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Source: PRESS RELEASE, 5/15/13
Congressman Steve King released the following statement after the House Agriculture Committee passed its version of the 2013 Farm Bill, H.R. 1947, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013. Two of King's amendments were adopted into the Farm Bill.
"In Iowa's fourth district, agriculture is a way of life," said King. "I understand the priorities of my constituents, and ensured their main concerns are addressed in the bill. Today I worked with my colleagues to pass a farm bill that will reform farm programs, cut fraud and abuse within the nutrition programs, and strengthen crop insurance. I thank Chairman Frank Lucas for his diligent efforts, and was honored to work beside him to deliver a quality farm bill."
The first King amendment prohibits states from enacting laws that place conditions on the means of production for agricultural goods that are sold within its own borders, but are produced in other states.
"The Constitution of the United States reserves the regulation of interstate commerce to the Congress, not the states," said King. "The Protect Interstate Commerce Act (PICA) prohibits states from entering into trade protectionism by forcing cost prohibitive production methods on farmers in other states. PICA covers all agriculture products listed in section 206 of the Agriculture Marketing Act of 1946. By 2015, California will allow only eggs to be sold from hens housed in cages specified by California. The impact of their large market would compel producers in other states to invest billions to meet the California standard of 'means of production.' PICA will also shut down the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), PETA and other radical organizations from creating a network of restrictive state laws that will slowly push agriculture production towards the demise."
The second King amendment requires the Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, to take action within his jurisdiction to support efforts to increase the storage capacity in the Missouri River reservoir system that is dedicated to flood control and to increase the channel capacity of the River.
"The Committee also passed my amendment that directs the Secretary of Agriculture to support efforts to provide increased flood protection for the Missouri river basin that experienced hundreds of millions of dollars of damages as a result of the 2011 flood," said King. "18 months has passed and drought conditions have dramatically affected the region. My amendment protects against future damage of farm land, homes and businesses that would potentially be destroyed by flooding. Protecting the Missouri River basin remains a high priority of mine, and must be the Agriculture Secretary's as well."
Chad Gregory, the president of the United Egg Producers issued the following statement last night regarding the King Amendment:
“The Egg Products Inspection Act Amendments (H.R. 1731) introduced by Reps. Kurt Schrader (D-Oregon) and Jeff Denham (R-California) is a preferable solution to the interstate commerce calamity in eggs rather than Rep. Steve King’s (R-Iowa) amendment which was included in the Farm Bill by the House Agriculture Committee today.
“Historically, when Congress preempts state laws it replaces them with a uniform national standard, such as the Egg Bill that egg farmers nationwide support. Rep. King’s amendment does not set a level playing field for farmers.
“It could affect interstate commerce in a wide variety of agricultural products, from eggs, to the sale of raw milk, to the labeling of farm-raised fish or artificial sweeteners, to restrictions of firewood transported into a state in order to protect against invasive pests and potential damage to local forests. As many as 150 different state laws from Alabama to Wisconsin could be preempted or affected by the King amendment.
“We believe that the Egg Bill is the best solution to insure orderly and efficient interstate commerce in eggs, protecting egg farmers in every state with uniform national standard that is fair for everyone.”
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