The next few weeks have a lot happening!  Here's all of the information:

Special Session continues!  HB 47 has been introduced, but Governor Perry has not included it in the call.  Keep calling the Governor, and also contacting your legislator.  Representative Hughes is the primary author, and Kolkurst, Strama, Anderson, and Miller are joint authors.
Representatives Bonnen, Robby Cook, Donna Howard, Phillips, and Rodriguez have signed as co-authors.   If you live in their districts, tell them "Thank you!"  And if you live in another district, tell your legislators that you expect them to sign on as well!

HB 47 limits the TAHC to a voluntary program only, which is a great start.  But tell your legislator that you want additional protections: (1) full disclosure of the entire program to all potential participants; (2) the opportunity for people who already registered to withdraw from the program; and (3) a prohibition on requiring anyone to be registered in order to receive services related to their animals.

May 2: Sunset Commission hearing on the Texas Animal Health Commission.
Please see the website (www.farmandranchfreedom.org) for details about time, place, and how to submit comments either online or in person.  If you're coming from the Tyler area and would like to share a ride, let me know, and I can connect you with some folks in that area.

May 4: TAHC regular quarterly meeting.  They do _not_ have NAIS or the proposed regulations on their agenda.  If you wish to come and make comments about NAIS during the time for general public comment, it would be helpful, but it is not a critical meeting.  If you do choose to come, please make the point that you expect them to do something different, not simply delay the adoption of the same, flawed program that they proposed in December.

May 9: Hearings on the Farm Bill in San Angelo.  The House Agriculture Committee from the U.S. Congress will be at Angelo State University to hear comments.  They have not announced the specific time yet, but Congressman Conaway's office has said it will probably be in the morning.  We will post details on the website as soon as we have them.
_*We have to fight this at the federal level, not just the state level!*_

We have also been informed that Congressman Ron Paul is drafting legislation that will cut off federal funding for NAIS, which would stop all of these grants to entities to promote NAIS.  As soon as that legislation is finished and has a bill number, we will let everyone know!

Judith McGeary
Executive Director
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
www.farmandranchfreedom.org