Even though several Representatives flipped their votes on HB 461 at the third reading, the bill still passed, with a final vote of 85-57.  Many thanks to everyone who took the time to call and write their Representatives!  Several legislators have said that NAIS has been one of the truly hot issues this session!!
 
Last week's victory is a major achievement.  But it's only one battle in the war, and we're not done yet. We still need to get HB 461 approved by the Senate. Otherwise, we will be left with the current statute that allows the TAHC to make NAIS mandatory at any time, and that also allows the TAHC to use coercive methods to force people into the program. Getting a bill passed is a long and exhausting process, but we must keep going.
 
So, please, keep up the good work!  If you haven't called your Senator yet, pick up the phone and call him or her today.  Encourage your friends and neighbors to do the same.  In-person meetings have the greatest impact, so it's even better to call and ask to meet with your Senator or their staff in Austin or at their home office.
 
If you don't know who your Senator is, go to http://www.fyi.legis.state.tx.us/ or call 512-463-4630.
 
In addition to calling or meeting with your Senator, here are several more things you can do to help in this fight:
 
1)  Write letters to the editor of your local newspaper.  Keep it short, and be sure to end by urging people to call their Senator to support HB 461.  A couple of sample letters are provided below.
 
2)  Post flyers in your local feed store, auction barn, veterinary clinic, farmers market, etc.  A new flyer, with information for all the Senators, is posted on our website at http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/files/Texas%20flyer-Senate.pdf
 
3)  If you aren't already a member of FARFA, please consider joining! For as little as $10, you can add your voice to our efforts. When we testified before the Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture last September, the first question was "How many members do you have?" Since then, we have doubled our membership!  But we're still small compared to the organizations that are opposing HB 461, such as Texas Farm Bureau and Texas Cattle Feeders.  Numbers are very important to legislators, so please help.  Go to the Join Us page at http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/join-farfa
 
And stay tuned for more alerts.  Once HB 461 is assigned to a Committee, we will need people calling the Committee members and making plans to testify at the hearing.  We have less than 4 weeks left in session and a lot more to do!   

 Sample Letters to the Editor

Letters to the editor can be a wonderful way to get the word out to your community. Keep your letter short and to the point.  Always end by giving people the information they need to take action on NAIS.  Below are a couple of sample letters to help you get started.
 
Sample Letter 1
 
Unknown to many people, current Texas law threatens the existence of thousands of Texas farms, ranches, and horse owners.  The threat is an intrusive and expensive government program called the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The public is being told the NAIS would protect them in the event of a terrorist attack or disease outbreak, but these claims have no basis in fact or science. The truth is this program was designed by and for large agricultural industry and technology corporations. If made mandatory, it would require owners of even one horse, chicken, cow, goat, or any other livestock animal, to register their property with a government database and tag each animal so its movements could be tracked. The government has not done a cost-benefit analysis, and NAIS could cost Texans hundreds of millions of dollars! NAIS would drive many family farms out of business, and put even individual horse owners (or anyone who owns livestock animals as pets) under government surveillance.  I urge everyone to call their State Senators and tell them to vote yes on HB 461, which would make enrollment in NAIS truly voluntary. You can reach your Senator by calling 512-463-4630.  Learn more at www.NAIStruth.com.
 
Sample Letter 2
 
Attention healthy food loving Texans: although many people don't know it, their access to local, organic, and grass-fed animal products is currently hanging in the balance. The threat is the National Animal Identification System (NAIS), which would allow the government bureaucracy to require people to register their property, tag their livestock, and report movements to a database. This intrusive program will drive many family farms and ranches out of business due to its high costs, in both money and time. The NAIS was designed by big corporate agriculture and technology firms, for their benefit at the expense of small farms and consumers. There is good news on the horizon, however. Last week, the Texas House passed HB 461, a bill that would change current Texas law to limit NAIS to a truly voluntary program. If this bill passes the Senate, small farms will be saved, civil rights will be protected, and consumers will still enjoy access to the local foods they love.  I am writing to urge other Texans to call their State Senators in support of HB 461!  You can reach your Senator by calling 512-463-4630.  Learn more at www.NAIStruth.com.
 
 
Working together, we can make our voices heard!
 
Judith McGeary
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance