Source: Rita Jane Gabbett, MEATINGPLACE, 5/16/18


The U.S. House of Representatives begins debate on the farm bill this week, including an amendment designed to stop states from regulating the way farmers raise food animals in other states.

If passed, the amendment offered by Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) could dismantle a number of state regulations already in effect, including California’s controversial law mandating laying hen cage size for eggs imported from other states and its ban on sales of foie gras. The amendment could also impact various Florida, Massachusetts and Michigan laws mandating specific types of animal housing for pregnant sows, veal calves and egg-laying chickens.

Called the Protect Interstate Commerce amendment, King calls such state laws a violation of the commerce clause of the Constitution, noting that while states are free to regulate commerce within their own borders, they cannot place restrictions on how products are produced in other states by forbidding entry into the state.

King proposed similar legislation four years ago in the previous farm bill, but the amendment did not survive the final farm bill passage.  

Animal activist groups that worked hard to pass these state laws are gearing up their public relations operations to stop the King amendment again this time.

The rest of the farm bill
Much of the rest of the farm bill debate is expected to focus on issues less directly related to animal agriculture. Amendments including those that would cap crop insurance premium subsidies, end production limits in the sugar program and ban sugary drinks from federal food programs such as SNAP are expected to encounter contentious debate, according to POLITICO.
The battle over immigration reform could also find its way into the farm bill debate. POLITICO reported that Freedom Caucus members are threatening to withhold farm bill support unless there is a roll call on separate legislation pertaining to “Dreamers” (undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children).

White House support
On Tuesday, the White House officially supported the House version of the farm bill.  A statement issued from the Office of Management and Budget praised the bill's work requirements for food stamp recipients.

Meanwhile, the Senate is working on its own version of the farm bill, which The Hill reported would likely either water down or eliminate the welfare work requirements.

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