***CT - ACTION ALERT***
FTCLDF provides testimony before the Environment Committee of the Connecticut General Assembly
Read the testimony
Connecticut Raw Milk Hearing Feb. 9
A big thank-you to all of the consumers and retailers who have stood in support of the Raw Milk and Cheese Producers of Connecticut. The time you have taken to send emails, ask questions, pass out petitions and flyers, and send letters to legislators is sure to make an impact on House bills 6312 and 6313. A public hearing and possible press conference have been scheduled.
BACKGROUND
The Connecticut Department of Agriculture (CDA) is pushing legislation that would not only make sales at retail stores illegal but would increase production costs for licensees to such an extent that it would be much more difficult for many to remain in business. As a result, at least two bills related to raw milk (HB 6312 and HB 6313) have been introduced and assigned to the House Environment Committee. For more background, go to http://www.farmtoconsumer.org/news/news-20jan2009-5.htm.
Both bills are on the agenda for the public hearing to be held:
Monday, February 9 at 10 AM
Room 1E
Legislative Office Building (LOB)
300 Capitol Avenue in Hartford
IMPORTANT DETAILS
It does not matter if you are a Connecticut resident or not to attend the hearing and speak out against bills 6312 and 6313. A Press Conference is to be held at about 11 AM.
The Environmental Committee does not break for lunch. There is a cafeteria just off the lobby of the LOB.
DIRECTIONS: click on http://www.cga.ct.gov/capitoltours/directions.htm
Look at bottom right hand corner for a map of the buildings located around the LB.
Keep your eye on the blog: www.chooserawmilk.blogspot.com for last minute updates.
If you absolutely cannot attend, please email your testimonial to [email protected] via the blog. Fifty copies of every letter received in time will be submitted one hour prior to the hearing. This will show that the consumers of raw milk care about our freedom to keep raw milk in Connecticut.
ACTION TO TAKE
Action #1. If you haven’t sent a letter yet to the Environmental Committee listed below, it is not too late. Please send one by email today! At the top of your letter, please head it:
“To be presented as testimony for bill 6313 and 6312”.
Please send a copy to [email protected] as well. If you have any questions, please contact Heather Thibeault (“tee-bolt”) by phone at 860-859-9480.
Action #2. Attend the hearing for these bills, which will take place at 10 AM on Monday, February 9th, in room 1E of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford.
According to legislators, a show of consumer and retailer support at the hearing is necessary to prevent this bill from passing. Please consider coming to the hearing on February 9th so that these bills do not pass.
Sign-up for people who wish to speak during the hearing will begin at 9 AM. Any written material you may want to distribute to the Environmental Committee has to be submitted one hour prior to the hearing and must include 50 copies in order to be accepted. [Note: doors open at 9 AM, so be in line.]
Although the bills are at the end of the agenda, the order of speakers will be random; and everyone who has signed up will get three minutes to speak. Committee members come and go throughout the hearing which may last into the evening; so it is best, if possible, to have written testimony for those who may not be present. Click here to view the agenda or click here for the pdf version.
Let’s generate a huge crowd on Monday! Remember, a press conference is also planned for 11 AM.
CONTACT INFORMATION – Environmental Committee
Below is the email address for each committee member.
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