NO to BILL NOW BEFORE CONGRESS: HR 875

CALL YOUR CONGRESSPEOPLE!!!!!!!

The current bill sitting in congress right now is known as HR 875 - designed supposedly to make foods more safe. Effectively, what this bill does is give power to the large agri-businesses and lobbyists from Monsanto, ADM Cargill and other factory farm organizations to regulate food. It also takes power away from the states and gives more power to the federal government. It is a scary proposal which will certainly affect organic growers, home gardeners and even hunters. And the worst part yet is that it clearly is going to be a partisan vote. I am urging you to read into the whole bill, and encourage your colleagues to do the same. This could be a devastating and dangerous way to control food "safety." (Full text: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-875)
Pay special attention to

* Section 3 which is the definitions portion of the bill-read in it's entirety.
* section 103, 206 and 207- read in it's entirety.

Red flags found and there's sure to be more...........

* Legally binds state agriculture depts to enforcing federal guidelines effectively taking away the states power to do anything other than being food police for the federal dept.
* Effectively criminalizes organic farming but doesn't actually use the word organic.
* Affects anyone growing food even if they are not selling it but consuming it.
* Affects anyone producing meat of any kind including the processing wild game for personal consumption.
* Legislation is so broad based that every aspect of growing or producing food can be made illegal. There are no specifics which is bizarre considering how long the legislation is.
* Section 103 is almost entirely about the administrative aspect of the legislation. It will allow the appointing of officials from the factory farming corporations and lobbyists and classify them as experts and allow them to determine and interpret the legislation. Who do you think they are going to side with?
* Section 206 defines what will be considered a food production facility and what will be enforced up all food production facilities. The wording is so broad based that a backyard gardener could be fined and more.
* Section 207 requires that the state's agriculture dept act as the food police and enforce the federal requirements. This takes away the states power and is in violation of the 10th amendment.