HR 778: Repeal the Interstate Raw Milk Ban
By Monica @ 8:16 AM   
From the Weston A. Price Foundation:
Dear Members,
We are pleased to announce that Congressman Ron Paul has introduced a bill (HR 778) that would repeal the current ban on raw milk and raw milk products for human consumption in interstate commerce. The ban has made it more difficult for consumers to access raw milk and has hurt the ability of raw milk producers to make a living.
Passage of the bill into law would go a long way to stopping the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in its efforts to completely shut down the supply of raw milk.
To be successful, HR 778 must have co-sponsors. Your help is needed. Now is the time to mobilize consumers and farmers across the U.S.
Background
On January 28 Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) introduced HR 778, a bill "to authorize the interstate traffic of unpasteurized milk and milk products that are packaged for direct human consumption." Under the bill, the federal government "may not take any action...that would prohibit, interfere with, regulate, or otherwise restrict the interstate traffic of milk, or a milk product, that is unpasteurized and packaged for direct human consumption solely on the basis that the milk or milk product is unpasteurized...." The bill defines "interstate traffic" as "the movement of any conveyance or the transportation of persons or property...from a point of origin in any State or possession to a point of destination in any other State or possession...."
Passage of the bill into law would repeal the federal regulation prohibiting raw milk and raw milk products for human consumption in interstate commerce. That regulation (21 CFR 1240.61) provides, in part, that "no person shall cause to be delivered into interstate commerce or shall sell, otherwise distribute, or hold for sale or other distribution after shipment in interstate commerce any milk or milk product in final package form for direct human consumption unless the product has been pasteurized...."
The regulation is judge-made law having been issued in response to a 1986 court order requiring FDA to prohibit the sale of raw milk and raw milk products in interstate commerce. The people's branch of government, the Legislature, had no input in the issuance of the regulation.
The bill honors States' rights and would not force a State to legalize the sale of raw milk by producers within its boundaries nor would it force a State to allow the sale of raw milk from out-of-State producers in its retail stores. As the law currently stands, raw milk cannot even be shipped from a State where its sale is legal into another State where the sale is also legal. The bill would enable consumers to enter into transactions to obtain raw milk and raw milk products from other States without the transactions being in violation of federal law.
The consumption of raw milk is legal in every State, yet its sale is currently illegal in about half the States. HR 778 would enable those living in States where the sale of raw milk is illegal-and those living in States where the sale is legal but sources are not present-to be able to exercise their legal right to consume raw milk. As Congressman Paul stated in introducing the bill, "Americans have the right to consume these products without having the Federal Government second-guess their judgment about what
products best promote health. If there are legitimate concerns about the safety of unpasteurized milk, those concerns should be addressed at the state and local level.
Personally, I don't even think that states or local governments should have anything to say about a person's right to obtain raw milk. The people at the FDA can be tyrants but so can local and state officials, as evidenced by the Lorain County (Ohio) Health Dept. raid on the Stowers farm and co-op, Manna Storehouse. "But how can we guarantee the safe supply of raw milk without government standards?" it is often asked. Well, here in Colorado we have a wonderful independent organization of producers and consumers, the Raw Milk Association of Colorado, that has guidelines for the safe production of raw milk. It is a perfect example of the type of self-regulating organization that would emerge in a laissez-faire, capitalist milk market. And it works wonderfully. There hasn't been a single food-borne illness outbreak from raw milk in Colorado in the entire time the raw milk program has been operating for approximately 30 years. Such organizations could exist in any state or county and would set far more objective standards with regard to raw milk than government officials, whose standards are too often arbitrary and changing whims based on bad science or political pressure. We've seen that type of pressure even at the state level. This isn't an issue of states' rights. It's an issue of individual rights. However, I'll still take concrete progress on this issue if we can get it, and this bill would definitely mean progress.
WAPF continues:
FDA's position is that "raw milk should not be consumed by anyone, at any time, for any reason." The agency is working to impose this belief upon those who would disagree. FDA is currently pushing some States to toughen their laws on raw milk production and sales while trying to move other States to ban the sale or other distribution of raw milk altogether. Rather than meddling in the States' exercise of their police powers, FDA should be focusing its resources and attention on the many problems that exist in our faltering industrial food system.
Raw milk producers stand to benefit significantly from the passage of the bill. Nearby and accessible markets would be opened up to them with the passage of the bill. Small dairy farms, whose continued existence is threatened, could be enabled to survive with the additional customers that would now be available to them. Conventional small dairies suffering from the collapse in milk prices paid them by dairy cooperatives could transition to selling or otherwise distributing raw dairy products with a greater likelihood of success. Lifting the ban would also promote the local food movement by connecting consumers with producers who happen to live just across state lines.
Action to Take
HR 778 has been assigned to the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Those supporting the bill should contact members of the Committee as well as their own Representative to encourage them to sign on as co-sponsors for the bill. See links and committee members below.
Supporters of the bill are encouraged to write letters and make phone calls. Letters of one page or less can be sent to each member by email and then sent by postal mail. Suggested points to make in the letter are as follows.
1. The bill upholds consumer freedom of choice. The consumption of raw dairy products is legal in all fifty states. The bill enables consumers to exercise their legal right in States where the sale of raw milk and/or raw milk products is illegal or where there are no in-State sources.
2. The bill upholds States' rights. Decisions about the safety of raw milk should be made at the state and local level, not by the federal government.
3. The bill supports family farms by expanding their markets for raw dairy products. The bill increases the chances of survival for those dairies that are no longer able to subsist solely on the income from the dairy cooperative system.
4. The bill promotes the local food movement by connecting consumers to producers who happen to live just over state lines.
5. The bill would free FDA to focus on the pressing problems in our food system, e.g., tainted imports, under-inspected large-scale food processors.
The status of the bill can be tracked on the internet by entering "HR 778" in the Search field at www.thomas.gov; be sure to select "Bill Number" instead of "Word/Phrase".
Visit www.farmtoconsumer.org for more information and links. The committee list below (in order by State) was compiled from www.energycommerce.house.gov and www.visi.com/juan/congress/. Each member has an electronic mail webpage as well as a personal homepage. Other members of Congress can be found at http://clerk.house.gov/member_info/index.html.
Please join me in writing your members of the House depending on the state in which you live. I will be focusing on point one -- an individual's right to purchase raw milk -- in my letter, encouraging my representatives to sponsor this bill. Below are members of the commerce committee. Above are all members of Congress should you wish to write all your representatives.
Energy & Commerce Committee Members
Mike Ross, AR
Michael A. Ross (D-AR)
The Honorable Michael A. Ross
United States House of Representatives
2436 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0404
DC Phone 202-225-3772
DC Fax 202-225-1314
http://ross.house.gov/?sectionid=77�iontree=7677
http://www.house.gov/ross/
John Shadegg, AZ
John B. Shadegg (R-AZ)
The Honorable John B. Shadegg
United States House of Representatives
436 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0303
DC Phone 202-225-3361
DC Fax 202-225-3462
http://www.house.gov/formshadegg/emailtemplate.htm
http://www.house.gov/shadegg/
Anna Eshoo, CA
Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA)
The Honorable Anna G. Eshoo
United States House of Representatives
205 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0514
DC Phone 202-225-8104
DC Fax 202-225-8890
http://eshoo.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=447&Itemid=
http://eshoo.house.gov/
Doris Matsui, CA
Doris Matsui (D-CA)
The Honorable Doris Matsui
United States House of Representatives
222 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0505
DC Phone 202-225-7163
DC Fax 202-225-0566
https://forms.house.gov/matsui/webforms/issue_subscribe.htm
http://matsui.house.gov/
George Radanovich, CA
George P. Radanovich (R-CA)
The Honorable George P. Radanovich
United States House of Representatives
2410 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0519
DC Phone 202-225-4540
DC Fax 202-225-3402
http://radanovich.house.gov/Contact/email.htm
http://radanovich.house.gov/
Henry A. Waxman, CA, Chair
Henry A. Waxman (D-CA) [Chairman]
The Honorable Henry A. Waxman
United States House of Representatives
2204 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0530
DC Phone 202-225-3976
DC Fax 202-225-4099
http://www.house.gov/waxman/contact.htm
http://www.house.gov/waxman/
Jane Harman, CA
Jane Harman (D-CA)
The Honorable Jane Harman
United States House of Representatives
2400 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0536
DC Phone 202-225-8220
DC Fax 202-226-7290
http://www.house.gov/harman/contact/email.shtml
http://www.house.gov/harman/
Jerry McNerney, CA
Jerry McNerney (D-CA)
The Honorable Jerry McNerney
United States House of Representatives
312 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0511
DC Phone 202-225-1947
DC Fax 202-225-4060
http://mcnerney.house.gov/contact.shtml
http://mcnerney.house.gov/
Lois Capps, CA
Lois Capps (D-CA)
The Honorable Lois Capps
United States House of Representatives
1110 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0523
DC Phone 202-225-3601
DC Fax 202-225-5632
http://www.house.gov/capps/contact/send_an_email.shtml
http://www.house.gov/capps/
Mary Bono Mack, CA
Mary Bono Mack (R-CA)
The Honorable Mary Bono Mack
United States House of Representatives
104 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0545
DC Phone 202-225-5330
DC Fax 202-225-2961
http://bono.house.gov/Contact_Mary/ContactForm.htm
http://bono.house.gov/
Diana DeGette, CO
Diana DeGette (D-CO)
The Honorable Diana DeGette
United States House of Representatives
2335 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0601
DC Phone 202-225-4431
DC Fax 202-225-5657
http://www.house.gov/formdegette/zip_auth.htm
http://degette.house.gov/
Christopher Murphy, CT
Christopher Murphy (D-CT)
The Honorable Christopher Murphy
United States House of Representatives
412 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0705
DC Phone 202-225-4476
DC Fax 202-225-5933
http://www.house.gov/formchrismurphy/ic_zip_auth.htm
http://chrismurphy.house.gov/
Cliff Stearns, FL
Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
The Honorable Cliff Stearns
United States House of Representatives
2370 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0906
DC Phone 202-225-5744
DC Fax 202-225-3973
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
http://www.house.gov/stearns/
Kathy Castor, FL
Kathy Anne Castor (D-FL)
The Honorable Kathy Anne Castor
United States House of Representatives
317 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-0911
DC Phone 202-225-3376
DC Fax 202-225-5652
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
http://castor.house.gov/
John Barrow, GA
John Barrow (D-GA)
The Honorable John Barrow
United States House of Representatives
213 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1012
DC Phone 202-225-2823
DC Fax 202-225-3377
http://barrow.house.gov/ima/contact.htm
http://barrow.house.gov/
Nathan Deal, GA
Nathan Deal (R-GA)
The Honorable Nathan Deal
United States House of Representatives
2133 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1010
DC Phone 202-225-5211
DC Fax 202-225-8272
http://www.house.gov/deal/contact.shtml
http://www.house.gov/deal/
Phil Gingrey, GA
Phil Gingrey (R-GA)
The Honorable Phil Gingrey
United States House of Representatives
119 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1011
DC Phone 202-225-2931
DC Fax 202-225-2944
http://www.house.gov/formgingrey/IMA/issue.htm
http://gingrey.house.gov/
Bruce Braley, IA
Bruce Braley (D-IA)
The Honorable Bruce Braley
United States House of Representatives
1019 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1501
DC Phone 202-225-2911
DC Fax 202-225-6666
https://forms.house.gov/braley/webforms/issue_subscribe.html
http://braley.house.gov/
Bobby Rush, IL
Bobby L. Rush (D-IL)
The Honorable Bobby L. Rush
United States House of Representatives
2416 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1301
DC Phone 202-225-4372
DC Fax 202-226-0333
http://www.house.gov/rush/zipauth.shtml
http://www.house.gov/rush/
Janice Schakowsky, IL
Janice Schakowsky (D-IL)
The Honorable Janice Schakowsky
United States House of Representatives
2367 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1309
DC Phone 202-225-2111
DC Fax 202-226-6890
http://www.house.gov/schakowsky/email.shtml
http://www.house.gov/schakowsky/
John Shimkus, IL
John Shimkus (R-IL)
The Honorable John Shimkus
United States House of Representatives
2452 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1319
DC Phone 202-225-5271
DC Fax 202-225-5880
http://www.house.gov/shimkus/emailme.shtml
http://www.house.gov/shimkus/
Baron Hill, IN
Baron P. Hill (D-IN)
The Honorable Baron P. Hill
United States House of Representatives
223 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1409
DC Phone 202-225-5315
DC Fax 202-226-6866
http://baronhill.house.gov/IMA/issue_subscribe.shtml
http://baronhill.house.gov/
Steve Buyer, IN
Stephen E. Buyer (R-IN)
The Honorable Stephen E. Buyer
United States House of Representatives
2230 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1404
DC Phone 202-225-5037
DC Fax 202-225-2267
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
http://stevebuyer.house.gov
Ed Whitfield, KY
Edward Whitfield (R-KY)
The Honorable Edward Whitfield
United States House of Representatives
2411 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1701
DC Phone 202-225-3115
DC Fax 202-225-3547
http://whitfield.house.gov/contact/index.shtml
http://whitfield.house.gov/
Charlie Melancon, LA
Charlie Melancon (D-LA)
The Honorable Charlie Melancon
United States House of Representatives
404 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-1803
DC Phone 202-225-4031
DC Fax 202-226-3944
http://www.melancon.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=205
http://melancon.house.gov/
Edward Markey, MA
Edward J. Markey (D-MA)
The Honorable Edward J. Markey
United States House of Representatives
2108 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2107
DC Phone 202-225-2836
DC Fax 202-226-0092
http://markey.house.gov/index.php?option=com_email_form&Itemid=124
http://markey.house.gov/
John Sarbanes, MD
John P. Sarbanes (D-MD)
The Honorable John P. Sarbanes
United States House of Representatives
426 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2003
DC Phone 202-225-4016
DC Fax 202-225-9219
http://sarbanes.house.gov/federal.asp
http://sarbanes.house.gov/
Bart Stupak, MI
Bart Stupak (D-MI)
The Honorable Bart Stupak
United States House of Representatives
2268 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2201
DC Phone 202-225-4735
DC Fax 202-225-4744
http://www.house.gov/stupak/IMA/issue2.htm
http://www.house.gov/stupak/
Fred Upton, MI
Fred Upton (R-MI)
The Honorable Fred Upton
United States House of Representatives
2183 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2206
DC Phone 202-225-3761
DC Fax 202-225-4986
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
http://www.house.gov/upton/
John Dingell, MI, Chair Emeritus
John D. Dingell (D-MI)
The Honorable John D. Dingell
United States House of Representatives
2328 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2215
DC Phone 202-225-4071
DC Fax 202-226-0371
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
http://www.house.gov/dingell/
Mike Rogers, MI
Mike Rogers (R-MI)
The Honorable Mike Rogers
United States House of Representatives
133 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2208
DC Phone 202-225-4872
DC Fax 202-225-5820
http://www.mikerogers.house.gov/Contact.aspx
http://www.mikerogers.house.gov/
Roy Blunt, MO
Roy Blunt (R-MO)
The Honorable Roy Blunt
United States House of Representatives
2229 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2507
DC Phone 202-225-6536
DC Fax 202-225-5604
http://www.blunt.house.gov/Contact.aspx
http://www.house.gov/blunt/
G.K. Butterfield, NC
G. K. Butterfield, Jr. (D-NC)
The Honorable G. K. Butterfield, Jr.
United States House of Representatives
413 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3301
DC Phone 202-225-3101
DC Fax 202-225-3354
http://butterfield.house.gov/contactinfo.asp
http://butterfield.house.gov/
Sue Wilkins Myrick, NC
Sue Myrick (R-NC)
The Honorable Sue Myrick
United States House of Representatives
230 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3309
DC Phone 202-225-1976
DC Fax 202-225-3389
http://myrick.house.gov/zipauth.shtml
http://www.house.gov/myrick/
Lee Terry, NE
Lee Terry (R-NE)
The Honorable Lee Terry
United States House of Representatives
2331 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-2702
DC Phone 202-225-4155
DC Fax 202-226-5452
http://www.house.gov/formleeterry/IMA/issue.htm
http://leeterry.house.gov/
Frank Pallone, Jr., NJ
Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ)
The Honorable Frank Pallone, Jr.
United States House of Representatives
237 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3006
DC Phone 202-225-4671
DC Fax 202-225-9665
http://www.house.gov/pallone/contact.shtml
http://www.house.gov/pallone/
Anthony Weiner, NY
Anthony Weiner (D-NY)
The Honorable Anthony Weiner
United States House of Representatives
2104 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3209
DC Phone 202-225-6616
DC Fax 202-226-7253
http://weiner.house.gov/email_anthony.aspx
http://weiner.house.gov/
Eliot Engel, NY
Eliot L. Engel (D-NY)
The Honorable Eliot L. Engel
United States House of Representatives
2161 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3217
DC Phone 202-225-2464
DC Fax 202-225-5513
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
http://engel.house.gov/
Betty Sutton, OH
Betty Sutton (D-OH)
The Honorable Betty Sutton
United States House of Representatives
1721 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3513
DC Phone 202-225-3401
DC Fax 202-225-2266
http://sutton.house.gov/about/emailform.cfm
http://sutton.house.gov/
Zachary Space, OH
Zack T. Space (D-OH)
The Honorable Zack T. Space
United States House of Representatives
315 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3518
DC Phone 202-225-6265
DC Fax 202-225-3394
http://space.house.gov/?sectionid=61�iontree=2661
http://space.house.gov/
John Sullivan, OK
John Sullivan (R-OK)
The Honorable John Sullivan
United States House of Representatives
434 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3601
DC Phone 202-225-2211
DC Fax 202-225-9187
http://sullivan.house.gov/contact/write.htm
http://sullivan.house.gov/
Greg Walden, OR
Greg Walden (R-OR)
The Honorable Greg Walden
United States House of Representatives
2352 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3702
DC Phone 202-225-6730
DC Fax 202-225-5774
http://walden.house.gov/ContactGreg.Home.shtml
http://walden.house.gov/
Joseph Pitts, PA
Joseph R. Pitts (R-PA)
The Honorable Joseph R. Pitts
United States House of Representatives
420 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3816
DC Phone 202-225-2411
DC Fax 202-225-2013
http://www.house.gov/pitts/contact.shtml
http://www.house.gov/pitts/
Michael Doyle, PA
Michael F. Doyle (D-PA)
The Honorable Michael F. Doyle
United States House of Representatives
401 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3814
DC Phone 202-225-2135
DC Fax 202-225-3084
http://doyle.house.gov/email_mike.shtml
http://doyle.house.gov/
Tim Murphy, PA
Tim Murphy (R-PA)
The Honorable Tim Murphy
United States House of Representatives
322 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-3818
DC Phone 202-225-2301
DC Fax 202-225-1844
http://murphy.house.gov/Contact/zipauth.htm
http://murphy.house.gov/
Bart Gordon, TN
Bart Gordon (D-TN)
The Honorable Bart Gordon
United States House of Representatives
2306 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4206
DC Phone 202-225-4231
DC Fax 202-225-6887
http://gordon.house.gov/contact/index.shtml
http://gordon.house.gov/
Marsha Blackburn, TN
Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)
The Honorable Marsha Blackburn
United States House of Representatives
217 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4305
DC Phone 202-225-2811
DC Fax 202-225-3004
http://blackburn.house.gov/contactform/
http://blackburn.house.gov/
Charles Gonzalez, TX
Charles A. Gonzalez (D-TX)
The Honorable Charles A. Gonzalez
United States House of Representatives
303 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4320
DC Phone 202-225-3236
DC Fax 202-225-1915
http://www.gonzalez.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=170
http://www.house.gov/gonzalez
Gene Green, TX
Gene Green (D-TX)
The Honorable Gene Green
United States House of Representatives
2372 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4329
DC Phone 202-225-1688
DC Fax 202-225-9903
http://www.house.gov/green/contact/
http://www.house.gov/green/
Joe Barton, TX, Ranking Member
Joe Barton (R-TX) [Ranking Member]
The Honorable Joe Barton
United States House of Representatives
2109 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4306
DC Phone 202-225-2002
DC Fax 202-225-3052
http://joebarton.house.gov/ContactJoe.aspx?Type=Contact
http://joebarton.house.gov/
Michael Burgess, TX
Michael Burgess (R-TX)
The Honorable Michael Burgess
United States House of Representatives
229 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4326
DC Phone 202-225-7772
DC Fax 202-225-2919
http://burgess.house.gov/Contact/Offices/
http://burgess.house.gov/
Ralph Hall, TX
Ralph M. Hall (R-TX)
The Honorable Ralph M. Hall
United States House of Representatives
2405 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4304
DC Phone 202-225-6673
DC Fax 202-225-3332
http://www.house.gov/ralphhall/IMA/zipauth.htm
http://www.house.gov/ralphhall/
Jim Matheson, UT
James D. Matheson (D-UT)
The Honorable James D. Matheson
United States House of Representatives
2434 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4402
DC Phone 202-225-3011
DC Fax 202-225-5638
https://forms.house.gov/matheson/contact.shtml
http://matheson.house.gov/
Rick Boucher, VA
Rick Boucher (D-VA)
The Honorable Rick Boucher
United States House of Representatives
2187 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4609
DC Phone 202-225-3861
DC Fax 202-225-0442
http://www.boucher.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=645&I
temid=
http://www.house.gov/boucher/
Donna Christensen, VI
Donna M. Christensen (D-VI)
The Honorable Donna M. Christensen
United States House of Representatives
1510 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-5501
DC Phone 202-225-1790
DC Fax 202-225-5517
http://www.house.gov/writerep/
http://www.donnachristensen.house.gov/
Peter Welch, VT
Peter Welch (D-VT)
The Honorable Peter Welch
United States House of Representatives
1404 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4501
DC Phone 202-225-4115
DC Fax 202-225-6790
http://www.house.gov/formwelch/issue_subscribe.htm
http://www.welch.house.gov/
Jay Inslee, WA
Jay Inslee (D-WA)
The Honorable Jay Inslee
United States House of Representatives
403 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4701
DC Phone 202-225-6311
DC Fax 202-226-1606
http://www.house.gov/inslee/contact/email.html
http://www.house.gov/inslee/
Tammy Baldwin, WI
Tammy Baldwin (D-WI)
The Honorable Tammy Baldwin
United States House of Representatives
2446 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515-4902
DC Phone 202-225-2906
DC Fax 202-225-6942
http://www.house.gov/formbaldwin/IMA/get_address.htm
http://tammybaldwin.house.gov/Labels: De-regulation, Raw Milk, Trade
|
6 Comments:
Thanks for this information. I really had no idea that the feds prohibited raw milk crossing state lines for human consumption. So many people here in GA get their milk from SC, and drive it over every couple of weeks. (Since, as you know, it's illegal for Georgians to purchase raw milk for humans in-state. We can, however, get it for our dogs and cats.)
Phil Gingrey is my Rep, so I'll write him a letter--it's on my to-do list for tomorrow!
This bill, if it passes, would be a step in the right direction.
However, since I am in California, this bill possibly won't affect the local goat milk farmers' fear of being shut down by the state goons. I've been wanting to try raw goats' milk for a long while.
With the situation the way it is, the small farmers are not willing to stick their necks out.
Thanks Jenn.
Pam, agreed. Mark McAfee had to pay a huge fine to the feds for shipping "pet" milk across state lines, though. Even though he was following the rules. So this would help.
Thanks for posting, Monica. This bill at least raises awareness of the issue. Pushing it back to the states should make it easier to fight.
I didn't know that Mark McAfee had to pay a fine. But at least he's still in business, though I believe that now he cannot ship raw cows' milk across state lines.
Raw milk was available when I first came out here in 1973, provided mostly by Altadena Dairy, which no longer sells raw dairy. I kind of wonder if Altadena Dairy is now one of the ones lobbying against the ability of other dairies to provide raw milk. Hmmm...
I would be surprised if any dairy once selling raw milk would now lobby against it.
Claravale farms has been selling raw dairy for 30 years. And surprisingly, their cows are grain-fed and they have not had one incident. Pretty impressive. There is another dairy with 40 years' experience in Ohio with not a single incident either. The farm where I get my milk had transferred their entire herd from Guidestone Farms, in business in CO for 30 years also without incident. :)
Raw milk... much safer than industrial peanut butter! :)
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home