting to protect our rights and our food supply, starting by signing up as a Liberty Ark supporter.