Action Alert:

The Agriculture Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5384) that passed the House on May 23 is expected to be considered by the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture sometime during the week of June 12.  It is important that the members of this subcommittee know that a significant number of people want all funding for NAIS to be removed from this Bill.
 
Members of this subcommittee are:
 
Robert Bennett (R-UT)                 
Thad Cochran (R-MS)                  
Arlan Spector (R-PA)                    
Christopher Bond (R-MO)            
Mitch McConnell (R-KY)              
Conrad Burns (R-MT)                   
Larry Craig (R-ID)                         
Sam Brownback (R-KS)
Herbert Kohl (D-WI)
Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Byron Dorgan (D-ND)
Dianne Feinstein (D-CA)
Richard Durbin (D-IL)
Tim Johnson (D-SD)
Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
 
If you live in any of these states, or have friends or relatives who live in these states, please generate all the calls and emails possible to these targeted Senators early and often during the week of June 12.
 
The Capitol Switchboard number is (202) 225-3121.  You can find email addresses for your Senators by going to http://www.congress.org/congressorg/home and entering your zip code in the box on the left-hand side of the page.
 
Below are talking points that may be helpful in explaining why you oppose funding for NAIS.  Keep your message clear: You oppose any funding for NAIS in the appropriations bill.
 
Judith McGeary
Executive Director
Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance
8308 Sassman Rd
Austin, TX 78747
512-243-9404
www.farmandranchfreedom.org
 
Sample Talking Points:
 
A.    The program has had no Congressional hearings or debate, nor has there been sufficient input in the rule-making process.
 
B.    The program, as now designed, will be too costly and burdensome for farmers and ranchers.
 
C.    The program invades the privacy of every American who owns even one livestock animal, whether a horse, pet pot-bellied pig, or chicken.
 
D.    NAIS will not protect us against disease or bioterrorism because:
1.    it does not address the causes of disease;
2.    it does not address how diseases are transmitted;
3.    we already have sufficient means of tracking diseases and quarantining; and
4.    the recommended technology can be easily reprogrammed, so that it is ineffective against intentional (or even many unintentional) introductions of disease.
 
E.    NAIS will expand the government bureaucracy, at the cost of individuals' rights and the free market.
 
F.    NAIS will raise the cost of food, while not providing any additional food safety.