Take Action – Past Petitions
“Congress shall make no law . . . abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
— The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution
Online Petitions and Action Alerts are a chief means of generating grassroots efforts to participate in the lawmaking process at both the federal and state level. Click here for links to current initiatives to influence decision makers.
PAST PETITIONS: Click on the petition headings below
Federal Petitions – 113th Congress, 2013-2014
FAX Petition: Farm Bill 2013 – Passed by Senate on 6/10. See House version, H.R. 1947
Ask Your Senators to Support Non-GMO Agriculture, Small Farmers & Food Freedom in Farm Bill. The U.S. Senate is currently debating the Farm Bill, S.954. Over 200 amendments have been introduced, including #978 to repeal the “Monsanto Protection Act” (a rider that was included in the Continuing Resolution signed earlier in 2013). Send a FAX message to your U.S. Senators asking them to vote “YES” on specific amendments to the Farm Bill. For more details, go to farmtoconsumer.org/FarmBill2013.
Federal Petitions – 112th Congress, 2011-2012
Support HR 1830, a bill that would allow interstate shipment of raw milk and raw milk products for human consumption. Introduced by Rep. Ron Paul, it has the same text as HR 778 from 2009 during the 11th Congress. Send a FAX asking your U.S. Representative to Co-Sponsor HR 1830. View Talking Points. Download HR 1830 Handout and Hardcopy Petition to Support HR 1830. BILL DEAD as of end of 112TH CONGRESS in December 2012–CLOSED
Federal Petitions – 111th Congress, 2009-2010
Reject S. 510, a bill that represents a major threat to the local food movement, states’ autonomy to regulate food, and the country’s ability to become self-sufficient in food production. BILL PASSED AS HR 2751 on December 21, 2010–CLOSED
Support HR 778 Now, a bill that would effectively end the current federal ban on raw milk and raw milk products for human consumption in interstate commerce. BILL DEAD as of end of 111TH CONGRESS in December 2010–CLOSED, see HR 1830 for 112th CONGRESS
Oppose HR 2749, a bill that fails to address the real issues of food safety yet gives FDA increased power with less accountability. Its one-size-fits-all regulatory scheme will impact small farms and artisanal producers for the worse. SUPERSEDED by HR 2751 that PASSED Dec 2010–CLOSED
ILLINOIS
Action Alert: Stop IDPH from issuing any raw milk regulations!
The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) is in the process of drafting raw milk regulations that would severely restrict consumer access and deny raw milk producers the ability to make a living. The Dairy Group Committee will meet in Bloomington on May 1st; raw milk supporters need to show IDPH the opposition to changing the raw milk law in Illinois. Submit comments to the committee by April 30, 2013. Print flyer (MSWord or PDF) and spread the word.
MICHIGAN
Fax Petition: Rescind swine ISO
An Invasive Species Order (ISO) issued by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) infringes upon private property rights, criminalizes swine pet owners, threatens the livelihoods of small family farms and denies consumer freedom to obtain the pork of their choice. Send a FAX asking Michigan Governor Rick Snyder to order DNR to rescind the ISO. Even better, follow up with a phone call to the governor’s office at 517-335-7858.
SOUTH DAKOTA
Email Petition: Vote NO on SDDA’s proposed raw milk rules
UPDATE 8/21/13:THANK YOU EVERYONE for your support of our SD raw dairy farmers!!! We made a difference – today the Leg Rules Review Committee voted 3 to 2 to require the Ag Dept to revert the raw milk rules to a previous step…and that step is yet to be determined. Stay tuned! – Black Hills Food Freedom
The South Dakota Department of Agriculture (SDDA) Secretary, Lucas Lentsch, decided to send the proposed raw milk rules as-is to the Legislative Rules Review Committee (LRRC) which meets on Tuesday, August 20th from 8 to 12pm MDT. None of the requested changes were incorporated! Conflicting regulations, new tests, and new facility requirements still remain in the rules. Submit comments to the LRRC by August 20, 2013. Share this link(http://bit.ly/ftcsd-1) and spread the word!