Congress has renamed 2023’s failed EATS Act and introduced it as the Food Security and Farm Protection Act.
 

Last week, in response to ongoing pressure from groups like the National Pork Producers Council, U.S. Senators Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) introduced the Food Security and Farm Protection Act in the U.S. Senate. The text of this legislation is identical to the dangerous Ending Agricultural Trade Suppression (EATS) Act, and no matter what it’s called, it is a blatant federal assault on states’ rights.
 

Despite what its name may suggest, the bill only has one goal: to invalidate existing laws in 15 states, including ballot measures that passed with wide public support, that ban the cruelest methods of confinement for farm animals.

If passed, the Food Security and Farm Protection Act would also stop states from passing new laws regulating agricultural products. This would create a disastrous race to the bottom, not just for animal protection, but also for laws that protect higher-welfare farmers, workers, consumers and the environment. The bill would undo over a decade of progress made in improving the lives of farm animals, reduce consumers’ access to more humane animal products, and further encourage the growth of the factory farm industry by eliminating states’ ability to regulate its harmful practices.
 

Congress should never infringe on the ability of consumers and voters to reject animal cruelty or to support a more humane food system. We must work together to resist this blatant attempt to preserve the inhumane, industrial factory farm model at the expense of animals, higher-welfare farmers, workers, consumers and our environment.
 

Your legislators need to hear from you now! Visit our Advocacy Center to contact your members of Congress and urge them to oppose this dangerous legislation. Then, mark your calendars for our Week of Action on April 28-May 2, when we’ll collectively raise our voices against this dangerous legislation.